The Big Winners: Oasis Legends and Classy Tributes
The night’s most talked-about moment belonged to Noel Gallagher, who took home Songwriter of the Year. In a refreshingly blunt confession, the Oasis mastermind admitted, “I haven’t written a song in two years,” acknowledging the win felt more like a celebration of the massive Oasis 2025-26 reunion tour than recent output.
Meanwhile, Mark Ronson provided the evening’s “classiest” moment. Accepting the Outstanding Contribution to Music award, he moved the audience to tears by dedicating his trophy to the late Amy Winehouse. Ronson reminisced about their first meeting 20 years ago, which led to the creation of Back to Black, a record he credited for his entire career trajectory.
The “Real” Losers: Grassroots Venues and Local Representation
Despite the Manchester backdrop, the “Best Group” winners Wolf Alice used their platform for a powerful plea. Frontwoman Ellie Rowsell highlighted the “horrifyingly bleak” reality for independent venues, noting that 30 small clubs closed last year despite the industry’s billion-pound contribution.
The “Manchester Snub”: Ironically, only one local artist—Chrystal—was nominated in a major category. This underscored the “steep hill to climb” for northern talent, though the upcoming Brit School North in Bradford (2028) aims to fix this imbalance.
Redemption and Chaos
- Alex Warren: After a viral Grammy earpiece fail, Warren redeemed himself with a flawless performance of “Ordinary” alongside James Blunt.
- Happy Mondays: Shaun Ryder and Bez delivered the most “chaotic” interview in Brit history, jokingly claiming they were the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.