Full list of nominees announced for the 2026 Brit Awards in Manchester

The BBC has released the complete list of nominees for the 2026 Brit Awards, scheduled to take place in Manchester on 28 February. Leading the nominations this year are Olivia Dean and Lola Young, both of whom appear in multiple major categories including Artist of the Year and Best Pop Act, highlighting their strong presence in the British music scene. Other notable names among the top nominees include Dave, Lily Allen, Sam Fender, and Wolf Alice.

Among the key categories, the Artist of the Year shortlist features established stars like Little Simz and Fred again.. alongside emerging talents such as JADE. The Album of the Year category is highly competitive, with standout titles such as Dave’s “The Boy Who Played The Harp”, Lily Allen’s “West End Girl”, and Olivia Dean’s “The Art of Loving”. Song of the Year nominees include collaborations and solo hits by major artists like Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas, Ed Sheeran, and Fred again.., while Lola Young and Olivia Dean each scored multiple entries, underlining their success in 2025.

The international categories bring a global focus, with stars like Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Rosalía, and Sabrina Carpenter recognized for their achievements. Meanwhile, Jacob Alon has already been confirmed as the winner of the Critics’ Choice Award, an honor that often forecasts future mainstream success. The awards will also celebrate genre diversity with categories for pop, hip-hop, R&B, rock, dance, and more, signaling a strong representation of both established icons and the next generation of British and international musicians.