Next generation takes centre stage at BRIT Awards

Olivia Dean and Lola Young top nominations

LONDON:

British pop music's next generation took centre stage on Wednesday as Olivia Dean and Lola Young led the nominations for the 2026 BRIT Awards, each securing five nods and underlining a shift in the industry towards fresher, more diverse voices.

Dean, 26, is nominated for artist of the year, album of the year for 'The Art of Loving', pop act, and twice for song of the year with 'Man I Need' and her collaboration with Sam Fender, 'Rein Me In'.

Her second album has built on the success of her 2023 debut 'Messy', topping the UK charts and climbing to No 3 in the United States. Lead single 'Man I Need' has remained a fixture in the UK Top 10 since its release in August, signalling Dean's growing international reach.

She is also the first performer confirmed for this year's awards ceremony, which moves to Manchester for the first time in the BRITs' near five-decade history.

Lola Young, 25, matches Dean with five nominations across artist of the year, breakthrough artist, alt/rock act, pop act, and song of the year for 'Messy'. Her 2025 album earned widespread acclaim for its blunt lyricism and genre-spanning sound, exploring addiction, emotional instability and romantic frustration with unusual candour.

Young and Dean, both former students of the BRIT School, are also nominated for best new artist at next month's Grammy Awards, reinforcing their status as two of the most influential British breakthroughs of the past year. Their rise has been cited in the latest BPI Year in Music report as emblematic of a broader revival in British pop.

Sam Fender received four nominations, including artist of the year, album of the year for 'People Watching', alt/rock act and song of the year for 'Rein Me In'. Fender, who won the 2025 Mercury Prize, continues to attract praise for his socially observant songwriting and arena-ready sound.

Artists receiving three nominations include Dave, recognised for artist of the year, album of the year for 'The Boy Who Played the Harp', and hip-hop/grime/rap act; Jim Legxacy, up for breakthrough artist, hip-hop/grime/rap act and R&B act; Lily Allen, nominated for artist of the year, album of the year for 'West End Girl' and pop act; Fred, shortlisted for artist of the year, song of the year and dance act; and Wolf Alice, nominated for group of the year, album of the year for 'The Clearing', and alt/rock act.

The 2026 nominations mark a record level of representation, with 69.2% featuring women and non-binary artists either as solo performers or within mixed-gender groups. Jo Twist, Chief Executive of the British Phonographic Industry, said the list reflected "a next generation of brilliant artists who have broken through with real global impact".

The ceremony will take place on February 28 at Manchester's Co-op Live and will be broadcast on ITV and ITVX. Jack Whitehall returns as host for the sixth time. The BRIT trophy this year has been designed by Manchester-born designer Matthew Williamson, featuring amber-toned resin inspired by the worker bee, the city's symbol.

Nominations were announced via 'Bring on the BRITs', a digital broadcast filmed at Co-op Live and streamed across the BRITs' social platforms. Hosts Charley Marlowe and Sarah Story revealed nominees across 15 categories and featured a performance by Scottish singer-songwriter Jacob Alon, winner of this year's Critics' Choice award.

Alon, whose debut album 'In Limerence' earned a 2025 Mercury Prize shortlist place, said the recognition felt transformative after growing up in Edinburgh's folk scene. Past Critics' Choice winners include Dua Lipa, Adele, Florence + The Machine, Sam Smith and Jorja Smith, many of whom went on to global success.

International categories include first-time nominees Bad Bunny, Doechii, ROSALÍA and Sombr for International Artist of the Year, alongside Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. In International Group, animated trio Huntr/x from 'KPop Demon Hunter' secured a nomination, while International Song of the Year contenders include Cynthia Erivo for her rendition of 'Defying Gravity' from 'Wicked'.

Several high-profile omissions drew attention, with Ed Sheeran nominated only in the commercially driven song category for 'Azizam', while Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons and Biffy Clyro were absent despite strong chart performances.

Winners will be decided by the BRITs Voting Academy, comprising around 1,200 industry figures, except for Song of the Year and International Song of the Year, which will be determined by public voting via WhatsApp.

As Manchester prepares to host the awards for the first time, organisers say the move reflects both the city's musical legacy and the evolving geography of British pop, with the 2026 BRITs poised to spotlight a new era led by Dean, Young and a rapidly diversifying field of artists.