The BRIT Awards 2026 will make history as the ceremony moves to Manchester for the first time, with the nominations list also breaking records. For the first time, more women and non-binary artists have been nominated than ever before, led by Olivia Dean and Lola Young who each received five nods.
Sam Fender, fresh from his Mercury Prize win, earned four nominations, while Lily Allen, Wolf Alice, Dave, Fred Again and Jim Legxacy each secured three. The awards will take place on 28 February at Manchester’s Co-op Live, with 92 nominations across 16 categories.
Indie stalwarts Pulp, reinvigorated after a successful 2025, have received their first BRIT nomination in 30 years in the Group of the Year category. The nominations were announced on Wednesday night at dual events in Manchester and London, hosted by BBC presenter Sarah Story and TikTok star Charley Marlowe.
Olivia Dean, the first performer confirmed for the ceremony, said: “It feels crazy to have 5 BRIT Award nominations, it’s very surreal and I’m still processing it.” Lola Young, equally surprised, added: “Five BRIT Nominations, how is this even possible? I’ve had this dream a thousand times.”
Ellie Rowsell from Wolf Alice recalled serving the Pussycat Dolls as a waitress at a previous BRITs, calling it “a strange thing to return as a nominee”. The Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year winners will be announced closer to the ceremony.
