Olivia Dean and Lola Young lead the way as the 2026 BRIT awards nominations have been announced – ahead of the ceremony taking place for the first time ever in Manchester
Lola Young has been nominated for five awards at this year’s BRITs(Image: )
The nominations have been announced for The BRIT Awards 2026 which will be held for the first time in the show’s history in Manchester. And it’s a history-making list too – with more women and non-binary artists nominated than ever before.
Trailblazers Olivia Dean and Lola Young lead the nominations this year with five nods each in the list, at what is considered the biggest night in music in the UK and will take place on February 28 at Manchester’s Co-op Live. Sam Fender follows his Mercury Prize win with four nominations, while artists with three nominations include Lily Allen, Wolf Alice, Dave, Fred Again and Jim Legxacy.
Resurgent indie stalwarts Pulp, fresh from a stellar 2025, have received their first nomination in 30 years in the Group of the Year category. In total a massive 92 nominations were announced across 16 categories, at dual events held in Manchester and London on Wednesday night.
BBC presenter Sarah Story and Tik Tok star Charley Marlowe hosted the nominations show, while Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Manchester Council leader Bev Craig welcomed guests at the event, saying “This year The BRITs will have a Manchester accent.”
Olivia Dean leads the nominations at this year’s BRIT Awards which will be held at Co-op Live(Image: Getty Images for for iHeartRadio)
Olivia Dean was also announced as the first performer confirmed for this year’s event. She said on her nominations: “It feels crazy to have 5 BRIT Award nominations, it’s very surreal and I’m still processing it.”
“I remember watching the BRITs on TV when I was younger, and having gone to BRIT School and now having this full circle moment 10 years later, attending the awards is going to feel very emotional.”
On performing in Manchester she said: “I’m excited to announce that I will be performing at the BRIT Awards 2026. To go from being a student of The BRIT School in the crowd to being a performer 10 years later is really crazy and I’m so excited to see everyone in Manchester.”
Lola Young, who like Olivia was celebrating five nominations in the awards, was stunned at the news. She said: “Five BRIT Nominations, how is this even possible? I’ve had this dream a thousand times, so I’m slightly convinced that my alarm clock is about to wake me up.
“Seriously, this means so much to me, I am so grateful for this moment and to be nominated alongside the incredible other nominees.”
Ellie Rowsell, lead singer of Wolf Alice said what an honour it was to be nominated – sharing that she had worked as a waitress at the BRITs when she was a teenager. She recalled: “I served the Pussycat Dolls’ table and it’s a strange thing to return as a nominee, to which I am very grateful.”
She added: “It’s amazing to be nominated for 3 BRIT Awards this year and to be honest I can hardly believe it. I feel especially floored to be nominated for the Album of the Year.
“We are very proud of this album, more so than any other in some ways as it was difficult and yet very fulfilling to make, so to be recognised for the first time in this category is extremely exciting for us.”
Wolf Alice have three nominations(Image: Brit Awards)
Artist of the Year
Dave
Fred Again…
Jade
Lily Allen
Little Simz
Lola Young
Olivia Dean
PinkPantheress
Sam Fender
Self Esteem
International Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Chappell Roan
CMAT
Doechii
Lady Gaga
Rosalía
Sabrina Carpenter
Sombr
Taylor Swift
Tyler the Creator
Group of the Year
The Last Dinner Party
Pulp
Sleep Token
Wet Leg
Wolf Alice
International Group of the Year
Geese
Haim
Huntr X
Tame Impala
Turnstile
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
Breakthrough Artist
Barry Can’t Swim
ESDEEKID
Jim Legaxcy
Lola Young
Skye Newman
Song of the Year with Mastercard
Blessings – Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas
The Days (The Notion Remix) Crystal and Notion
Defying Gravity – Cynthia Erivo featuring Ariana Grande
AziAm – Ed Sheeran
Victory Lap – Fred Again…, Skepta, PlaqueboyMax
Survive – Lewis Capaldi
Messy – Lola Young
Nice to Meet You – Miles Smith
Man I Need – Olivia Dean
Where’s My Husband? – Raye
Rein me In – Sam Fender
Family Matters – Skye Newman
International Song of the Year
Ordinary – Alex Warren
Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan
No Broke Boys – Disco Lines and Tinashe
Sailor Song – Gigi Perez
That’s So True – Gracie Abrams
Golden – Huntr/X
Die with a Smile – Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
Love Me Not – Ravyn Lenae
APT – Rose and Bruno Mars
Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter
Undressed – Sombre
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Critic’s Choice Award
Jacob Alon – WINNER
Rose Gray
Sienna Spiro
Alternative/Rock Act
Blood Orange
Lola Young
Sam Fender
Wet Leg
Wolf Alice
Hip hop/Grime/ Rap Act
Central Cee
Dave
Jim Legaxcy
Little Simz
Loyle Carner
Dance Act
Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas
FKA Twigs
Fred Again/Skepta/Playboy Max
PinkPantheress
Sammy Virji
Pop Act
Jade
Lily Allen
Lola Young
Olivia Dean
Raye
R ‘n’ B Act
Jim Legacy
KWN
Mabel
Sasha Keeble
Sault
The Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year categories will be announced closer to the ceremony.