The biggest race of the night, Artist of the Year, sees Olivia Dean, Lola Young, Sam Fender, Dave, and Lily Allen go head-to-head. In Album of the Year, projects like Dean’s The Art of Loving and Fender’s People Watching sit alongside releases from Wolf Alice and Dave, highlighting both mainstream and alternative success.
Bands aren’t being sidelined either. Group of the Year includes Wolf Alice, Wet Leg, Wolf Alice, The Last Dinner Party, and Pulp, while genre awards break things down further. Best Pop Act features Olivia Dean, Lola Young, Lily Allen, JADE and RAYE, while Alternative/Rock Act highlights Blood Orange, Lola Young, Sam Fender, Wet Leg and Wolf Alice.
The UK’s rap and R&B scenes remain central to the BRITs. Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act nominees include Dave, Central Cee, Jim Legxacy, Little Simz, and Loyle Carner. While R&B Act spotlights artists such as Mabel, Sasha Keable, and Sault. Over in Dance Act, electronic music is refreshingly represented by nominees such as Fred Again and Sammy Virji.
Some of the most talked-about moments usually come from Song of the Year, with nominees including Lola Young’s “Messy”, Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need”, and collaborations from artists like Sam Fender. Creative contributions behind the scenes are also recognised, with Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year honouring the people shaping the sound of modern pop.
International categories bring global heavyweights into the mix. International Artist of the Year includes Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, and Bad Bunny, while International Group of the Year and International Song of the Year reflect the UK’s increasingly global listening habits.
Rounding things off, the Rising Star Award (previously the Critic’s Choice Award) has already gone to Jacob Alon, continuing the BRITs’ tradition of predicting the next breakout name.
All in all, the 2026 nominations feel less about one dominant sound and more about celebrating everything happening at once, which might be exactly what British music needs right now.