BRIT Awards 2026 winners: Olivia Dean and Lola Young win their first-ever BRIT gongs at star-studded ceremony
Olivia Dean and Lola Young won their first BRIT Awards at the 2026 ceremony in Manchester on Saturday.
Olivia won her first award of the night on Saturday, taking home the Song of the Year gong for her song Rein Me In with Sam Fender.
The award was given to the 26-year-old singer, whose song “Man I Need” was also nominated in the same category, by Robbie Williams.
He said: ‘I want to thank Sam, it’s such a beautiful song and it was a pleasure to be a part of it.’
Winning her first Grammy, Lola took home the breakthrough artist award after a tumultuous few months.
This comes after the 25-year-old artist took a break from music following concern when she fainted onstage at a concert in New York in September.
He canceled his remaining tour dates to take some time off and ‘put his head in a better place’ but has since returned to the music scene and took to the stage to accept his award.
Olivia Dean won the first award of the night at the BRIT Awards on Saturday, winning Song of the Year for her song Rein Me In, featuring Sam Fender.
Winning her first Grammy, Lola Young took home the award for breakthrough artist after a tumultuous few months.
Manchester-born Noel Gallagher, 58, was crowned Songwriter of the Year this year after reuniting with his brother Liam for the massive Oasis reunion tour.
While his brother Liam was absent on the night, his daughter Anais and nephew Lennon were in the crowd to support.
‘I have to thank my brother,’ Noel said before addressing the crowd: ‘I’d like to thank you, the people who keep these songs alive.’
Ten-time Grammy Award-winning artist and producer Mark Ronson, 50, accepted the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award before taking the stage to perform.
International Song of the Year was won by Rosé and Bruno Mars on behalf of APT, with Rosé at the ceremony accepting the award.
Wolf Alice won the Group of the Year award following the success of their fourth album, The Clearing.
“We want to dedicate this award to everyone who helped us in the early years of Wolf Alice,” said singer Ellie Roswell.
American rock band Geese have won their first BRIT award, the International Band of the Year award.
While Olivia and Lola Young were at the top of this year’s ceremony with five nominations each, they were followed by comeback queen Lily Allen, who was recognized in three categories for her critically acclaimed fifth album, West End Girl.
Since the abolition of gender-based categories such as Best Male and Best Female, the ceremony has faced backlash over the small number of female artists nominated, particularly in 2023 when the Artist of the Year shortlist is entirely male.
But 2026 is on the verge of changes, with 70 percent of this year’s nominees being women or non-binary candidates.
Elsewhere, British rapper Dave was recognized in three categories: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Hip Hop/Girt/Rap Group.
The 27-year-old released his third studio album, The Boy Who Played The Harp, in 2025 and has since become the first British rap artist to top the official UK chart with three albums.
Raye was recognized in just one category this year, after picking up a record-breaking six awards last year.
This year’s BRIT Awards were held in Manchester for the first time since the ceremony began in 1977.
Manchester-born Noel Gallagher, 58, was crowned Songwriter of the Year this year after reuniting with his brother Liam on the massive Oasis reunion tour.
Wolf Alice won the Group of the Year award following the success of their fourth album, The Clearing.
Past venues include Earl’s Court, London Arena, Alexandra Palace, Hammersmith Apollo, Dominion Theatre, Royal Albert Hall, Grosvenor Hotel and its original location, Wembley Conference Centre.
But the move away from the capital marks a new era in the ceremony’s history, arguably the most traumatic.
A source told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s officially the end of an era. The BRIT Awards have been held in London since their inception in 1977 and will now be held outside the capital for the first time.
‘Of course this will be sad news for London-based artists and talent, but there’s a feeling in the music industry that these shows don’t need to be held in the same venues every year.
‘The BRITs is the biggest night on the British music calendar and will now be shared with a new audience as fans from Manchester and surrounding areas are more likely to attend.
‘In recent years there has been a general appetite to spice up the ceremony, as with the Mercury Prize and MOBO Awards, and now the music scene will not be London-centric for the first time for nominees and fans alike.’
Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO of Sony Music UK and Ireland, said: ‘This is a very exciting time for the BRIT Awards. Moving to Manchester, home to some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will revitalize the show and strengthen the BRIT’s legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music.
Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural background, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. ‘I can’t wait to see the show at the stunning state-of-the-art Co-op Live venue.’
