BRIT Awards winners: Olivia Dean breaks down in tears as she sweeps this year's ceremony with FOUR gongs

Olivia Dean swept the floor at the BRIT Awards last night as she took home four awards – winning in every category she was nominated for.

The British singer and songwriter, 26, won Best Artist, Best Album, Best Song and Best Pop Act.

In the Song of the Year category Olivia was nominated for two, for her single Man I Need, as well as her song Rein Me In with Sam Fender – which won.

She broke down in tears as she was named Artist of the Year, her third award of the night. 

The singer, 26, thanked her team and band as she took to the stage, adding that it ‘takes  a lot of people to be a good artist’. 

Her voice broke as she began to cry, before adding: ‘I don’t know what else to say, thank you.’

It was a completely different night for Lily Allen who didn’t take home any awards.

Olivia Dean won the first award of the night at the BRIT Awards on Saturday when she took home the gong for Song Of The Year for Rein Me In with Sam Fender

While she dominated the charts last year with the release of her fifth studio album West End Girl, Lily Allen failed to beat Miss Dean in categories Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Pop Act categories.

The singer, 40, used the album to chronicle the collapse of her marriage to Stranger Things star David Harbour, 50, and detailed his alleged affair with ‘Madeline’ whilst they were together.

Despite being nominated eight times previously, the Not Fair hitmaker was not in attendance at this year’s ceremony. 

Manchester born Noel Gallagher, 58, was honoured with this year’s Songwriter of the Year award, after he reunited with his brother Liam for their mammoth Oasis reunion tour. 

While his brother Liam wasn’t in attendance, his daughter Anais and nephew Lennon were in the crowd for support on the night.

‘I’ve got to thank my brother,’ Noel said, before addressing the crowd: ‘I’d like to thank you, the people who’ve kept those songs alive.’  

Off the back of winning her first ever Grammy, Lola took home the award for breakthrough artist after a turbulent few months.

It comes after a hiatus from music, following the 25-year-old sparking concern when she collapsed on stage at a New York gig in September.

She cancelled her remaining tour dates to take a break and get her ‘head in a better place’, but has since returned to the music scene and took to the stage to accept her award.

Off the back of winning her first ever Grammy, Lola Young took home the award from breakthrough artist after a turbulent few months

Manchester born Noel Gallagher, 58, was honoured with this year's Songwriter of the Year award, after he reunited with his brother Liam for their mammoth Oasis reunion tour

Manchester born Noel Gallagher, 58, was honoured with this year’s Songwriter of the Year award, after he reunited with his brother Liam for their mammoth Oasis reunion tour

Ten-time Grammy Award winning artist and producer Mark Ronson, 50, received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award, before taking to the stage to perform

Ten-time Grammy Award winning artist and producer Mark Ronson, 50, received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award, before taking to the stage to perform

Ten-time Grammy Award winning artist and producer Mark Ronson, 50, received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award, before taking to the stage to perform. 

International Song of the Year was won by Rosé and Bruno Mars for APT with Rosé at the ceremony to accept the honour. 

The Group of the Year award was won by Wolf Alice after the success of their fourth album The Clearing.

‘We want to dedicate this award to all the people who helped us out in the early years of Wolf Alice,’ singer Ellie Roswell said. 

American rock band Geese won International Group of the Year, their first BRIT award.

Spanish star Rosalia won the International Artist of the Year award, beating out the likes of Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga. 

Olivia and Lola Young led the nominations at this year’s ceremony with five each, closely followed by comeback queen Lily Allen, who was recognised in three categories for her critically acclaimed fifth album, West End Girl.

Since removing gendered categories, such as Best Male and Best Female, the ceremony has faced backlash for the low number of female artists nominated, particularly in 2023 when the Artist Of The Year shortlist was entirely male. 

But 2026 rings in the changes, with 70 percent of this year’s nominations being female or non-binary.  

The Group of the Year award was won by Wolf Alice after the success of their fourth album The Clearing

International Song of the Year was won by Rosé and Bruno Mars for APT with Rosé at the ceremony to accept the honour

International Song of the Year was won by Rosé and Bruno Mars for APT with Rosé at the ceremony to accept the honour

Elsewhere, British rapper Dave has been recognised in three categories: Artist Of The Year, Album Of The Year, and Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act.

