BRIT Awards 2026: the biggest snubs and surprises
Olivia Dean’s inevitable clean sweep in Manchester was flanked by an astonishing Rosalía performance, Harry Styles’ live return and some necessary speeches… unless you were watching on TV
The BRIT Awards headed north to Manchester for the first of two years last night (February 28). After a week of fringe events and a total takeover of the city, the Co-op Live hosted what felt able to be the beginning of a new era for the show, yet felt very familiar.
For the third year in a row, a British solo artist gained a clean sweep of the major categories. In 2024 it was RAYE’s turn, with a record-breaking six awards, before Charli XCX turned the BRITs Brat green last year with five. This year was Olivia Dean’s turn, picking up four awards including Album and Song of the Year. While she’s undoubtedly had a remarkable year, the inevitability of the wins took the jeopardy out of the occasion.
As was to be expected, the night also featured an excruciating number of Manchester references and gags from host Jack Whitehall, only one of which really lands (Rosalía doing an excellent “sunshiiiiiiine” and delivering the night’s best line: “Liam Gallagher, you don’t know me, but I know you”).
It was also her performance of ‘Berghain’ with a surprise added Björk (more on that below) that provided the night’s biggest bolt of energy, with Harry Styles’ live debut of ‘Aperture’, Mark Ronson’s hit-packed retrospective medley and Wolf Alice’s conceptual run-through of ‘The Sofa’ also going down a treat.
As the dust settles on the evening, here are the biggest snubs and surprises from the 2026 BRIT Awards.
Snub: Lily Allen misses out
There was no award for the rapturously received West End Girl at last night’s BRITs, despite any mention of Allen’s name across the night receiving some of the most piercing screams of the whole event. It also felt like this would have been the perfect time for her to introduce the album’s live show ahead of an upcoming theatre tour.
Surprise: Björk joins Rosalía for an all-timer of a BRITs performance
When Rosalía’s ‘Berghain’ began, all intense strings and high drama, it seemed inevitable that the song’s guest star, Björk, would make her BRITs return for its iconic line – “this is divine intervention!” – at the song’s close. Duly she did arrive, blowing every other performance out of the water before the song detoured into a raucous, hard techno outro that had everyone in the room and at home salivating over Rosalía’s hugely anticipated upcoming Lux world tour. Truly one of the great BRITs moments.
Snub: Jacob Alon deprived of their big moment
It was Myles Smith, on stage to present an award during the night, that alerted the crowd and the nation to the injustice of Jacob Alon’s Critics Choice award win not being accepted on stage during the televised 2026 BRITs. Smith won last year’s version of the award (then called Rising Star) and got his big moment. For Alon to be denied the same feels a true shame.
Surprise: Geese win, and give the best speech of the night
Only one member of band-du-jour Geese – drummer Max Bassin – was present to pick up their award for Best International Group, but he made it count. In a speech just about censored by ITV, he simply said: “Free Palestine, fuck ICE, RIP Mani, let’s go Geese.” A deserved award win for a truly great band, and the best and most necessary speech of the evening.
Snub: CMAT goes home empty-handed
You couldn’t move in 2025 for talk of a renaissance in Irish music, with some of the most exciting, boundary-breaking and politically engaged music coming from the Emerald Isle. For CMAT, one of this scene’s leading lights, to go home empty-handed from the BRITs felt like a missed opportunity, and deprived us of what surely would have been one of the best speeches of the night.
Surprise: Dua Lipa helps honour Mark Ronson in dazzling medley
As has been his MO for his entire career, Mark Ronson made his Outstanding Contribution to Music medley about anyone but himself. Amy Winehouse was of course a heavy presence in both the speech and performance, while Ghostface Killah and Dua Lipa helped highlight Ronson’s sublime body of work and ability to bring out the best in some of the world’s biggest stars as an unparalleled producer and collaborator.
Snub: Genre categories reduced to a cameo role
Also relegated to presentations in TV ad breaks and a lightning-fast roundup at the end of the show were the show’s genre categories. Skepta’s win alongside Fred again.. and PlaqueBoyMax, and wins for SAULT, Sam Fender and more, felt sidelined in an unnecessary way.
Surprise: Noel Gallagher’s surprisingly sincere speech – the Oasis reunion tour has melted him
When asked if her dad was excited about his upcoming award for Songwriter of the Year on the BRITs red carpet, Anaïs Gallagher told Rolling Stone UK: “I guess so – I feel like my dad is so cool all the time I can never really tell.” However, the stony heart of the Britpop master appeared to melt on stage as he thanked brother Liam and his Oasis bandmates. He added: “I would like to thank the people who’ve kept those songs alive for the last 35 years. You’ve given us the most extraordinary life.” It was an unexpected and heartwarming moment, showing that the tour of the century has softened him up.
Snub: Manchester-based music not given its spotlight on stage
For all the Haçienda-era legends wheeled out to present awards and Jack Whitehall’s relentless script detours into Manchester-based material, it felt like a shame to not see a young, hungry Manchester band or musician be given the spotlight for a performance on the night (Harry Styles being raised in Cheshire doesn’t count).
Surprise: Robbie Williams (and Dolly Parton?!) lead Ozzy Osbourne tribute
The show ended with arguably the most random performance of the night. From Dolly Parton’s introduction (sure!) to Robbie stalking the stage like a man possessed, here was a performance which captured Ozzy’s eternal ability to entertain and surprise. Backed by the late legend’s band, it was a perfect late highlight that the Prince of Darkness would’ve surely approved of.