The awards season momentum has caught up with what the charts already proved with Bad Bunny nominated for BRITs International Artist of the Year 2026. He gets the nod this year alongside:
- Chappell Roan
- CMAT
- Doechii
- Lady Gaga
- ROSALÍA
- Sabrina Carpenter
- sombr
- Taylor Swift
- Tyler, The Creator
The 2026 Brit Awards are shaping up to be one of the biggest in years — not only because the nominations are stacked, but because the show itself is changing.
For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Brits are leaving London and heading to Manchester, taking place at the Co-op Live Arena on Saturday, February 28, 2026, airing live on ITV and ITVX.
This isn’t just a venue switch — it signals a bigger shift in British music culture, highlighting how the scene has expanded far beyond London’s traditional center.
The Leaders: Olivia Dean + Lola Young
At the top of the nominations list stand two artists who represent the future — and the now:
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Olivia Dean (five nominations), including:
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Album of the Year
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Artist of the Year
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Best Pop Act
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Two Song of the Year nominations
She’s also set to perform at the ceremony.
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Lola Young (five nominations), including:
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Artist of the Year
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Breakthrough Artist
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Best Alternative/Rock Act
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Best Pop Act
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Song of the Year (“Messy”)
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Both Brit School graduates. Both rising globally. Both proving that British pop and alternative music are thriving — and that women are leading the charge.
More Competition, More Drama, More Debate
The 2026 nominations are deep — with Album of the Year including:
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Olivia Dean — The Art of Loving
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Sam Fender — People Watching
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Dave — The Boy Who Played The Harp
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Lily Allen — West End Girl
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Wolf Alice — The Clearing
And of course, it’s not the Brits without controversy:
major omissions reportedly include Florence + The Machine, Justin Bieber, and a reduced showing from Ed Sheeran, who earned only one nomination despite a major comeback.
