The BRIT Awards 2026 didn't just celebrate music - they crowned a new queen of British pop.
Olivia Dean walked into Manchester's Co-op Live Arena as a nominee. She walked out as the night's undisputed headline-maker, taking home four major awards, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year. It was the kind of career-defining moment artists dream about - and she made it look effortless.
Hosted by Jack Whitehall and broadcast live on ITV1, this year's ceremony marked the first time the BRITs were held in Manchester - and the energy inside the arena felt historic.
Here's the complete breakdown of the BRIT Awards 2026 winners.
The Night Belonged to Olivia Dean
Winning four awards in one evening is rare. Winning the industry's top categories in the same night? Even rarer.
Dean claimed:
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Artist of the Year
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Album of the Year (The Art of Loving)
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Best Pop Act
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Contributed to Song of the Year winner ("Rein Me In" with Sam Fender)
Her album The Art of Loving has been praised for its emotional honesty and soulful delivery - themes that clearly resonated with voters.
In an industry often fueled by hype, Dean's rise has felt steady, grounded, and refreshingly authentic.
Artist of the Year
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Dave
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Fred again..
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JADE
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Lily Allen
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Little Simz
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Lola Young
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PinkPantheress
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Sam Fender
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Self Esteem
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Olivia Dean - WINNER
Group of the Year
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The Last Dinner Party
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Pulp
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Sleep Token
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Wet Leg
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Wolf Alice - WINNER
Wolf Alice continues proving their staying power, outlasting fierce competition in one of the tightest categories of the night.
Album of the Year
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Dave - The Boy Who Played The Harp
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Lily Allen - West End Girl
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Sam Fender - People Watching
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Wolf Alice - The Clearing
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Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving - WINNER
Dean's victory here cemented her dominance. The album has been both commercially successful and critically praised - a rare double win.
Song of the Year (Public Vote)
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Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas - "Blessings"
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Chrystal & Notion - "The Days (Notion Remix)"
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Cynthia Erivo (feat. Ariana Grande) - "Defying Gravity"
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Ed Sheeran - "Azizam"
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Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax - "Victory Lap"
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Lewis Capaldi - "Survive"
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Lola Young - "Messy"
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Myles Smith - "Nice To Meet You"
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Olivia Dean - "Man I Need"
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RAYE - "Where Is My Husband!"
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Skye Newman - "Family Matters"
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Sam Fender (with Olivia Dean) - "Rein Me In" - WINNER
Sam Fender added another BRIT to his growing collection, while also securing Best Alternative/Rock Act later in the night.
International Artist of the Year
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Bad Bunny
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Chappell Roan
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CMAT
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Doechii
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Lady Gaga
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Sabrina Carpenter
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Sombr
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Taylor Swift
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Tyler, The Creator
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Rosalía - WINNER
Rosalía's global influence continues to expand, and her BRIT win further underscores her international impact.
International Song of the Year
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Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - "Die With A Smile"
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Taylor Swift - "The Fate of Ophelia"
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Sabrina Carpenter - "Manchild"
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Gracie Abrams - "That's So True"
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Chappell Roan - "Pink Pony Club"
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(and others)
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Rosé & Bruno Mars - "APT." - WINNER
Breakthrough Artist
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Barry Can't Swim
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EsDeeKid
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Jim Legxacy
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Skye Newman
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Lola Young - WINNER
Lola Young's breakthrough moment signals a major career upswing heading into the rest of 2026.
Genre Winners
Best Pop Act - Olivia Dean
Best Alternative/Rock Act - Sam Fender
Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act - Dave
Best R&B Act - Sault
Best Dance Act - Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax
Special Honors
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Outstanding Contribution to Music: Mark Ronson
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Producer of the Year: PinkPantheress
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Songwriter of the Year: Noel Gallagher
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Lifetime Achievement (Posthumous): Ozzy Osbourne
Ronson delivered a career-spanning medley, while a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne brought one of the night's most emotional standing ovations.
A Night Bigger Than Awards
Beyond trophies and red-carpet fashion, the BRIT Awards once again showed how music continues to shape culture across generations. From heartfelt performances to public-voted victories, the evening reflected not just popularity - but connection.
And in moments like these, when artists pause to acknowledge the journey behind the spotlight, it serves as a reminder that talent alone rarely tells the whole story. For many watching - especially faith-driven audiences - nights like this highlight themes of gratitude, perseverance, and purpose in an industry often defined by pressure and competition.
The BRIT Awards 2026 proved one thing clearly: a new era of UK music is here - and Olivia Dean is leading it.
