BRIT Awards 2026 Nominations Showcase Female Artist Dominance
In a remarkable shift for the UK's premier music awards, the 2026 BRIT Awards nominations have been unveiled with female and nonbinary artists commanding an impressive 70 per cent of the recognition. This represents a significant turnaround from previous years, where the ceremony faced substantial criticism for gender imbalance following the removal of gendered categories in 2022.
Leading Contenders and Comeback Stories
Lola Young and Olivia Dean emerge as the frontrunners with five nominations each, while comeback artist Lily Allen follows closely with three prestigious nods. This year's nominations mark a stark contrast to the 2023 ceremony, when the Artist Of The Year shortlist featured exclusively male artists, prompting widespread backlash across the music industry.
Lily Allen's recognition comes following her major musical return in October 2025 with her first project in seven years, the deeply personal album West End Girl. The 40-year-old singer used this work to chronicle the collapse of her marriage to Stranger Things star David Harbour, detailing his alleged affair during their relationship. Allen will compete against Young and Dean for Artist Of The Year, while also receiving nominations for Album Of The Year and Pop Act.
Artist Reactions and Personal Journeys
Following the announcement, 24-year-old Lola Young expressed her astonishment at receiving five BRIT nominations. '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,' she shared. 'Seriously, this means so much to me. I am so grateful for this moment and to be nominated alongside the incredible other nominees.' Young, who is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist and Alternative/Rock Act, recently cancelled her remaining tour dates to prioritise her mental health after collapsing on stage during a New York performance.
Olivia Dean, 26, has experienced a breakthrough year, becoming the first woman since Adele in 2021 to simultaneously claim the UK's number one single and album with her track Man I Need and album The Art Of Loving. The BRIT School alumnus will perform at the ceremony and reflected: '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.'
Notable Male Nominees and Ceremony Details
Among male artists, Sam Fender has secured four nominations following his 2025 Mercury Prize win for People Watching. Meanwhile, 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 made history this year by becoming the first British rap artist to debut three consecutive albums at number one in the UK's official charts with his third studio album The Boy Who Played The Harp.
The 2026 BRIT Awards will take place on February 28th at Manchester's Co-op Live arena, marking a significant geographical shift for the ceremony. Since 2011, the awards have been held at London's O2 Arena, but organisers have decided to relocate the event to different UK locations moving forward, with Manchester serving as this year's musical and cultural hub.
Jack Whitehall returns to host the ceremony for the sixth time, having previously presented in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2025. The comedian stepped aside in 2022 when Mo Gilligan took over for two ceremonies, while Maya Jama, Roman Kemp, and Clara Amfo co-hosted together in 2024.
