Brit Awards 2026: Olivia Dean Dominates, Historic K-Pop Wins & Manchester Debut

The 2026 BRIT Awards, held for the first time outside of London at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, saw Olivia Dean dominate the night, securing four awards – Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, Song of the Year for “Rein Me In” (a collaboration with Sam Fender), and Pop Act. The wins follow Dean’s recent success at the Grammys, where she took home the Best New Artist award, and mark a significant moment for the British singer-songwriter, who achieved a rare feat in the UK chart history by landing a debut number one single and album in the same week.

The shift of the BRIT Awards to Manchester, a move signaling a broader effort to decentralize major UK music awards, is part of a two-year deal with Co-op Live, with the 2027 ceremony too planned for the venue. This follows the 2025 Mercury Prize being held in Newcastle, indicating a move away from London’s traditional dominance of the UK music awards landscape. The move is likely driven by a desire to broaden the reach of the awards and engage with audiences outside of the capital.

A Night of Firsts and Established Stars

Sam Fender also enjoyed a successful evening, winning Alternative/Rock Act for the third time in five years, and his second consecutive win in the category. The collaborative track “Rein Me In” continued a three-year trend of duets winning Song of the Year, though it represents the first all-British collaboration to achieve this since Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa’s “One Kiss” in 2019. This highlights the growing importance of collaboration within the UK music scene.

Beyond Dean and Fender, the 2026 BRIT Awards were notable for several historic firsts. Rosalía became the first Spanish-language artist to win International Artist of the Year, beating out a competitive field including Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. Her performance during the ceremony, which included a surprise appearance with Björk, further cemented her growing international profile. This win signals a broadening of the BRIT Awards’ recognition of global musical talent.

K-pop also made significant inroads at the awards. Rosé, of the group Blackpink, and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” won International Song of the Year, marking the first time a K-pop artist has ever won a Brit Award. The ceremony also featured the first-ever K-pop performance at the Brits, a pre-recorded segment from EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI – the singing voices of HUNTR/X from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters – performing their nominated track “Golden.” As Forbes reported, Rosé previously made history as the first solo K-pop artist to perform at the Grammys.

Industry Recognition and Grassroots Concerns

Wolf Alice secured the Group of the Year award for the second time, becoming the first female-fronted group to achieve this distinction twice. They are only the second group overall to win the award twice in the last decade, following The 1975’s wins in 2017 and 2019. During her acceptance speech, Wolf Alice frontwoman Ellie Rowsell used the platform to highlight the struggles faced by grassroots music venues, noting that despite the significant economic contribution of the music industry, 30 independent venues closed in the past year, resulting in 6,000 job losses. This underscores the precarious state of smaller venues, which are vital for nurturing emerging talent.

Lola Young was awarded Breakthrough Artist, her first Brit Award despite receiving five nominations alongside Dean. This suggests a highly competitive field and highlights the rising talent within the UK music scene.

Honorary Awards and a Poignant Tribute

PinkPantheress, at age 24, made history as the youngest recipient and first woman to win Producer of the Year. Noel Gallagher was honored with Songwriter of the Year, recognizing his enduring contribution to British music following Oasis’ successful 2025 reunion tour. Gallagher acknowledged his brother Liam, former bandmates, and fans for keeping their songs alive over the past 35 years.

Mark Ronson received the Outstanding Contribution to Music award, delivering a career-spanning medley performance featuring collaborations with Dua Lipa, Ghostface Killah, Serge Pizzorno, and Amy Winehouse’s band. The most emotionally resonant moment of the evening came with the posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July 2025. His wife Sharon and daughter Kelly accepted the award, with Sharon describing him as “authentic, gifted, totally unpredictable, a wild man. He was a true artist.” A tribute performance led by Robbie Williams, featuring members of Osbourne’s band, honored his legacy.

Performances and Future Outlook

Jack Whitehall hosted the BRIT Awards for the sixth consecutive year. Performances included sets from Harry Styles (his first public performance in three years, featuring “Aperture” from his upcoming album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally), Olivia Dean, Wolf Alice, RAYE, Rosalía (with Björk), Alex Warren, Sombr, and Mark Ronson’s medley.

The ceremony concluded with the Ozzy Osbourne tribute. An In Memoriam segment also honored Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, the former Stone Roses bassist who died in November 2025, introduced by Tim Burgess of The Charlatans.

With the move to Manchester secured for a second year in 2027, the BRIT Awards are signaling a long-term commitment to decentralizing the event and broadening its reach. The 2026 ceremony also boasted the highest percentage of female or non-binary nominees in its history, at nearly 70%, reflecting a growing emphasis on diversity and inclusion within the UK music industry. The awards continue to evolve, reflecting both the changing landscape of the music industry and a commitment to recognizing talent from across the globe.

Full Winners List:

British Categories:

Artist of the Year: Olivia Dean
Album of the Year: Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
Song of the Year: Sam Fender with Olivia Dean – “Rein Me In”
Group: Wolf Alice
Breakthrough Artist: Lola Young
Pop Act: Olivia Dean
Alternative/Rock Act: Sam Fender
Hip-Hop/Grime/Rap Act: Dave
R&B Act: SAULT
Dance Act: Fred again.., Skepta, PlaqueBoyMax

International Categories:

International Artist: Rosalía
International Group: Geese
International Song: Rosé & Bruno Mars – “APT.”

Honorary Awards:

Producer of the Year: PinkPantheress
Songwriter of the Year: Noel Gallagher
Critics’ Choice Award: Jacob Alon
Outstanding Contribution to Music: Mark Ronson
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ozzy Osbourne (posthumous)