Olivia Dean, Lola Young and Lily Allen nominated for 2026 Brit Awards

Olivia Dean and Lola Young are the most nominated acts for year’s Brit Awards ceremony with five each.

Britpop band Pulp have scored their first nomination in 30 years, in the best group category.

The nominations were announced on Wednesday evening at a livestreamed event from Co-op Live in Manchester, where Sam Fender, the most recent recipient of the Mercury Prize, received four nominations.

Lily Allen, whose album West End Girl caused a stir when it was released last year, is nominated in three categories – for best album, artist of the year, and pop act.

Her first album in seven years, it is said to detail the alleged infidelity of her ex-husband, US actor David Harbour.

Singer-songwriter Dean is up for best pop act, artist of the year, best album for The Art of Loving, and best song for Man I Need.

Dean, 26, said it “feels crazy” to have five nominations, adding: “I remember watching the Brits on TV when I was younger, and having gone to Brit School and now having this full circle moment 10 years later, attending the awards is going to feel very emotional.”

Young, whose hit single Messy also earns her a nomination in the best song category, is also up for best pop act and artist of the year, as well as breakthrough act.

She said receiving five nominations feels like a dream, adding: “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.

“This means so much to me, I am so grateful for this moment.”

Fender is also nominated for artist of the year, alternative rock act, and best album for his release People Watching, as well as best song for Rein Me In, his collaboration with Dean.

The singer said he is “thankful” for his four nominations, and “forever grateful” for his fans.

London-born actress and singer Cynthia Erivo is nominated for best song for Defying Gravity, featuring Ariana Grande, from the film Wicked.

Dean and Young face tough competition in the artist of the year category, which is dominated by female acts including Jade, Pink Pantheress and Self Esteem.

Rising star, Lewisham-born rapper, singer and producer Jim Legxacy, receives a nod in the breakthrough category, where he is up against Barry Can’t Swim, EsDeeKid, Young, and Skye Newman, the recent winner of BBC Radio 1’s Sound Of 2026.

Pulp, who are up for best group – the same award they were nominated for in 1996, but did not win – will go head to head with The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg, Wolf Alice and Sleep Token.

Wolf Alice singer Ellie Rowsell said she was “floored” by the band’s three nominations, adding: “I worked as a waitress at the Brits when I was a teenager, I served the Pussycat Dolls’ table.

“It’s a strange thing to return as a nominee, for which I am very grateful.”

In the best album category Dave is nominated for The Boy Who Played The Harp, alongside Wolf Alice for The Clearing, and the releases from Dean, Allen and Fender.

Legxacy is also nominated for best hip hop, grime and rap act – alongside Dave, Central Cee, Little Simz and Loyle Carner – while he gets a nod for R&B act too.

That category also has nominations for Kwn, Mabel, Sasha Keable, and Sault.

In song of the year, Ed Sheeran’s Azizam goes up against Lewis Capaldi with Survive, Raye with Where Is My Husband, and Newman with Family Matters.

Alex Warren’s Ordinary is competing with US popstars including Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter in the international song of the year category.

Warren, 25, described the nomination as “an incredible honour”, and said it feels “completely surreal”.

It was also revealed that the public will be able to cast their votes in the song of the year and international song of the year categories via WhatsApp.

According to the Brits, women and non-binary artists have seen the highest representation in its history, accounting for 69.2% of nominees.

The nomination ceremony was hosted by DJ and radio presenter Sarah Story and influencer Charley Marlowe.

Marlowe, 25, announced she will be hosting the red carpet coverage for the award ceremony next month, alongside TV presenter Tyler West.

Scottish singer Jacob Alon was previously announced as the winner of the Brit Critics Choice Award 2026.

The prize seeks to identify future stars of the UK music scene, and the winner is selected by a panel of music editors and critics from across the industry.

Alon, from Dunfermline, Fife, was on a shortlist alongside indie artist Rose Gray and singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro who recently went viral on social media for her single, Die On This Hill.

The awards, hosted by comedian and actor Jack Whitehall, will be broadcast live on February 28 on ITV and ITVX.

The full list of nominees are:

Artist of the year:

Dave
Fred Again
Jade
Lily Allen
Little Simz
Lola Young
Olivia Dean
Pink Pantheress
Sam Fender
Self Esteem

Group of the year:

The Last Dinner Party
Pulp
Sleep Token
Wet Leg
Wolf Alice

Album of the year:

Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
Lily Allen – West End Girl
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
Sam Fender – People Watching
Wolf Alice – The Clearing

Breakthrough artist of the year:

Barry Can’t Swim
EsDeeKid
Jim Legxacy
Lola Young
Skye Newman

International artist:

Bad Bunny
Chappell Roan
CMAT
Doechii
Lady Gaga
Rosalia
Sabrina Carpenter
Sombr
Taylor Swift
Tyler The Creator

International group of the year:

Geese
HAIM
HUNTR/X – EJAE/Audrey Nuna/REI AMI
Tame Impala
Turnstile

Song of the year:

Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas – Blessings
Chrystal and Notion – The Days (Notion Remix)
Cynthia Erivo featuring Ariana Grande – Defying Gravity
Ed Sheeran – Azizam
Fred Again, PlaqueBoyMax, and Skepta – 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 and Olivia Dean – Rein Me In
Skye Newman – Family Matters

International song of the year:

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 – EJAE/Audrey Nuna/REI AMI – Golden
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – die with a smile
Ravyn Lenae – Love Me Not
Rose and Bruno Mars – APT
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Sombr – Undressed
Taylor Swift – The Fate Of Ophelia

Alternative and Rock act:

Blood Orange
Lola Young
Sam Fender
Wet Leg
Wolf Alice

Pop act:

Jade
Lily Allen
Lola Young
Olivia Dean
Raye

Hip hop, grime and rap act:

Central Cee
Dave
Jim Legxacy
Little Simz
Loyle Carner

R&B act:

Jim Legxacy
Kwn
Mabel
Sasha Keable
SAULT

Dance act:

Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas
FKA Twigs
Fred Again, PlaqueBoyMax, and Skepta
Pink Pantheress
Sammy Virji