Harry Styles Opens BRIT Awards 2026 in Manchester with Energetic Comeback Performance
The 46th edition of the BRIT Awards launched at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena on Saturday evening, marking the first time the ceremony has been held outside London since 2011. The event opened with a high-energy performance by Harry Styles, who sang his new single Aperture to kick off the night. The 32-year-old singer exuded confidence as he made his epic return to the music industry following a three-year break, setting the tone for a historic awards show.
Historic Shift Towards Female and Non-Binary Nominations
In a significant change from previous years, 70 percent of the 2026 BRIT Awards nominations are female or non-binary artists. This shift comes after the ceremony faced backlash for low female representation, particularly in 2023 when the Artist Of The Year shortlist was entirely male. The removal of gendered categories such as Best Male and Best Female has now paved the way for a more inclusive lineup, with Lola Young and Olivia Dean leading the nominations with five each.
Comeback queen Lily Allen, 40, follows closely with three nominations for her critically acclaimed fifth album, West End Girl. The album chronicles the collapse of her marriage to Stranger Things star David Harbour and his alleged infidelities. Allen will compete against both Young and Dean for Artist Of The Year, while also vying for Album Of The Year and Pop Act.
Leading Nominees Express Gratitude and Excitement
Lola Young, 24, is nominated for Breakthrough Artist and Alternative/Rock Act in addition to her top categories. Following the announcement, she shared her disbelief and gratitude, stating, '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.' It remains unknown if she will attend the ceremony.
Olivia Dean, 26, became the first woman since Adele in 2021 to claim the UK's No 1 single and album in the same week with her 2025 releases Man I Need and The Art Of Loving. Nominated in five categories, Dean will also perform at the awards. She expressed her excitement, saying, '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.'
Other Notable Nominees and Performers
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, who holds the record for the most BRIT Awards won at a single ceremony after scooping six awards last year, has been nominated in one category this year. The 28-year-old singer, whose real name is Rachel Keen, will perform as the final act of the night. She said, 'We are so grateful to the BRIT Awards for having us back on their stage. Me and the band are very excited.'
British icons Pulp have received their first nomination for Group of the Year since 1996, while Hollywood representation includes Netflix's KPop group HUNTR/X, nominated for International Song of the Year with Golden and shortlisted for International Group. Cynthia Erivo has her first nomination for her rendition of Defying Gravity from Wicked, contending for Song of the Year with Mastercard. Other international stars like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, and Chappell Roan are also up for awards.
Ceremony Moves to Manchester with Future UK Rotations Planned
The BRIT Awards have been held annually at London's O2 Arena since 2011, but this year marks a move to Manchester's Co-op Live Arena. The Daily Mail revealed that the showpiece event, regarded as the biggest night in British music, is likely to rotate around different UK locations in the foreseeable future, bringing the celebration to various cities across the nation.
