Olivia Dean has officially taken the crown as the UK’s newest queen of pop, winning four awards at the 2026 Brit Awards, which were held in Manchester for the first time in nearly 50 years.
The 26-year-old Londoner outshone competitors including breakthrough act Lola Young, best rap act Dave, and rock sensation Sam Fender, taking home the top prize for Best British Artist.
Dean also secured Best Album for her acclaimed transatlantic release, The Art of Loving, and Song of the Year for her chart-topping collaboration with Fender, Rein Me In.
In an emotional acceptance speech, she said, “This album is just about love and loving each other in a world that feels loveless.”
She also won Best Pop Act, cementing her position as one of Britain’s brightest rising stars.
Her set at the event included a soulful performance of Man I Need, while other highlights featured Harry Styles, Wolf Alice, and Raye delivering unforgettable live moments.
Genre-defying Rosalía made history as the first Brit winner for music sung in a foreign language, performing alongside Björk in a visually stunning rendition of Berghain.
Meanwhile, K-Pop sensation Rosé earned International Song of the Year for her duet with Bruno Mars, APT.
Manchester embraced Dean’s success: the city’s Deansgate station was temporarily renamed Olivia Deansgate for the week.
Ahead of the ceremony, she performed a charity gig at Albert Hall, warming up fans with candlelit renditions of hits like Man I Need, Nice to Each Other, and So Easy (To Fall in Love).
Tributes to music legends were also a major highlight. Robbie Williams led a moving tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, with family members delivering heartfelt eulogies.
Mark Ronson, recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award, honoured the late Amy Winehouse, while Noel Gallagher was recognised as Songwriter of the Year.
With her quadruple win, Olivia Dean reaffirms her global pop dominance, following her Grammy victory for Best New Artist.
Manchester’s music scene, steeped in icons like Noel Gallagher and The Happy Mondays, provided the perfect backdrop for a Brit Awards night full of history, glamour, and unforgettable performances.