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 debut three albums at number one in the UK’s official chart.

Raye has been recognised in just one category this year, after scooping a record-breaking six awards last year.

This year’s BRIT Awards was held in Manchester for the first time since the ceremony began in 1977.

Past venues include Earl’s Court, the London Arena, Alexandra Palace, Hammersmith Apollo, the Dominion Theatre, the Royal Albert Hall, the Grosvenor Hotel and its original location, Wembley Conference Centre.

But the move away from the capital signals another new era in the ceremony’s history, arguably the most seismic.

A source told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s officially the end of an era. The BRIT Awards has been hosted in London since the ceremony first took place in 1977 and now for the first time ever, it will be held outside of the capital.

‘Obviously, it’s going to come as sad news to artists and talent who are London-based but there’s a feeling within the music industry that these shows don’t always need to be held at the same venues, year after year.

‘The BRITs is the biggest night in the British music calendar and now it will be shared with a new audience, as fans from Manchester and the surrounding areas are more likely to attend.

‘In recent years, there has been a general appetite for the ceremony to move, as with the The Mercury Prize and The MOBO Awards and now for the first time the music scene won’t be as London-centric, both for the nominees and fans.’

Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland said: ‘This is a very exciting time for The BRIT Awards. Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music.

‘Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. I can’t wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.’

BRIT Awards 2026: WINNERS

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Dave

Fred Again… 

JADE

Lily Allen

Little Simz

Lola Young

Olivia Dean – WINNER

PinkPantheress

Sam Fender

Self Esteem

GROUP OF THE YEAR

The Last Dinner Party 

Pulp 

Sleep Token 

Wet Leg

Wolf Alice – WINNER

SONG OF THE YEAR (VOTED FOR BY THE PUBLIC)

Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas – Blessings

Chrystal and Notion – The Days (Notion remix)

Cynthia Erivo ft Ariana Grande – Defying Gravity

Ed Sheeran – Azizam

Fred Again, Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax – Victory Lap

Lewis Capaldi – Survive

Lola Young – Messy

Myles Smith – Nice to Meet You

Olivia Dean – Man I Need

Raye – Where Is My Husband!

Sam Fender with Olivia Dean – Rein Me In – WINNER

Skye Newman – Family Matters

INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR (VOTED FOR BY THE PUBLIC) 

Alex Warren – Ordinary

Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club

Disco Lines and Tinashe – No Broke Boys

Gigi Perez – Sailor Song

Gracie Abrams – That’s So True

Huntr/x – Golden

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile

Rayvn Lenae – Love Me Not

Rosé and Bruno Mars – APT – WINNER

Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild

sombr – Undressed

Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Noel Gallagher – WINNER

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC 

Mark Ronson – WINNER

 

 

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR 

Bad Bunny

Chappell Roan

CMAT

Doechii

Lady Gaga

ROSALIA – WINNER

Sabrina Carpenter

sombre

Taylor Swift 

Tyler, The Creator

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST

Barry Can’t Swim 

EsDeeKid

Jim Legxacy

Lola Young – WINNER

Skye Newman

INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF THE YEAR 

Geese – WINNER

HAIM 

HUNTR/X-EJAE/AUDREY NUNA/REI AMI

ALTERNATIVE ROCK ACT  

Blood Orange

Lola Young

Sam Fender – WINNER

Wet Leg

Wolf Alice

HIP HOP/GRIME/RAP ACT

Central Cee

Dave – WINNER

Jim Legxacy

Little Simz

Loyle Carner

R&B ACT 

Jim Legxacy

Kwn

Mabel

Sasha Keable

Sault – WINNER

DANCE ACT

Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas

FKA twigs

Fred Again, Skepta, PlaqueBoyMax – WINNER

PinkPantheress

Sammy Virji

MASTERCARD ALBUM OF THE YEAR 

Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp

Lily Allen – West End Girl 

Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving

Sam Fender – People Watching

Wolf Alice – The Clearing 

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