BRIT Awards 2026 nominees drop as Manchester gets ready to make history!

The 2026 BRIT Awards are shaping up to be one of the most significant editions in the ceremony’s history. For the first time ever, the UK’s biggest music awards will leave the capital and head north, taking place at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena on 28th February 2026. The move signals a wider cultural shift, recognising the UK’s regional influence while marking a new chapter for the iconic event.

This year’s nominations are dominated by Olivia Dean and Lola Young, who both lead the pack with five nods each. Their success reflects a growing appetite for emotionally rich, genre-blurring pop music, while also highlighting the continued impact of BRIT School graduates on the UK music landscape. Olivia Dean, who will also perform on the night, has been recognised across multiple major categories, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Pop Act, and two separate Song of the Year nominations. Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Dean described the moment as “crazy,” adding that even a single nomination would have felt surreal. Lola Young matches that momentum with nominations spanning Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Artist, Best Alternative/Rock Act, Best Pop Act, and Song of the Year for her standout hit 'Messy'. Together, the pair represent a new generation of British artists comfortably sitting at the centre of mainstream culture.

UK rap is well represented too. Dave picks up three nominations following the success of 'The Boy Who Played The Harp', which debuted at number one alongside its lead single 'Raindance'. Close collaborator Jim Legxacy continues his rise from underground favourite to industry mainstay, earning nominations across rap, R&B, and breakthrough categories for his 2025 mixtape 'Black British Music'. Notably, some omissions have sparked conversation. Central Cee misses out on Artist and Album of the Year, while rising drill star EsDeeKid was overlooked in the rap category despite being nominated for Breakthrough Artist. As ever, debate is part of the BRITs’ DNA.

Voting is handled by the BRITs Academy, a panel of over 1,200 industry professionals (with the exception of the two Song of the Year awards.) This has already been decided by the public via WhatsApp.

Below is the full list of nominations...

Song of the Year (Public Vote) : Celebrating the biggest and most impactful songs of the year, as chosen by the public.

Nominees:

• Cynthia Erivo (feat. Ariana Grande) – Defying Gravity

• Lola Young – Messy

• Olivia Dean – Man I Need

• Sam Fender & Olivia Dean – Rein Me In

• Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax – Victory Lap

• Lewis Capaldi – Survive

• Chrystal – The Days (NOTION Remix)

• Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas – Blessings

• Myles Smith – Nice To Meet You

• RAYE – WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!

• Skye Newman – Family Matters

Breakthrough Artist: Recognising emerging artists making their first major impact on the UK scene.

Nominees:

• Lola Young

• Jim Legxacy

• Barry Can’t Swim

• EsDeeKid

• Skye Newman

Artist of the Year : Awarded to artists who defined the year through influence, output, and cultural presence.

Nominees:

• Lola Young

• Olivia Dean

• Sam Fender

• Dave

• Fred again..

• Lily Allen

• JADE

• Little Simz

• Self Esteem

• PinkPantheress

Best Hip Hop / Grime / Rap Act: Honouring lyricism, impact, and influence across UK rap scenes.

Nominees:

• Dave

• Jim Legxacy

• Central Cee

• Loyle Carner

• Little Simz

  
  

R&B Act: Highlighting artists pushing modern R&B with depth, soul, and innovation.

Nominees:

• Jim Legxacy

• kwn

• Mabel

• Sault

• Sasha Keable

Album of the Year: Recognising complete bodies of work that defined the year creatively.

Nominees:

• Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving

• Sam Fender – People Watching

• Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp

• Lily Allen – West End Girl

• Wolf Alice – The Clearing

Group of the Year: Celebrating collective creativity and long-standing band excellence.

Nominees:

• Wolf Alice

• Pulp

• Wet Leg

• Sleep Token

• The Last Dinner Party

International Group of the Year: Honouring global groups shaping music beyond UK borders.

Nominees:

• Geese

• Turnstile

• HAIM

• Tame Impala

• Huntrix (Ejae, Audrey Nuna & Rei Ami)

Best Pop Act: Recognising artists dominating the pop space through songwriting, performance, and reach.

Nominees:

• Lola Young

• Olivia Dean

• JADE

• Lily Allen

• RAYE

Best Alternative / Rock Act: Celebrating boundary-pushing artists across alternative and rock music.

Nominees:

• Lola Young

• Sam Fender

• Wolf Alice

• Wet Leg

• Blood Orange

Best Dance Act: Recognising the artists driving club culture and electronic innovation.

Nominees:

• Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax

• FKA twigs

• PinkPantheress

• Sammy Virji

• Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas

International Artist of the Year: Awarded to global solo artists who dominated worldwide conversations.

Nominees:

• Bad Bunny

• Doechii

• ROSALÍA

• sombr

• Chappell Roan

• CMAT

• Sabrina Carpenter

• Taylor Swift

• Tyler The Creator

International Song of the Year (Public Vote): A public-voted category celebrating the biggest global records of the year.

Nominees:

• ROSE & Bruno Mars – APT.

• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile

• Gracie Abrams – That’s So True

• Gigi Perez – Sailor Song

• Alex Warren – Ordinary

• Disco Lines & Tinashe – No Broke Boys

• Ravyn Lenae – Love Me Not

• Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild

• Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

• Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club

• sombr – undressed

• Huntrix – Golden

With Manchester hosting for the first time, the 2026 BRIT Awards already feel like a landmark moment. The nominations reflect a UK music scene that’s diverse, emotionally rich, and globally connected — from breakout newcomers to established icons. As Olivia Dean and Lola Young lead the charge, and public voting opens the door for surprises, all eyes are now on February 28th to see how this historic night unfolds.