The BRIT Awards made a bold move in 2026 by ditching London and heading to Manchester, England, the crown jewel in the U.K.’s music scene, for the Saturday (Feb. 28) ceremony. The completed performer lineup is suitably packed with massive names, both domestic and international.
Related
Harry Styles is undeniably the headline name. With his new album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally due for release in just over a week on March 6, Styles will give his first live performance since 2023 at the BRIT Awards; it follows his single “Aperture” hitting No. 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100.
He’s not up for any awards this year, but is a perennial winner at the BRITs. Styles has won 11 total over the years (five as a member of One Direction, six as a solo act), and in 2023, scooped four, including album of the year, the evening’s top prize. The Co-op Live will also feel familiar: He’s a minority investor in the Oak View Group-operated venue, and is set to perform live there again on album release day for a full live show.
Olivia Dean will hit the BRITs stage for the first time, and is likely to be the biggest winner of the night: She’s nominated five times, and in our predictions, we expect her to take at least three trophies home with her.
Previous winner RAYE, who is up for two prizes (song of the year and pop act), returns to the ceremony as a performer and follows her staggering night at 2024’s edition; she collected six awards, the most any act has taken home in a single BRITs ceremony.
“Where Is My Husband!” is up for song of the year, and has become a radio staple, streaming success and hit No. 1 in the U.K. She’s also started teasing a new song “Nightingale Lane” on her social media profiles, and could opt to use the spot for something fresh.
Rosalía will make her BRITs debut and could also make history: If she triumphs in the international artist of the year category, she would be the first Spanish-speaking act to do so. (This also applies to Bad Bunny, who is nominated in the same category.) Americans Alex Warren and sombr will also hit the BRITs stage for the first time to bring some further international intrigue.
Following the group’s performance at the 2026 BAFTAs on Feb. 22, HUNTR/X — the singing trio behind KPop Demon Hunters’ hit soundtrack — will also set a new record as the first K-pop group to perform at the ceremony. Composed of EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, HUNTR/X’s performance of “Golden” will actually take place outside the main venue and will be pre-recorded.
Wolf Alice is a frontrunner in the group of the year and alternative/rock act fields, and will perform a track from its 2025 U.K. No. 1 album The Clearing. This year’s outstanding contribution to music honoree, Mark Ronson, will also hit the stage, potentially with a medley of hits from throughout his career with help from some famous names. He counts RAYE, Lily Allen, Dua Lipa and more as former collaborators.
While it would be foolish to rule any names out, the full performance lineup does hint toward some of our category winners. There are notable absences: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Dave, Lady Gaga, Lola Young and Chappell Roan, among them. They could well be in the running for their prizes and still attend, though the performer lineup could tick off a large portion of Saturday’s winners.
There could be surprises, too. In a recent interview, Stacey Tang, RCA Records co-president and chair of the BRITs committee, hinted toward a few curveballs and unannounced names for the night. The Grammys hosted a posthumous tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in its ceremony earlier this month — will the BRITs follow suit?
In the U.K., the ceremony will be broadcast live on ITV and streaming service ITV X. For overseas viewers, YouTube will livestream the event and post clips from the night. Comedian Jack Whitehall will host for a sixth time, while guest presenters are being kept a closely guarded secret. We will update this post if and when additional names are announced.
Performers
Harry Styles
Olivia Dean
Wolf Alice
Alex Warren
Rosalía
HUNTR/X
Mark Ronson
Sombr
RAYE
