Harry Styles sends fans wild as he kicks off BRIT Awards 2026 with showstopping performance and first red carpet appearance in three years following career break: ‘He is so back!’
Harry Styles opened the BRIT Awards 2026 at Manchester Co-op Live Arena on Saturday evening with the first live performance of his new single Aperture.
The 32-year-old singer sent fans into a frenzy with her red carpet debut and her highly anticipated return to the stage after a three-year career break.
Confidently, she swapped her usual sequined stage attire for a simple shirt and tie, cutting a chic figure for a very memorable routine.
Joined by a large group of dancers, she danced energetically, complete with ethereal fingering, in a perfectly choreographed routine.
Fans flocked to social media gushing: ‘He’s so back!’: ‘Harry Styles BRIT’s performance was REALLY incredible, we’re so back!!!!’: ‘HARRY STYLES ATE SO HARD’: ‘I love Harry Styles’: ‘HARRY STYLES BAAAAAACK’: ‘
‘It was an EXTRAORDINARY performance from Harry Styles! Dances, dancers, shaking hands, gospel singers! He really stepped up and got a standing ovation from the audience! ‘I’m incredibly proud’.
Harry Styles opened the BRIT Awards 2026 at Manchester Co-op Live Arena on Saturday evening with the first live performance of his new single Aperture.
The 32-year-old singer sent fans into a frenzy when she appeared on the red carpet for the first time and made her highly anticipated return to the stage after a three-year career break.
Appearing on the red carpet earlier in the evening, Harry wore his stage outfit but completed the suit with a double-breasted jacket.
Appearing on the red carpet earlier in the evening, Harry wore his stage outfit but completed the suit with a double-breasted jacket.
Later, Olivia Dean had just won Best Song of the Year for her and Sam Fender’s song Rein It In and performed her solo track Man I Need.
The 26-year-old stunner sizzled in her sequined mini dress and oozed old-school glam while showing off her incredible vocals.
After a record-breaking six awards at the 2024 ceremony, Raye returned and received a standing ovation from the Manchester audience.
The 46th edition of the BRIT Awards kicks off tonight for the first time at Manchester Co-op Live Arena.
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 will be full of changes, with 70 percent of this year’s nominees being women or non-binary candidates.
Lola Young and Olivia Dean top the list with five nominations each, followed by comeback queen Lily Allen, who was recognized in three categories for her critically acclaimed fifth album, West End Girl.
Confidently, she swapped her usual sequined stage attire for a simple shirt and tie, cutting a chic figure for a very memorable routine.
Joined by a large group of dancers, she danced energetically, complete with deft fingers, in a perfectly choreographed routine.
As she showed off to fans on stage, she rushed to social media and gushed: ‘She’s so back!’
While others branded him ‘incredible’ and the ‘king of pop’
The 40-year-old singer used the album to describe the collapse of her marriage to Stranger Things star David Harbour, and their alleged infidelity while they were together.
At the ceremony, he will compete with both Young and Dean for Artist of the Year, as well as Album of the Year and Pop Group.
Lola, 24, is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist and Alternative/Rock Group, but it is unknown whether she will attend the ceremony.
Following the announcement he said: ‘Five BRIT nominations, how is that possible? I’ve had this dream thousands of times, so I’m somewhat convinced that my alarm clock is about to wake me up.
‘Seriously this means a lot to me. ‘I’m so grateful for this moment and to be nominated alongside the other incredible nominees.’
Olivia, 26, became the first woman to have a UK No. 1 single and album in the same week since Adele in 2021 with her 2025 song Man I Need and her album The Art Of Loving.
He has been nominated in five categories and will perform at the Awards ceremony.
Later, Olivia Dean, who has just won Best Song of the Year for her and Sam Fender’s song Rein It In, will perform her solo track Man I Need.
The 26-year-old stunner sizzled in her sequined mini dress and oozed old-school glam while showing off her incredible vocals.
Olivia looked sensational singing one of her biggest hits
Raye returned after a record-breaking six awards at the 2024 ceremony and received a standing ovation from the Manchester audience.
Rei Ami, EJAE and Audrey Nuna from Huntr/x sang the hit song Golden
‘The transition from being a BRIT School student in the crowd to being an artist 10 years later is really crazy and I’m so excited to see everyone in Manchester,’ the singer shared in January.
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.
The 28-year-old singer took home the first gong presented on the night, Song of the Year for her hit song Escapism ft 070 Shake, and took home the R&B Act gong and Best New Artist awards shortly afterwards.
It currently holds the record for the most BRIT Awards won in a single ceremony; This was the previous record of four, held jointly by Blur in 1995, Adele in 2016, and Harry Styles in 2023.
It was also announced that Raye will be the last act to perform at this year’s BRIT Awards.
The singer, whose real name is Rachel Keen, will take the stage at the star-studded show.
Speaking ahead of her performance, Raye said: ‘We are so grateful to the BRIT Awards for welcoming us back to their stage. Me and my team are very excited. Much love, Raye.’
British icons Pulp have been nominated for the Group of the Year award for the first time since 1996.
Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters group HUNTR/X was nominated for International Song of the Year for Gold and shortlisted for International Group. Hollywood is also well represented in this year’s nominations.
Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo secured her first nomination in Mastercard’s Song of the Year competition with her rendition of Wicked’s Defying Gravity.
Other international stars honored with the award include Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan.
The BRIT Awards have been held at London’s O2 Arena every year since 2011, but the Daily Mail has revealed that the annual show, widely regarded as British music’s biggest night, will be held in Manchester this year and is likely to tour around the UK for the foreseeable future.
