Olivia Dean, Lola Young and Sam Fender were among the huge names celebrating the wins at the 2026 BRIT Awards at a Universal afterparty in Manchester this weekend. Check out images from the night below.
For the three of them, the appearance came as they all led the field with the most nominations this year. Olivia Dean was nominated in an impressive five categories, and went home to take home Song of The Year for ‘Rein Me In’ with Sam Fender, Artist of The Year, Album of The Year for ‘The Art of Loving’, and Pop Act.
The awards mainly came in light of her hit album, which featured the huge single ‘Man I Need’. With the release, Dean became the first solo British female to simultaneously claim the Number One album and Number One single spots on the UK Official Charts since Adele in 2021.
As well as the joint win with Dean for ‘Rein Me In’, Fender also won Alternative/Rock Act – meaning he has five BRITs trophies to his name, as well as the 2025 Mercury Prize for ‘People Watching’.
For Lola Young, the singer appeared at the BRITs this year after performing there in 2025, and since performing and taking home a trophy at the 2026 Grammys last month. This time around, the former NME Cover star won in the Breakthrough Artist category, and was also nominated for Artist of The Year, Song of The Year for ‘Messy’, Pop Act and Alt/Rock Act.
They were all seen at the Universal afterparty in Manchester on Saturday night (February 28), after the awards ceremony was hosted live by Jack Whitehall at the Co-op Live in Manchester – the first time it has been held outside of London in nearly 50 years.
The Universal Music Group UK BRIT Awards Afterparty at The Ivy Spinningfields in Manchester, and also saw appearances from other winners on the night, including Critic’s Choice winner Jacob Alon, and Dave, who won Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act.
Others on the guestlist included Holly Humberstone, Self Esteem, Jeff Goldblum, Rose Gray, December 10, Femi of Ezra Collective, Harris Dickinson, Elliot James Reay, Francis Bourgeois, Stephen Libby, Bez, Arveene, Zezi and DJ Lamby.
DJ sets on the night came from Rose Gray, Femi of Ezra Collective, Bez, Arveene, Zezi and DJ Lamby, and Dickon Stainer, Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Group UK & Ireland, said: “To see Olivia Dean, Sam Fender, Lola Young, Dave and Jacob Alon win at the BRITs is a statement of intent for UK talent on the world stage. A new wave of global artistry is here, and it is British.”
The afterparty hosted by Universal came just one day after UMG UK hosted the Pre-BRIT Awards Showcase 2026 – an intimate artist showcase at Aviva Studios, which shone a spotlight on some of the UK’s most exciting musical talents including December 10, pop R&B trio FLO, and singer/songwriter Holly Humberstone.
As well as Dean, Performers at the 2026 BRITs included Harry Styles, who opened the evening with his first public performance in three years, as well as Bjork and Rosalía, Sombr, HUNTR/X’s EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, Wolf Alice, Mark Ronson, Robbie Williams, Alex Warren, and RAYE.
As well as Alon being named as Critic’s Choice winner, Noel Gallagher was awarded the Songwriter Of The Year award, PinkPantheress won Producer Of The Year, Ozzy Osbourne got the BRITs Lifetime Achievement Award, and Mark Ronson took home the trophy for Outstanding Contribution. See the full list of winners from the night here.
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