Noel Gallagher hailed and booed after Songwriter of the Year win
noel gallagher picked up the Songwriter of the Year award in Manchester and delivered a speech that mixed praise for collaborators with defiant comments about his recent output. The High Flying Birds frontman, 58, thanked his brother and bandmates while the reaction in the arena was mixed.
Noel Gallagher acceptance and reaction
Noel Gallagher accepted the Songwriter of the Year prize in front of a packed crowd at the Co-op Live arena — styled elsewhere as the Co-Op Live Arena — on Saturday. The Oasis guitarist and High Flying Birds frontman praised his younger brother Liam, 53, and acknowledged the role Liam’s voice and presence played in songs that defined an era of British rock. He also thanked Bonehead, Guigsy, Andy and Gem and other collaborators who brought the songs to life.
Presentation and introductions onstage
The award was presented onstage by Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie. A video package included a personal message from Pep Guardiola, the manager of Noel’s beloved football team Manchester City. There were onstage introductions and a rallying cry for City that divided the crowd at the venue.
Speech quotes and censored moments
Onstage Noel said: "Yes Manchester! I'm gonna start by saying I've got to thank my brother. And Bonehead, Guigsy, and Andy and Gem. Without them I'd just be a singer-songwriter and nobody gives a s*** about singer-songwriters. " He later concluded with: "Have a great night. Up the fucking Blues. " Elements of his acceptance speech were censored on television.
Controversy over recent songwriting output
The award choice prompted debate because Noel has said he "hasn't written a song for two years. " He told listeners on a radio appearance that: "I haven't written a song for two years. I'm not sure how I've got away with that one, but I'll take it. " He added: "Well, I think the BRITs is all based on record sales, and I'm not sure there was another single songwriter that sold… I mean, we sold a million records last year. Didn't even get off the couch and I'm not sure there's a songwriter that can match that. " He challenged detractors: "But you know, if anybody's got a problem with it, meet me there. We'll have it out on the red carpet. If any of those wet wipes songwriting teams, all 11 of them, want to write a song between the lot of them, want to have it out on the red carpet, I'm there. "
Reunion tour, studio work and organisers' rationale
Noel thanked the rest of the Roll With It band after their hugely successful reunion last year and said he is "in the studio now, so I'd better do something out soon. " He also suggested the ceremony's Manchester location played a part in the selection: "If I am honest I think they just were desperate to get someone from Oasis up there 'cos it is in Manchester. '" Organisers highlighted his long cultural impact, saying he had "permeated the fabric of British culture for over 30 years" and that his songs "continue to resonate with audiences around the world like no other, " though others pointed out he had not released new songs over the past 12 months.
Family reaction and wider results
Liam, who did not attend the ceremony, posted minutes after Noel's speech on X: "All hail the greatest songwriter this country has ever seen since Lennon n McCartney ps my name is liam x" — a message posted on February 28, 2026. The BRITs night also saw Olivia Dean sweep the awards, taking four trophies and winning in every category in which she was nominated, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year.
The awards were held in Manchester on Saturday night (February 28); the event was noted as the first time it has been held outside London in its 47-year history, and one notice described the ceremony as the 46th edition taking place at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena for the first time on Saturday. The packed arena witnessed both celebration and criticism through the course of the evening.
Noel Gallagher’s acceptance blended gratitude for collaborators and fans with blunt challenges to critics, while debate continued over the timing of the award and his recent songwriting activity.
