AceShowbiz - The 2026 BRIT Awards, held on February 28 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, witnessed historic achievements by several artists, including Olivia Dean, Rosalía, Rosé, PinkPantheress, Sam Fender, and Wolf Alice.

Olivia Dean emerged as the night’s biggest winner, securing four awards: British Artist of the Year, Mastercard Album of the Year, Song of the Year (shared with Sam Fender), and Best Pop Act. Sam Fender also added to his accolades by winning Alternative/Rock Act for the second consecutive year.

Women continued their dominant run in multiple key categories, particularly in the gender-neutral British Artist of the Year award, which has been won by female solo artists in four of the five years since its inception. Previous winners include Adele, RAYE, and Charli XCX, with Harry Styles being the only male recipient to date.

Dean’s album, The Art of Loving, won Album of the Year, marking the third consecutive year a female solo artist has taken home this prestigious honor. This streak follows wins by RAYE’s My 21st Century Blues two years ago and Charli XCX’s Brat last year, representing a historic first for women at the BRITs.

The International Song of the Year was awarded to "APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars, continuing a five-year streak of female solo artists winning this category, often collaborating with prominent male artists. This year’s win follows previous victories by Olivia Rodrigo, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, and Chappell Roan.

Below is a closer look at the artists who made history at the 2026 BRIT Awards.

Olivia Dean, who recently won Best New Artist at the Grammys, stands as the fourth artist to win multiple BRIT Awards over a two-year breakthrough period, joining the ranks of Dua Lipa, Sam Smith, and Culture Club. The Song of the Year award went to "Rein Me In," a collaboration between Dean and Fender. This marks the third consecutive year that a collaboration has won Song of the Year, following Charli XCX featuring Billie Eilish and RAYE featuring 070 Shake. Notably, "Rein Me In" is the first British-only collaboration to win since Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa’s "One Kiss" seven years ago.

Rosalía made history as the first Latin artist to win International Artist of the Year. The Spanish superstar is also expected to have a strong showing at the 2026 Grammys, where her album LUX is a frontrunner for Album of the Year. Bad Bunny was also nominated in this category, with votes cast prior to his widely praised Super Bowl halftime show performance.

Rosé became the first K-pop artist ever to win a BRIT Award when "APT." secured Best International Song. Although K-pop groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, and HUNTR/X have been nominated for Best International Group in the past, none have yet won in that category. Rosé’s success reflects her broad appeal beyond any niche genre.

PinkPantheress set a milestone by becoming the first woman to win British Producer of the Year, an award presented almost annually since 1982. At 24, she is also the youngest recipient ever, surpassing previous record holders Steve Levine and Fred again.., who were 26 when they won in 1984 and 2020 respectively. It is noteworthy that no woman has ever won the Grammy for Producer of the Year (Non-Classical), an award given annually since 1975.

Sam Fender added to his legacy with his second consecutive win as Best Alternative/Rock Act, and his third in five years. Fender is the first artist to win three times in any genre category since the BRITs introduced these awards five years ago. Meanwhile, Dua Lipa holds the record for most Best Pop Act wins, Becky Hill leads Best Dance Act, and Dave tops Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act—all with two wins each.

Dave secured the Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act award for the second time, having first won in 2022.

Wolf Alice became the first female-fronted group to win Group of the Year twice, having previously won in 2022. They are only the second group of any gender configuration to win twice in the past decade, alongside The 1975, who won in 2017 and 2019.

The 2026 BRIT Awards showcased a remarkable range of artists breaking records and setting new standards, particularly highlighting the growing influence and recognition of female artists in the UK and international music scenes. Their achievements not only reflect their individual talents but also signify shifting dynamics within the industry that prioritize diversity and collaboration across genres.

With the event concluding at Co-op Live in Manchester, the awards ceremony once again confirmed the BRIT Awards as a pivotal platform celebrating groundbreaking achievements in music, spotlighting both established stars and emerging talents who are shaping the future of the industry.