The ITV censors faced an unusually busy night at the 2026 Brit Awards, as the ceremony featured a record number of censored speeches. The event, held at The O2 Arena in London, was marked by protests and politically charged comments from artists, prompting network delays and bleeps.
Among the most notable moments was a joke about Peter Mandelson, the former Labour minister, which was cut from the broadcast. The remark, made during a speech, referenced Mandelson's controversial political career, though the exact wording was not aired. ITV later confirmed that the comment was removed to comply with broadcasting standards.
The night's biggest winner was Olivia Dean, who took home four awards for her album 'The Art of Loving'. In her acceptance speech, she said the album 'is just about love, and loving each other in a world that feels loveless right now.' Her performance of 'Man I Need' was praised for its joyful energy.
Harry Styles opened the show with his new single 'Aperture', which debuted at number one but has since dropped in the charts. Critics noted the song's stylistic departure from mainstream pop, describing it as 'euphoric yet faintly distant'. Styles performed with a large band and dancers, maintaining a detached, observant presence.
Mark Ronson received the Outstanding Contribution to Music award, with a performance featuring Ghostface Killah and Dua Lipa. The segment highlighted Ronson's influence on modern pop, particularly his revival of orchestral and jazz-inspired sounds. Raye's performance of 'Nightingale Lane' was a standout, ending with a powerful wordless vocalise.
Other notable performances included Rosalía's 'Berghain', accompanied by Björk in a striking costume, and Wolf Alice's 'The Sofa', which closed with a cathartic howl from singer Ellie Rowsell. The ceremony also saw Bobby Gillespie introduce Noel Gallagher as Songwriter of the Year, though his speech was described as 'corny' by some observers.
