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Brit Awards relocate to Manchester as Olivia Dean claims top honours
The UK's annual music awards ceremony made its debut outside London on Saturday, with Olivia Dean emerging as the night's biggest winner after securing four trophies. The 26-year-old singer-songwriter triumphed in the best British artist, best pop act, best album, and song of the year categories during the event held at Manchester's Co-op Live arena.
Dean's emotional victory and standout performances
Dean, visibly moved, dedicated her album The Art of Loving to "love and loving each other in a world that feels loveless." She later performed Man I Need, one of several top-10 hits from her critically acclaimed second album, which blends jazz-infused vocals with themes of romance and vulnerability. Her quadruple win follows her recent success at the Grammys, where she was named best new artist.
"I don't know if I ever really thought I'd get one [a Brit award], but I did!"
Olivia Dean
Historic wins and genre-defying moments
The ceremony celebrated diversity, with Rosalía becoming the first artist to win a Brit for music sung in a non-English language. The Catalan star, who took home the international artist award, used her acceptance speech to champion cultural differences. "Let's keep celebrating the otherness," she urged, later delivering a show-stopping performance of Berghain alongside Björk.
K-pop also marked a milestone as Rosé of Blackpink became the genre's first Brit winner, claiming international song of the year for her collaboration with Bruno Mars, APT. Meanwhile, Harry Styles opened the show with a high-energy rendition of Aperture, while Robbie Williams paid tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, who received a posthumous lifetime achievement award.
Manchester's night of music and tributes
The city embraced the event, with Deansgate train station temporarily renamed "Olivia Deansgate" in honour of the London-born star. PinkPantheress, who won producer of the year, even lent her voice to Manchester's Metrolink announcements, though she missed the ceremony due to prior commitments in Australia.
Tributes were paid to music legends, including Black Sabbath's Ozzy Osbourne, Stone Roses bassist Gary "Mani" Mounfield, and soul singer Roberta Flack. Mark Ronson, recipient of the outstanding achievement award, honoured Amy Winehouse, who appeared on screen during a medley of his hits.
Local heroes and industry challenges
Manchester's music scene was well represented, with Noel Gallagher winning songwriter of the year and bands like The Charlatans and Happy Mondays in attendance. Wolf Alice's Ellie Rowsell used her acceptance speech to highlight the struggles of independent artists, noting that 30 grassroots venues had closed in the past year. "It shouldn't be a battle to survive as a band," she said.
The evening also featured performances by Raye, who reimagined her hit Where Is My Husband!, and Dua Lipa, who joined Ronson for a dazzling rendition of Electricity.
