The BRIT Awards 2025 with Mastercard was back for another year tonight, live from The O2 arena in London in front of a live audience of music fans, music industry guests and BRIT School students, in celebration of the British and international artists that made the most impact in the last twelve months.
Once again in a primetime Saturday night slot, broadcast exclusively on ITV1 and ITVX, and streamed on YouTube for fans outside of the UK, the show was hosted by Jack Whitehall, at the helm for a fifth time, to lead viewers at home and the arena audience through 16 awards presentations and eight live performances, for the biggest night in British music.
The BRITs well and truly went BRAT on the night with Charli xcx winning five awards, having been the most nominated artist this year, for Mastercard Album of the Year for BRAT, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year with Mastercard (for ‘Guess featuring Billie Eilish’), the fan-voted Dance Act and BRITs Songwriter of the Year, which had been announced earlier this week.
After a Squid Game-inspired skit led by Jack Whitehall, Sabrina Carpenter opened the show with a spectacular two-song performance of ‘Espresso’ and ‘Bed Chem’ mixed with Rule Britannia, her set resplendent in Union Jack iconography and a troupe of Beefeaters, before transforming into a lush pink and red boudoir. She was later presented with the BRITs Global Success award, in recognition of her phenomenal global sales, after a year where she dominated international charts and held the Official UK Charts #1 position for a combined 21 weeks in 2024. Ahead of her UK arena tour later this summer, music icon Diana Ross sent in a surprise video message to congratulate Sabrina on her win, before Sabrina was presented with the trophy in person by Millie Bobby Brown.
Another US star that has had an incredible year is Chappell Roan, and her success was rewarded with two award wins on the night, for both International Artist of the Year and International Song of the Year for ‘Good Luck, Babe!’. Chappell accepted her awards via video message. International Group of the Year went to Fontaines D.C., who also shared their acceptance by video message who shouted out fellow category nominee Amyl & The Sniffers.
Earlier in the show, International Artist of the Year nominee Teddy Swims also brought the bedroom to The BRITs with a soulful medley performance of ‘Bad Dreams’, ‘The Door’ before closing with a fire-tinged ’Lose Control’.
The evening included a moment of reflection, with a moving tribute to Liam Payne, who tragically passed away last October. Jack Whitehall addressed the audience first before a video montage was shown. The BRITs official programme, available to guests on the night as well as published on The BRITs website, included a written tribute, excerpt below:
“While Liam Payne's time in One Direction brought him global fame, it was his undeniable talent, dedication and charisma that made him an icon in the world of music. His contributions helped define the sound of a generation, with songs that remain as timeless as the bond he shared with his bandmates… Liam's talent endures through the countless lives he touched. He was not just a singer, he was a beacon of light for those who grew up with his work. May his music continue to live on in our hearts.”
Ezra Collective, who closed the show with a triumphant three-song medley featuring special guest Jorja Smith, took home their first BRIT award for Group of the Year, having been nominated in four categories this year, and following their 2023 Mercury Prize win. Following their bewitching performance of breakthrough track ‘Nothing Matters’, The Last Dinner Party were crowned Best New Artist, in recognition of their incredible trajectory since being identified as BRITs Rising Star winners in 2024 and used their speech to call for more support for independent live venues, and highlight the threats to the arts. The group also presented the 2025 BRITs Rising Star award on stage to Myles Smith, who addressed his concerns to the government in his acceptance speech and performed ‘Nice to Meet You’ and his BRIT-nominated single ‘Stargazing’. Pop Act nominee Lola Young performed a powerful rendition of her No. 1 single ‘Messy’ which, having spent 4 consecutive weeks at the top, was the longest a British woman had taken this position since Adele in 2021.
The winners of the five genre awards were once again decided by a fan vote, this year through WhatsApp as part of a wider Meta partnership. Ahead of her big multi-act pop performance of ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ later in the show, during which she ascended to the ceiling adorned by giant white wings, JADE took home Pop Act, her first BRIT award as a solo artist. Following the news of his record-breaking opening album release week, Sam Fender was presented with the award for Alternative/Rock Act, performing ‘People Watching’ later in the show accompanied by his band. Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act was presented by Bre Tiesi & Vick Hope to Stormzy, and last year’s record-breaking winner RAYE was awarded with R&B Act for the second time, accepting via video message.
Earlier on the Red Carpet Livestream which broadcast on The BRITs’ Instagram and Facebook, hosts Sian Welby and Zeze Millz presented longtime Charli xcx collaborator A. G. Cook with the Producer of the Year award, along with bringing viewers and fans all the action as nominees, performers, presenters and more arrived for the big night.
