The Cosmic Watchdog

The nominations for this year’s Brit Awards have been revealed – and after Brat summer, now we have a Brat Brits.

The singer, whose sixth album was a viral hit last year, leads the nominations with five nods, including artist of the year, album of the year and song of the year for her hit Guess, with Billie Eilish.

Brat, which featured simple “slime green” artwork, was a huge hit for Charli xcx, whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison – inspiring everyone from presidential candidate Kamala Harris to the Collins Dictionary, which made it its word of the year for 2024.

In the Brits race, she is closely followed by Dua Lipa, who opened the 2024 ceremony and also headlined Glastonbury last year, who has four nominations – along with 2024 rising star winners The Last Dinner Party, and 2023 Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective.

This year also sees a nomination for The Beatles – their first since 1977 – for the song Now And Then, which was finished by Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr with the help of audio restoration and released in November.

And more than 30 years since their last Brits nomination, The Cure are back with three – following the release of their 14th album, Songs Of A Lost World, in 2024.

Elsewhere, there are nominations for international artists such as Beyonce, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter, as well as homegrown talent such as Central Cee, Fred again.., Sam Fender and former Little Mix star JADE.

Read more:
What is Brat?
How has pop music changed over the years?

It is also a great year for Myles Smith, who has already been named the winner of this year’s rising star award, which recognises up-and-coming musicians at the start of their career and is always announced ahead of the ceremony.

He is also up for three other gongs on the night – best new artist, song of the year – for Stargazing – and best pop act.

“Music has always been about connecting with people, and to see it resonate on this level is incredible,” Smith said of the rising star win.

The winners of the songwriter and producer of the year awards will also be announced ahead of the show in the coming weeks, organisers said.

Comedian Jack Whitehall is returning to host this year’s ceremony, which takes place at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday 1 March.

It will be his first time at the helm in four years, but fifth in total, after taking on the role for four consecutive years from 2018 to 2021.

Last year’s ceremony saw singer-songwriter Raye dominating, with a record number of wins.

The full list of nominations

Album of the year
Charli xcx – BRAT
The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World
Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism
Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy

Artist of the year
Beabadoobee
Central Cee
Charli xcx
Dua Lipa
Fred again..
Jamie xx
Michael Kiwanuka
Nia Archives
Rachel Chinouriri
Sam Fender

Group of the year
Bring Me The Horizon
Coldplay
The Cure
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party

Best new artist
English Teacher
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party
Myles Smith
Rachel Chinouriri

Song of the year
Artemas – i like the way you kiss me
The Beatles – Now And Then
BL3SS x Camrin Watsin featuring bbyclose – Kisses
Central Cee featuring Lil Baby – BAND4BAND
Charli xcx featuring Billie Eilish – Guess featuring billie eilish
Chase & Status / Stormzy – Backbone
Coldplay – feelslikeimfallinginlove
Dua Lipa – Training Season
Ella Henderson (feat Rudimental) – Alibi
JADE – Angel Of My Dreams
Jordan Adetunji – KEHLANI
KSI featuring Trippie Redd – Thick Of It
Myles Smith – Stargazing
Sam Ryder – You’re Christmas To Me
Sonny Fodera / Jazzy / DOD – Somedays

International artist of the year
Adrianne Lenker
Asake
Benson Boone
Beyoncé
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
Kendrick Lamar
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Tyler, The Creator

International group of the year
Amyl And The Sniffers
Confidence Man
Fontaines DC
Future & Metro Boomin
Linkin Park

International song of the year
Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
Beyoncé – TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
Djo – End of Beginning
Eminem – Houdini
Hozier – Too Sweet
Jack Harlow – Lovin On Me
Noah Kahan – Stick Season
Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone – Fortnight
Teddy Swims – Lose Control
Tommy Richman – MILLION DOLLAR BABY

Alternative rock act
Beabadoobee
The Cure
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party
Sam Fender

Hip-hop/ grime/ rap act
Central Cee
Dave
Ghetts
Little Simz
Stormzy

Dance act
Becky Hill
Charli xcx
Chase & Status
Fred again..
Nia Archives

Pop act
Charli xcx
Dua Lipa
JADE
Lola Young
Myles Smith

R&B act
Cleo Sol
FLO
Jorja Smith
Michael Kiwanuka
Raye