From spectacular performances to outspoken remarks, the BRIT Awards 2026, held at Manchester’s Co-op Live, celebrated the vitality of both the British and international pop scenes. Between triumphs, tributes, and unfiltered statements, from Harry Styles to Olivia Dean, the ceremony blended music, politics, and emotion. Here are the five takeaways.
Harry Styles Opens BRIT Awards 2026 with the “Aperture” Performance
Harry Styles opened the BRIT Awards 2026 with the very first live performance of his new single, Aperture. On stage for the first time since 2023, he mirrored the choreographed aesthetic of the video, surrounded by dancers in black sunglasses, to represent Berlin’s club culture, his home city in residence. A choir joined him in the pre-chorus, before a finale where the dancers encircled him at the centre of the stage.
This performance announced the release of his upcoming album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, scheduled for this Friday, March 6. It marked Harry Styles’ first concert since his BRIT Awards 2023 appearance, where he performed As It Was. The singer will also embark on a major world tour starting May 16 in Amsterdam, including a 30-date residency at Madison Square Garden in New York. He will also be appearing on television: the Brit will host and be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on Saturday, March 14.
Olivia Dean’s Triumph
The British nu-soul pop star dominated the BRIT Awards 2026 by taking home four trophies in Manchester. At 26, she was crowned Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, Best Artist, and Best Pop Song, with her hit Man I Need contributing significantly to her success, well beyond the United Kingdom. All this comes just a few weeks after her Grammy for Best New Artist.
Olivia Dean also secured the Song of the Year award for Rein Me In, a collaboration with Sam Fender. Album of the Year was particularly contested, facing artists like Wolf Alice, Lily Allen or Dave. Very moved, Olivia Dean thanked the audience for believing in her, noting that her album “speaks simply of love and reciprocal love in a world that currently seems to be lacking it.”
Rosalía Joined by Björk for an Stunning Performance of Berghain
C’était très certainement la séquence qui aura le plus marqué les esprits du côté de Manchester. La mégastar Rosalía a interprété Berghain, single issu de son dernier album LUX, sur la scène des Brit Awards. Entre pop, opéra et techno brute de décoffrage, la Catalane a même invité Björk, qui a coproduit le titre et qui chante un couplet.
Niveau chorégraphie, ce sont les Français·ses du collectif Marseillais (LA)HORDE qui étaient aux manettes, quelques jours après avoir signé le clip de What You Want d’Angèle ft. Justice. La performance a marqué les Brit Awards par une mise en scène hybride et audacieuse. Des danseur·euses internationaux·ales, certain·es du Ballet National de Marseille et d’autres de la scène britannique, ont proposé un mélange des styles particulièrement efficace.
Ce n’est pas vraiment un hasard si Rosalía a fait le choix du collectif (LA)HORDE qui, dans une démarche résolument avant-gardiste, n’hésite pas à réinterpréter les traditions, comme sait très bien le faire l’autrice de Malamente. Pour la tournée internationale, Rosalía fait la promesse de shows plutôt mémorables…
Geese’s Max Bassin censored by ITV during his speech
The Brooklyn-based band Geese won the BRIT Award for Best International Group at BRIT Awards 2026. They beat out acts like Haim, Tame Impala and Turnstile. Drummer Max Bassin stepped onstage to receive the trophy from singer Cat Burns. Geese’s victory confirms the rise of the band, responsible for Getting Killed in 2025, at the forefront of a more exciting American indie scene than ever.
During his acceptance speech, briefly censored by ITV, drummer Max Bassin delivered political messages: “Free Palestine, fuck ICE, R.I.P. Mani, let’s go Geese.” The ceremony also paid tribute to Mani, bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream, who died in November aged 63.
Noel Gallagher Receives the Songwriter of the Year Trophy and Thanks Liam
During BRIT Awards 2026 in Manchester, Noel Gallagher received the Songwriter of the Year prize and surprised by paying tribute to his brother Liam Gallagher, despite their past tensions. “I must thank my brother,” he said, praising his voice and his pivotal role in Oasis’s legacy. He also thanked his former bandmates, adding with irony: “Without them, I’d just be a singer-songwriter and nobody cares about singer-songwriters.”
Introduced by Bobby Gillespie and Pep Guardiola, Gallagher also launched an “Up the f****** blues” in support of his beloved football club, Manchester City. His trophy may seem surprising since the Mancunian hadn’t written a song in two years. In response to the controversies, Noel said, “If anyone has a problem, meet me here. We’ll discuss it on the red carpet.” True to the lad spirit.
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