The 2020 BRIT Awards snuck in just before that pandemic thing, and so it was only a fifteen month wait between awards. Famed as the first indoor music event in the UK in over a year, Jack Whitehall presented the ceremony at the O2 Arena in London on 11 May.
Male Solo Artist
Nominees:
- AJ Tracey
- Headie One
- J Hus
- Joel Corry
- Yungblud
Winner: J Hus
Female Solo Artist
Nominees:
- Arlo Parks
- Celeste
- Dua Lipa
- Jessie Ware
- Lianne La Havas
Winner: Dua Lipa
British Group
Nominees:
- Bicep
- Biffy Clyro
- Little Mix
- The 1975
- Young T & Bugsey
Winner: Little Mix
British Single with Mastercard
Nominees:
- 220 Kid & GRACEY – Don’t Need Love
- Aitch & AJ Tracey feat. Tay Keith – Rain
- Dua Lipa – Physical
- Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar
- Headie One feat. AJ Tracey and Stormzy – Ain’t It Different
- Joel Corry feat. MNEK – Head & Heart
- Nathan Dawe feat. KSI – Lighter
- Regard & RAYE – Secrets
- S1MBA feat. DTG – Rover
- Young T & Bugsey feat. Headie One – Don’t Rush
Winner: Harry Styles
Breakthrough Artist
Winner:
- Arlo Parks
- Bicep
- Celeste
- Joel Corry
- Young T & Bugsey
Winner: Arlo Parks
International Female Solo Artist
Nominees:
- Ariana Grande
- Billie Eilish
- Cardi B
- Miley Cyrus
- Taylor Swift
Winner: Billie Eilish
International Male Solo Artist
Nominees:
- Bruce Springsteen
- Burna Boy
- Childish Gambino
- Tame Impala
- The Weeknd
Winner: The Weeknd
International Group
Nominees:
- BTS
- Fontaines D.C.
- Foo Fighters
- Haim
- Run The Jewels
Winner: Haim
Global Icon
Winner: Taylor Swift
Mastercard Album
Nominees:
- Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
- Celeste – Not Your Muse
- Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
- J Hus – Big Conspiracy
- Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure?
Winner: Dua Lipa
BRITs Rising Star
Nominees:
- Griff
- Pa Salieu
- Rina Sawayama
Winner: Griff
Performances included Coldplay, Olivia Rodrigo, Elton John with Years & Years (performing It’s a Sin, which was apparently also supposed to include Pet Shop Boys but they turned out to be unable to join for rights reasons), Pink, and many others.
There was also some rumbling controversy this year due to Sam Smith identifying as non-binary, and so not fitting any of the common “male”, “female”, or “group” categories. It will be interesting to see how this comes to be addressed in future years, as the categories are as old as the ceremony itself.
You can see the official list of winners here.
Music for stowaways 