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Olivia Dean and Lola Young rule most diverse Brit Awards nominations ever

A huge 70% of this year's BRIT Award nominees are either women or non-binary artists. Former Brit School pupils Olivia Dean and Lola Young lead the pack with five nods ahead of the February 28 bash

[Olivia Dean live]

The Art of Awards - Olivia Dean is expected to clean up at the BRITs(Image: Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

Popstars Olivia Dean and Lola Young top this year's BRIT Awards nominations billed as the most diverse yet.

70% of the nominated acts are either women or non-binary artists, with Dean and Young earning an impressive five nods apiece including the all important Artist Of The Year category.

Both singers are graduates of the prestigious BRIT School, the free arts school in London that has launched many superstar careers including Amy Winehouse and Adele.

Lola, who is also up for the Breakthrough prize 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."

[Lola Young]

Nothing Messy about Lola Young's BRITs nominations(Image: Getty Images for Coachella)

Londoner Dean, whose nominated album The Art Of Loving has been the UKs biggest music export of the past two months, will also perform live at the ceremony next month.

She is favourite to clean up at the event and said: "It feels crazy to have 5 BRIT Award nominations, it's very surreal and I'm still processing it. 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 4 emotional.

"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."

Elsewhere Geordie hero Sam Fender said he was "forever grateful" for getting four BRITs nods, while comeback star Lily Allen joins Wolf Alice, Dave, Fred Again and rapper Jim Legxacy with three nominations each.

[Sam Fender]

Geordie hero Sam Fender could follow up his Mercury Prize win with BRITs(Image: Getty Images)

Britpop legends Pulp have also landed their first BRIT Award nomination in 30 years for Group Of The Year, exactly three decades after Jarvis Cocker famously interrupted Michael Jacksons live performance by waggling his bottom at viewers.

It could be a big night for KPop Demon Hunters fans too as the band behind soundtrack hits like Golden, HUNTR/X are in line for two gongs, taking on Taylor Swift for International Song Of The Year.

The BRIT Awards take place in Manchester for the first time at the new Co-op Live arena on Saturday February 28 and will be broadcast across ITV channels . Comedian Jack Whitehall returns to host the event for a sixth time.

[Brit Awards 2026]

This year's BRIT Awards take place February 28 in Manchester

The full list of BRIT Awards 2026 Nominations:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Dave

Fred Again

Jade

Lily Allen

Little Simz

Lola Young

Olivia Dean

Pink Pantheress

Sam Fender

Self Esteem

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Bad Bunny

Chappell Roan

C-MAT

Doechi

Lady Gaga

Rosalia

Sabrina Carpenter

Sombr

Taylor Swift

Tyler The Creator

[Pulp on stage]

Will Jarvis Cocker flash his bottom again this year?(Image: Getty Images)

GROUP OF THE YEAR

Last Dinner Party

Pulp

Sleep Token

Wet Leg

Wolf Alice

INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Geese

HAIM

HUNTR/X

Tame Impala

Turnstile

MASTERCARD 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

[Rapper Dave]

Past winner Dvve is up for three more gongs(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

BREAKTHROUGH

Barry Can't Swim

SD KID

Jim Legxacy

Lola Young

Skye Newman

SONG OF THE YEAR

Blessings / Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas

The Days / Chrystal

Defying Gravity / Cynthia Erivo

Azizam / Ed Sheeran

Victory Lap / Fred Again, PlaqueBoyMax, Skepta

Survive / Lewis Capaldi

Messy / Lola Young

Nice To Meet You / Myles Smith

Man I Need / Olivia Dean

Where's My Husband! / Raye

Rein Me In / Sam Fender & Olivia Dean

Family Matters / Skye Newman

INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR

Ordinary / Alex Warren

Pink Pony Club / Chappell Roan

No Broke Boys / Disco Lines & Tinashe

Sailor Song / Gigi Perez

That's So True / Gracie Abrams

Golden / HUNTER /X

Die With A Smile / Lady Gaga 7 Bruno Mars

Love Me Not / Ravyn Lenae

APT / Rose & Bruno Mars

Manchild / Sabrina Washington

Undressed / Sombr

The fate Of Ophelia / Taylor Swift

[Kpop Demon Hunters singers]

Could be a Golden BRITs for HUNTR/X up for two awards(Image: Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

DANCE ACT

Calvin Harris / Clementine Douglas

FKA Twigs

Fred Again / PlaqueBoyMax / Skepta

Pink Pantheress

Sammy Virji

POP ACT

Jade

Lily Allen

Lola Young

Olivia Dean

Raye

[Lily Allen]

West End Girl Lily Allen is back in awards mix(Image: WireImage)

ALTERNATIVE / ROCK ACT

Blood Orange

Lola Young

Sam Fender

Wet Leg

Wolf Alice

HIP HOP / GRIME / RAP ACT

Central Cee

Dave

Jim Legxacy

Little Simz

Loyle Carner

CRITICS CHOICE WINNER

Jacob Alon

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR and SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR awards to be announced at later date.

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