Olivia Dean, Rosalía and more artists made history at the 2026 BRIT Awards, which were presented on Saturday (Feb. 28) at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England. Dean won four awards on the night: British artist of the year, Mastercard album of the year, song of the year (in tandem with Sam Fender) and best pop act. Fender also picked up a second award: alternative/rock act.
Women made a strong showing, maintaining their years-long dominance in several key categories. The gender-neutral award for British artist of the year has been won by a female solo artist in four of the five years it has been presented. Adele, RAYE and Charli XCX preceded Dean to victory in this category. Harry Styles is the only male artist to win in this category.
Dean’s The Art of Loving also won album of the year, marking the third year in a row that a female solo artist has won in this category. RAYE’s My 21st Century Blues won two years ago. Charli XCX’s Brat won last year. This marks the first time in BRITs history that women have won three years running in this marquee category.
“APT.” by Rosé and Bruno Mars won international song of the year, the fifth consecutive victory in this category by a female solo artist (one working in tandem with a top male star, in this case). “APT.” follows Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U,” Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” and Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe.”
Here are acts who made history at the 2026 BRIT Awards.
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Olivia Dean
Dean, who won best new artist at this year’s Grammys, won four awards. She’s the fourth Grammy winner for best new artist to win multiple BRIT Awards over a two-year breakthrough cycle, following Dua Lipa (three awards in 2018-19), Sam Smith (three awards in 2014-15) and Culture Club (three awards in 1983-84).
“Rein Me In” by Sam Fender and Dean won song of the year. It’s the third year in a row that a collaboration has taken this award. “Guess” by Charli XCX featuring Billie Eilish won last year. “Escapism” by RAYE featuring 070 Shake won two years ago. Eilish and 070 Shake are both American. “Rein Me In” is the first collab by two British artists to win since “One Kiss” by Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa seven years ago.
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Rosalía
The Spanish superstar is the first Latin artist to win international artist of the year. Rosalía is also expected to have a big night at the 2026 Grammys, where her LUX is a strong candidate for an album of the year nod.
Bad Bunny was also nominated in the category. (Votes were cast before the Puerto Rican superstar’s acclaimed Super Bowl halftime show.)
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Pink Pantheress
Pink Pantheress became the first woman to win British producer of the year, an award that has been presented nearly every year since 1982. At 24, she’s also the youngest recipient of the award, a distinction formerly held by Steve Levine and Fred again.., who were each 26 when they won (in 1984 and 2020, respectively).
For the record, no woman has ever won the Grammy for producer of the year, non-classical, which has been presented every year since 1975.
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Sam Fender
Fender won best alternative/rock act for the second year in a row — and the third time in five years.
In the five years that the BRITs have presented genre awards, Fender is the first three-time winner in any of these categories. Dua Lipa is the top winner of best pop act (formerly best pop/R&B act), Becky Hill is the top winner of best dance act, and Dave is the top winner of best hip hop/grime/R&B act. Each has won twice in their respective categories.
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Dave
Dave is the first two-time winner of hip hop/grime/rap act. He won in that category in 2022 and won again this year.
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Wolf Alice
Wolf Alice is the first female-fronted group to win group of the year twice. Wolf Alice previously took the honor in 2022. Moreover, they’re only the second group (of any gender configuration) to win twice inside the last 10 years. The 1975 won in both 2017 and 2019.
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