The 2026 Brit Awards brought huge wins and standout performances. Check out the full list of winners and catch up on the night’s biggest moments.

The 2026 Brit Awards felt different before it even started. For the first time ever, the ceremony left London and headed north to Manchester, taking over the massive new Co-op Live arena. The change of scenery gave the night a slightly fresher, less predictable energy. 

Hosted by Jack Whitehall, who’s basically become part of the furniture at this point. His style was what you’d expect, a bit cheeky, a bit chaotic, and just self-aware enough to get away with it. He poked fun at the artists, the industry, and the length of the show, and mostly managed to keep things moving when they threatened to drift.

The real story of the night, though, was Olivia Dean. She absolutely dominated. Winning four awards in one evening instantly shifts you into “this is your era” territory, and that’s exactly what it felt like. Her speech for Artist of the Year was emotional, and you could tell the moment genuinely meant something to her. She’s always had that grounded, relatable vibe, and it translated well on a stage that big.

Her performance was one of the standout moments of the night. No overcomplicated staging, no distracting gimmicks, just strong vocals and a crowd that clearly wanted her to win. It felt like watching someone properly step into the spotlight rather than just borrowing it for a night.

Elsewhere, there were plenty of moments that people will probably still be talking about for a while. Harry Styles delivered a slick, tightly choreographed performance that reminded everyone why he’s such a reliable awards-show opener. Dua Lipa brought full pop spectacle energy, leaning into drama and big visuals. And when Rosalía appeared for her set, it shifted the mood completely, intense, artistic, and impossible to ignore.

Rock and alternative had their moments too. Sam Fender added another Brit to his growing collection, continuing his run as one of the UK’s most consistent live performers. Wolf Alice picked up Group of the Year, which felt like a solid, well-earned win rather than a surprise.

There were also the usual bits of low-level drama. Some viewers weren’t thrilled with parts of the in-memoriam segment, and social media did what it always does during live broadcasts, overanalyse every reaction shot and every slightly awkward pause. Backstage rumours about seating mix-ups and after-party politics floated around too, because it wouldn’t be the Brits without at least a hint of chaos behind the scenes.

By the end of the night, the overall feeling wasn’t scandal or shock. It was momentum. Newer artists stepping up. Established stars reminding everyone why they’re still here. And a ceremony that, for once, felt like it was trying to evolve rather than just repeat itself.

Here’s a full breakdown of the winners from the 2026 Brit Awards, including the main categories and special honours:

Artist of the Year
Olivia Dean 

Album of the Year
Olivia Dean 

Song of the Year (with Mastercard)
Sam Fender (with Olivia Dean) — Rein Me In.

Pop Act
Olivia Dean.

Alternative/Rock Act
Sam Fender.

Group of the Year
Wolf Alice.

Breakthrough Artist
Lola Young.

Hip-Hop/Grime/Rap Act
Dave.

Dance Act
Fred again.., Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax (as a collective winners in the category).

R&B Act
Sault.

International Artist of the Year
Rosalía.

International Group of the Year
Geese.

International Song of the Year
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars — APT..

Producer of the Year
PinkPantheress — historic win as the youngest and first woman to receive this award.

Songwriter of the Year
Noel Gallagher.

Critics’ Choice Award
Jacob Alon.

Outstanding Contribution to Music
Mark Ronson (special honour recognising his long influence and achievements in the industry).Lifetime Achievement Award
Ozzy Osbourne