Manchester legends, suprise appearances from Bjork and Dua Lipa, and a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne complete with a message from Dolly Parton – this was the Brit Awards 2026.
Olivia Dean was the night’s big success story, taking home four awards including artist of the year and best album, and there were also wins for acts including Sam Fender, Wolf Alice, Lola Young and Dave.
But as much as celebrating the winners, the Brits is all about the performances, the surprises, the bits you don’t see.
This year’s ceremony took place in Manchester for the first time. Here are our stand-out moments for 2026.
Manchester’s finest all on the guest-list
When you move the party to Manchester, there are certain people you have to invite. Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez are of course on the guestlist, and you need a Gallagher brother in the mix.
Happily, Noel Gallagher was presented with a special award for songwriting, in honour of the back catalogue that soundtracked the summer when Oasis reunited last year.
Receiving a standing ovation as he walked on to the stage, he started with what would once have been uncharacteristic thanks to his little brother, Liam, and all the musicians who played in Oasis over the years. “I’ve got to thank my brother,” he began, pausing for the inevitable cheer from the crowd. “And Bonehead and Guigsy, Tony McCarroll, Alan White, Gem (Archer) and Andy (Bell), they brought those songs to life.
“Without them, I’d just be a singer-songwriter, and no one gives a sh*t about singer-songwriters. But more importantly I’d like to thank you, the people who’ve kept those songs alive for the last 35 years.”
Gallagher’s award presentation included a surprise video message from an honorary Manchester legend – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who told him to share the award with Liam.
Ryder and Bez were suitably chaotic as host Jack Whitehall visited their table.
Ryder told Whitehall he doesn’t remember a lot about Brits ceremonies in the band’s 1980s heyday, but does recall a story about being let off during a police bust because he had to be at the show. Which is, as Whitehall rightly puts it, the most “on brand story” they could have told.
The key to their friendship is their “42-year sexless marriage”, they added.
Surprise guests
The Brits has a history of putting together unique collaborations, from Five and Queen, to Justin Timberlake and Kylie Minogue, and Rihanna and The Klaxons.
But this year they really pulled out the stops, with Bjork joining the genre-bending Rosalia during one of the night’s stand-out performances, James Blunt playing the piano for Alex Warren, and Dua Lipa arriving on a giant disco ball for Mark Ronson’s celebratory show marking an outstanding achievement award.
Ronson’s hit medley also featured Ghostface Killa and a cameo from Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno, with vocals from the late Amy Winehouse for Back To Black and Valerie.
Harry Styles opens the show
When Harry Styles was last at the Brits in 2023, he cleaned up in similar fashion to Dean.
This was his return, an exclusive TV performance of his new single, Aperture, and no doubt he’ll be back here again with more nominations in 2027 following the much-anticipated release of his new album next month.
Styles arrived at the ceremony in a baggy, double-breasted, pinstripe womenswear suit by Chanel, teamed with black ballet flats, and kept the look, minus the jacket, to perform on stage.
He was joined by a gospel choir for the performance, which opened with synchronised hand shaking and head movements and concluded in the same way. It was kind of giving A-level drama performance vibes, if your A-level drama performance had been given a top budget and slickly produced.
It’s an A* from us.
What was cut?
The show went out live on ITV, but Whitehall was quick to make a joke about the BAFTAs controversy last weekend.
The Brits ceremony can sometimes get a bit “raucous”, he said, but reassured viewers there was someone operating the bleep button.
“It’s the guy who did the BAFTAs, he’s the best in the business,” Whitehall joked.
Several incidents of swearing, a joke about Lord Peter Mandelson, and a shout of “free Palestine” were all censored.
Whitehall made the Mandelson joke as he came across Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, telling him the Brits is “the only party he’s allowed into these days”.
When it came to speeches, most steered away from politics. New York rock band Geese didn’t, though, with drummer Max Bassin collecting the award for best international group and saying: “What’s up the Brits? I just want to say: free Palestine, f*** ICE, RIP Mani, let’s go Geese. Thank you.”
‘There will never be another Ozzy Osbourne’
The night ended with an all-star tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, fronted by Robbie Williams.
Before the set, Sharon and Kelly Osbourne went on stage to collect a lifetime achievement award honouring the heavy metal legend following his death last year.
To introduce the award, US country legend Dolly Parton appeared via video link and said Osbourne’s legacy had “left a permanent imprint in the fabric of music lovers everywhere”.
Parton then called Sharon up to the stage.
Read more:
Brits 2026: Red carpet fashion
The full list of winners
The Brit Awards in Manchester as it happened
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“Ozzy was authentic,” Sharon said. “He was a gifted, totally unpredictable, wild man. He was a true artist.”
Calling him a “humble egomaniac”, she also praised everything her husband achieved.
“He was always proud to be that working-class Brummie and never let anyone forget it,” she said.
Kelly then thanked the audience for loving her father “as much as we do”. Referencing Ozzy’s football team, Aston Villa, she said: “I hope I don’t disrespect Manchester by saying this, but up the Villa and Birmingham forever.”
Sharon added: “There will never be another Ozzy f****** Osbourne.”
Tributes to Mani and Amy Winehouse
There were also tributes to Stone Roses bassist Mani during the show, with The Charlatans frontman leading the In Memoriam section and calling him “one of the phenomenal ones”.
Ronson also paid tribute to Amy Winehouse, recalling how they wrote her hit song Back To Black and how it changed his life.
Speaking about the artists he went on to work with, from Lady Gaga to Bruno Mars, he said: “I know the music I made with Amy is the reason that any of them know who I am anyway. That’s why I always treasure her voice, her talent and our bond, all of it.”
