Dua Lipa made a surprise appearance she and Harry Styles led the performances at the BRIT Awards 2026 at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena on Saturday evening.
The songstress, 30, took to the stage during a star-studded celebration in honour of producer Marc Ronson and was lowered onto the stage via a huge disco ball.
Dua looked nothing short of incredible as she first entered in a furry jacket before removing it to reveal a skimpy black playsuit and knee high boots.
The stunner performed Dance The Night By Barbie, while fellow musicians played a number of Marc’s other tracks, including paying tribute to the late Amy Winehouse.
Meanwhile Harry, 32, send fans wild as he made his first red carpet appearance and much anticipated return to the stage following a three year career break.
Oozing confidence he cut a stylish figure, swapping his usual sequinned stage outfits for a subdued shirt and tie for very memorable routine.
Dua Lipa made a surprise appearance she and Harry Styles led the performances at the BRIT Awards 2026 at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena on Saturday evening
Harry, 32, send fans wild as he made his first red carpet appearance and much anticipated return to the stage following a three year career break
The songstress, 30, took to the stage during a star-studded celebration in honour of producer Marc Ronson and was lowered onto the stage via a huge disco ball
Joined by a huge group of dancers he strutted his stuff energetically in a perfectly choreographed routine, complete with spirit fingers.
Fans rushed to social media, gushing: ‘He is so back!’: ‘That Harry Styles BRITs performance was GENUINELY incredible we are so back !!!!’: ‘HARRY STYLES ATE SO HARD’: ‘I just love harry styles’: ‘HARRY STYLES IS BAAAAAACK’: ‘
‘That was an EXTRAORDINARY performance from Harry Styles! The dancing, the dancers, the hands shaking, the gospel singers! He really levelled up and got a standing, screaming ovation from the audience! So unbelievably proud’.
Hitting the red carpet earlier in the evening, Harry wore his stage outfit but completed the suit with a double breasted blazer.
Later Olivia Dean, fresh off her win for Best Song Of the Year for her and Sam Fender’s Rein It In, to perform her solo track Man I Need.
The stunner, 26, sizzled in a sequinned mini dress and oozed old fashioned glamour as she showed off her incredible vocals.
Following her record breaking six awards at the 2024 ceremony, Raye was back and received a standing ovation from the Manchester audience.
She looked gorgeous in an embroidered gown with flowing train as she entertained the crowd with Where’s My Husband and her new release Nightingale Lane.
The heartbreak ballad is from the British singer’s forthcoming album, titled This Music May Contain Hope, slated for release on March 27.
Meanwhile Icelandic icon Bjork, 60, made a surprise appearance during Rosalia’s performance as she was welcomed to the stage by the Spanish songstress for a rendition of their song Berghain.
Dua looked nothing short of incredible as she first entered in a furry jacket before removing it to reveal a skimpy black playsuit and knee high boots
The stunner performed Dance The Night By Barbie, while fellow musicians played a number of Marc’s other tracks, including paying tribute to the late Amy Winehouse
The hitmaker showcased her jaw-dropping figure
She put on a very leggy display as she she strutted her stuff on stage
Her appearance was a total surprise to both viewers and the arena crowd
Oozing confidence he cut a stylish figure, swapping his usual sequinned stage outfits for a subdued shirt and tie for very memorable routine
Hitting the red carpet earlier in the evening, Harry wore his stage outfit but completed the suit with a double breasted blazer
Joined by a huge group of dancers he strutted his stuff energetically in a perfectly choreographed routine, complete with spirit fingers
The former One Direction star appeared in his element as he returned to the stage
The huge group of back up dancers all wore tight black T-shirts and shades
As he strutted his stuff on stage fans, rushed to social media, gushing: ‘He is so back!’
While others branded him ‘incredible’ and the ‘king of pop’
Bjork ensured all eyes were on her in a blue sculpted futuristic gown which she wore with an equally dramatic black headpiece.
Her dark locks were worn in buns, with dramatic make-up, while Rosalia opted for a simple white dress as she jumped about the stage during the engertic set.
Host Jack Whitehall described their perfomance, which included both opera and techno as a mix of ‘Last Night Of The Proms’ and ‘Pacha in Ibiza’.
The 46th edition of the BRIT Awards launch at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena for the first time tonight.
Since removing gendered categories, such as Best Male and Best Female, the ceremony has faced backlash for the low number of female artists nominated, particularly in 2023 when the Artist Of The Year shortlist was entirely male.
But 2026 will ring in the changes, with 70 percent of this year’s nominations being female or non-binary.
Lola Young and Olivia Dean lead the nominations with five each, closely followed by comeback queen Lily Allen, who has been recognised in three categories for her critically acclaimed fifth album, West End Girl.
The singer, 40, used the album to chronicle the collapse of her marriage to Stranger Things star David Harbour and his alleged infidelities while they were together.
She will go up against both Young and Dean for Artist Of The Year at the ceremony, while also competing for Album Of The Year and Pop Act.
Lola, 24, is also up for Breakthrough Artist and Alternative/Rock Act, but it is unknown if she will attend the ceremony.