Presenters on the night included: Millie Bobby Brown, Paloma Faith, Jason Isaacs, Lenny Kravitz, Danny Dyer, Sugababes, Jared Leto, Martin Compston and Vicky McLure, Harriet Rose and Munya Chawawa.
In recent weeks, artists such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Kate Bush, Dua Lipa and Sam Fender have voiced profound concerns over government plans which would weaken the UK’s gold standard copyright, making it legal for global tech companies to train generative AI models using British music for free and without permission. Creators and rightsholders would in theory be able to ‘opt-out’ of training, but this is currently impossible to do in practice.
On The BRITs red carpet last night, artists including Paloma Faith, BRITs Rising Star winner Myles Smith, Lola Young, The Last Dinner Party, Rachel Chinouriri, FLO, Nia Archives and Serge Pizzorno (Kasabian) added their important voices to this growing creator opposition, supporting the launch of an upcoming new music industry campaign which is set to go live on Monday, 3rd March.
The BRITs 2025 was chaired by Damian Christian (Managing Director and President of Promotions at Atlantic Records, part of Warner Music UK) who oversaw the BRITs creative team which included set and stage design by Misty Buckley, BRITs TV Executive Producer Sally Wood and BRITs TV Director Phil Heyes. This year’s BRIT award was designed by acclaimed British-Nigerian multi-disciplinary artist Gabriel Moses.
Damian Christian commented: “I’m delighted that Charli was recognised on the biggest stage, she has had a phenomenal year and it’s only right she comes away with the accolades to match. And congratulations to all the winners, nominees and performers - tonight’s show was one for the history books! On a personal note, it’s been an honour Chairing the BRITs over the last three years, and I hope we’ve done the industry and our artists proud.”
The awards categories for Mastercard Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Group of the Year, Best New Artist, Song of the Year with Mastercard, International Artist of the Year, International Group of the Year and International Song of the Year were voted for by The BRITs Voting Academy; around 1300 people drawn from across the music industry including artists, managers, producers, publishers, retailers and media. The winners of the five genre awards - Alternative/Rock Act, Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act, Dance Act, Pop Act and R&B Act - were decided by public vote via WhatsApp. The BRITs Rising Star award shortlist is selected by an invited panel of music editors and critics from the national press, online music editors, heads of music at major radio and music TV stations plus songwriters, producers and live bookers - those working with new rising talent on a regular basis.
Mastercard celebrated their headline sponsorship which is now in its 27th year; ITV remained official broadcaster for the 32nd year, and The O2 arena hosted The BRITs for its 14th year.
These long-standing partnerships continue to support and amplify The BRITs’ vision and values, as the event maintains its fundraising for The BRIT Trust, the charitable arm of the awards, who distribute funds to charities that promote education and well-being through music, including The BRIT School and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.
Mastercard also continues to partner with The BRIT School to support and celebrate the next generation of creative talent.
And The Winners Are…. (in order presented on the night)
AWARD - BRITs PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (presented on The BRITs’ Red Carpet live stream)
Winner - A. G. Cook
Presenters: Sian Welby and Zeze Millz
AWARD - SONG OF THE YEAR WITH MASTERCARD
Winner - Charli xcx Ft Billie Eilish ‘Guess featuring billie eilish’
Presenter: Lenny Kravitz
AWARD - POP ACT
Winner - JADE
Presenters: Sugababes
AWARD - ALTERNATIVE / ROCK ACT
Winner - Sam Fender
Presenter: Serge Pizzorno
AWARD - BRITS RISING STAR
Winner - Myles Smith
Presenters: The Last Dinner Party
AWARD - DANCE ACT
Winner: Charli xcx
Presenter: Paloma Faith
AWARD - GROUP OF THE YEAR
Winner - Ezra Collective
Presenter: Naomie Harris
AWARD - BRITs GLOBAL SUCCESS
Winner - Sabrina Carpenter
Presenter: Millie Bobby Brown
AWARD - INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR
Winner: Chappell Roan ‘Good Luck, Babe!’
Presenter: Danny Dyer
AWARD - HIP HOP/GRIME/RAP ACT
Winner: Stormzy
Presenter: Bre Tiesi & Vick Hope
AWARD - R&B ACT
Winner: RAYE
Presenter: Jason Isaacs
AWARD - INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Winner: Fontaines D.C.
Presenters: Harriet Rose & Munya Chawawa
AWARD - BEST NEW ARTIST
Winner: The Last Dinner Party
Presenters: Emmet J Scanlon & Jourdan Dunn
AWARD - INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Chappell Roan
Presenter: Vicky McClure & Martin Compston
AWARD - ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Winner: Charli xcx
Presenter: Jared Leto
AWARD - SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Charli xcx
Presenter: Jack Whitehall
AWARD - MASTERCARD ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Charli xcx ‘BRAT’
Presenters: Teddy Swims