OLIVIA Dean and Lola Young will battle it out for glory at the Brit Awards next month after receiving five nods each.
The nominations were unveiled this afternoon, when it was revealed that 70 percent of them were for acts featuring women – the highest ever figure for the event.
Man I Need singer Olivia, 26, is in the running for Artist and Album of the Year for The Art Of Loving, as well as Song of the Year with two different tracks, and Pop Act.
She has also been confirmed as the first act to perform at the ceremony, which will air live on ITV1 on February 28 – four weeks after she takes to the stage at the Grammys in Los Angeles, where she is also nominated.
Olivia said: “It feels crazy to have five Brit Award nominations, it’s very surreal and I’m still processing it.
“I remember watching the Brits on TV when I was younger, and having gone to Brit School and now having this full circle moment ten years later, attending the awards is going to feel very emotional.”
Meanwhile Lola, 25, who is currently taking a break from music after collapsing on stage last September, is up for Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Act, Alternative/Rock Act, Pop Act, and Song of the Year for Messy.
However, she is expected to attend the ceremony, after announcing she will return to the stage at the Grammy Awards next month.
Sam Fender, 31, was just behind them with four nominations for Artist, Album and Song of the Year, as well as Alternative/Rock Act.
It comes off the back of his album People Watching, which was the fastest selling British record of 2025.
Lily Allen, Dave, Fred Again and Jim Legxacy had three nominations.
Wolf Alice also got three and frontwoman Ellie Rowsell admitted it felt “strange.”
She said: “I worked as a waitress at the Brits when I was a teenager. I served the Pussycat Dolls’ table and it’s a strange thing to return as a nominee, to which I am very grateful.”
Other female stars who were recognised include Jade, Raye and PinkPantheress, as well as international artists Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan.
Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters group HUNTR/X are shortlisted for International Group and International Song for Golden, while Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s Defying Gravity, from their movie Wicked, is in contention for Song of the Year.
Elsewhere, Pulp received their first nomination in 30 years for Best Group
This year’s Brit Awards will move out of London for the first time in its history, taking place at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.
BRIT Awards 2026 – Full Nominations
The nominees for this year’s Brit Awards have been unveiled. The ceremony is due to take place on Saturday 28 February live from the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester and broadcast on ITV. Both the prestigious Artist and Album categories feature an eclectic mix of artists from rappers Dave and Little Sims to dance music supremo Fred Again as well as one of the UK’s hottest current talent’s, PinkPantheress. Joining them are pop stars such as Lily Allen and Olivia Dean as well as Brits favourite Sam Fender. Read on to see all the nominees across every category below…
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Dave
- Fred Again
- Jade
- Lily Allen
- Little Simz
- Lola Young
- Olivia Dean
- PinkPantheress
- Sam Fender
- Self Esteem
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
- Lily Allen – West End Girl
- Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving
- Sam Fender – People Watching
- Wolf Alice – The Clearing
SONG OF THE YEAR
- Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas – Blessings
- Chrystal & Notion – The Days (Notion Remix)
- Cynthia Erivo ft. Ariana Grande – Defying Gravity
- Ed Sheeran – Azizam
- Fred Again, Skepta & Plaqueboymax – Victory Lap
- Lewis Capaldi – Survive
- Lola Young – Messy
- Myles Smith – Nice To Meet You
- Olivia Dean – Man I Need
- Raye – Where Is My Husband!
- Sam Fender & Olivia Dean – Rein Me In
- Skye Newman – Family Matters
GROUP OF THE YEAR
- The Last Dinner Party
- Pulp
- Sleep Token
- Wet Leg
- Wolf Alice
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
- Barry Can’t Swim
- EsDeeKid
- Jim Legxacy
- Lola Young
- Skye Newman
ALTERNATIVE/ROCK ACT
- Blood Orange
- Lola Young
- Sam Fender
- Wet Leg
- Wolf Alice
POP ACT
- Jade
- Lily Allen
- Lola Young
- Olivia Dean
- Raye
HIP HOP/GRIME/RAP ACT
- Central Cee
- Dave
- Jim Legxacy
- Little Simz
- Loyle Carner
R&B ACT
- Jim Legxacy
- Kwn
- Mabel
- Sasha Keable
- Sault
DANCE ACT
- Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas
- FKA Twigs
- Fred Again, Skepta & Plaqueboymax
- PinkPantheress
- Sammy Virji
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Bad Bunny
- Chappell Roan
- CMAT
- Doechii
- Lady Gaga
- Rosalia
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Sombr
- Taylor Swift
- Tyler The Creator
INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR
- Alex Warren – Ordinary
- Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club
- Disco Lines & Tinashe – No Broke Boys
- Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
- Gracie Abrams – That’s So True
- HUNTR/X – Golden
- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile
- Ravyn Lenae – Love Me Not
- Rose & Bruno Mars – APT.
- Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
- Sombr – Undressed
- Taylor Swift – The Fate Of Ophelia
INTERNATIONAL GROUP
- Geese
- Haim
- HUNTR/X
- Tame Impala
- Turnstile