Later Olivia Dean, fresh off her win for Best Song Of the Year for her and Sam Fender’s Rein It In, to perform her solo track Man I Need
The stunner, 26, sizzled in a sequinned mini dress and oozed old fashioned glamour as she showed off her incredible vocals
Olivia looked nothing short of sensational as she belted out one of her biggest hits
Following her record breaking six awards at the 2024 ceremony, Raye was back and received a standing ovation from the Manchester audience
She looked gorgeous in an embroidered gown with flowing train as she entertained the crowd with Where’s My Husband and her new release Nightingale Lane
. The heartbreak ballad is from the British singer’s forthcoming album, titled This Music May Contain Hope, slated for release on March 27
Bjork made a surprise appearance during Rosalia’s performance
The Icelandic icon, 60, cut a very kooky figure as she was welcomed to the stage by the Spanish songstress, 33 (Rosalia pictured)
Bjork made a surprise appearance during Rosalia’s performance at the 2026 Brit Awards in Manchester on Saturday evening
The orchestra-packed number was described by host Jack Whitehall as everything from ‘Last Night Of The Proms to Pacha in Ibiza’
Rei Ami, EJAE and Audrey Nuna from the group Huntr/x performed their smash hit Golden
Wolf Alice was another band to perform on the biggest night in UK music
Singer Ellie Roswell was carried by dancers during the performance
Following the announcement, she said: ‘Five BRIT nominations, how is this even possible? I’ve had this dream a thousand times, so I’m slightly convinced that my alarm clock is about to wake me up.
‘Seriously, this means so much to me. I am so grateful for this moment and to be nominated alongside the incredible other nominees.’
Olivia, 26, became the first woman to claim the UK’s No 1 single and album in the same week since Adele in 2021, with her song Man I Need and album The Art Of Loving, both released in 2025.
She has been nominated in five categories and will be performing at the Award ceremony.
‘To go from being a student of The BRIT School in the crowd to being a performer 10 years later is really crazy, and I’m so excited to see everyone in Manchester,’ the singer shared in January.
Elsewhere, British rapper Dave has been recognised in three categories: Artist Of The Year, Album Of The Year, and Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act.
The 27-year-old released his third studio album, The Boy Who Played The Harp, in 2025 and has since become the first British rap artist to debut three albums at number one in the UK’s official chart.
Raye has been recognised in just one category this year, after scooping a record-breaking six awards last year.
The singer, 28, scooped the first gong presented on the night, Song of the Year for her hit Escapism ft 070 Shake, shortly before also taking home the R&B Act gong and Best New Artist.
She currently holds the record for the most BRIT Awards won at a single ceremony, a record which previously stood at four, jointly held by Blur in 1995, Adele in 2016, and Harry Styles in 2023.
Raye has also been announced as the final act to perform at this year’s BRIT Awards.
The singer, whose real name is Rachel Keen, will take to the stage during the star-studded show.
Speaking ahead of her performance, Raye said: ‘We are so grateful to the BRIT Awards for having us back on their stage. Me and the band are very excited. Lots of love, Raye.’
British icons Pulp have received their first nomination for Group of the Year since 1996.
Hollywood is also well represented in this year’s nominations, as Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters group HUNTR/X are nominated for International Song of the Year with Golden, and are shortlisted for International Group.
Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo has secured her first nomination with her rendition of Wicked’s Defying Gravity in contention for Song of the Year with Mastercard.
Other international stars up for awards include Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan.
The BRIT Awards have been held annually at London’s O2 Arena since 2011, but the Daily Mail revealed that the annual showpiece, regarded as the biggest night in British music, will be held in Manchester this year and is likely to move around the UK in different locations for the foreseeable future.
BRIT Awards 2026: WINNERS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dave
Fred Again…
JADE
Lily Allen
Little Simz
Lola Young
Olivia Dean – WINNER
PinkPantheress
Sam Fender
Self Esteem
GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Last Dinner Party
Pulp
Sleep Token
Wet Leg
Wolf Alice – WINNER
SONG OF THE YEAR (VOTED FOR BY THE PUBLIC)
Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas – Blessings
Chrystal and Notion – The Days (Notion remix)
Cynthia Erivo ft Ariana Grande – Defying Gravity
Ed Sheeran – Azizam
Fred Again, Skepta and 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 with Olivia Dean – Rein Me In – WINNER
Skye Newman – Family Matters
INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR (VOTED FOR BY THE PUBLIC)
Alex Warren – Ordinary
Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club
Disco Lines and Tinashe – No Broke Boys
Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
Gracie Abrams – That’s So True
Huntr/x – Golden
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Rayvn Lenae – Love Me Not
Rosé and Bruno Mars – APT – WINNER
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
sombr – Undressed
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Noel Gallagher – WINNER
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC
Mark Ronson – WINNER
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bad Bunny
Chappell Roan
CMAT
Doechii
Lady Gaga
ROSALIA – WINNER
Sabrina Carpenter
sombre
Taylor Swift
Tyler, The Creator
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Barry Can’t Swim
EsDeeKid
Jim Legxacy
Lola Young – WINNER
Skye Newman
INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Geese – WINNER
HAIM
HUNTR/X-EJAE/AUDREY NUNA/REI AMI
ALTERNATIVE ROCK ACT
Blood Orange
Lola Young
Sam Fender – WINNER
Wet Leg
Wolf Alice
HIP HOP/GRIME/RAP ACT
Central Cee
Dave – WINNER
Jim Legxacy
Little Simz
Loyle Carner
R&B ACT
Jim Legxacy
Kwn
Mabel
Sasha Keable
Sault – WINNER
DANCE ACT
Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas
FKA twigs
Fred Again, Skepta, PlaqueBoyMax – WINNER
PinkPantheress
Sammy Virji
MASTERCARD ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
Lily Allen – West End Girl
Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving – WINNER
Sam Fender – People Watching
Wolf Alice – The Clearing