The Brit Awards 2025 will forever be remembered as the night Charli XCX conquered British music. The 32-year-old singer swept the board with five wins from five nominations. Her culture-shaping album Brat dominated the ceremony at London’s O2 Arena on March 1, 2025 [citation:1][citation:3]. Therefore, the night belonged to the hyper-pop innovator who has been reshaping the musical landscape for over a decade.
Hosted by Jack Whitehall for the fifth time, the ceremony featured performances from Sabrina Carpenter, JADE, Sam Fender, The Last Dinner Party and Teddy Swims [citation:2][citation:7]. As a result, the night balanced celebration of British talent with a sombre tribute to Liam Payne, who tragically passed away in October 2024 .
Charli XCX: The Brat Era Triumphs
Charli XCX, whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison, won every category in which she was nominated. Her wins included the coveted Mastercard Album of the Year for Brat, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish [citation:5][citation:9]. The Telegraph’s Neil McCormick declared: “Let’s rename this show the Brat Awards 2025” [citation:3].
She also took home Dance Act, Songwriter of the Year and Producer of the Year for her longtime collaborator A. G. Cook [citation:7][citation:9]. In a year where British women spent a record number of weeks at the top of the Official Singles Chart, Charli stood as the undisputed queen of the ceremony .
Despite her total dominance, Charli did not perform at the ceremony. Her absence from the stage was noted by critics, but it did nothing to diminish her sweep of the major awards [citation:3].
Like Avicii once dominated the electronic music scene, Charli XCX has now conquered the Brits with her unique, uncompromising vision.
International Winners: Chappell Roan’s Double Victory
US star Chappell Roan proved she is a global force to be reckoned with. She won both International Artist of the Year and International Song of the Year for “Good Luck, Babe!” [citation:5][citation:7]. She accepted both awards via video message, unable to attend the ceremony in person.
Her victory in the International Artist category came at the expense of Taylor Swift, who was also nominated. Critics noted that Swift, despite her overwhelming commercial dominance, was shut out of the awards entirely [citation:3]. Chappell Roan’s slow-burn success, built on relentless touring and great songwriting, was rewarded over the sheer might of the Eras Tour.
Irish band Fontaines D.C. won International Group of the Year, while Sabrina Carpenter received the Global Success Award, presented to her by Millie Bobby Brown after a video message from Diana Ross [citation:7].
The Last Dinner Party and Ezra Collective Shine
Rising stars The Last Dinner Party had a night to remember. The art-rock band won Best New Artist after a whirlwind year that saw them sell out tours and release their acclaimed debut album Prelude to Ecstasy [citation:3][citation:7]. They used their acceptance speech to call for more support for small, independent live venues, highlighting the threats facing grassroots music.
Ezra Collective, the 2023 Mercury Prize winners, took home Group of the Year. The jazz collective closed the show with a triumphant three-song medley featuring special guest Jorja Smith [citation:7].
Sam Fender won Alternative/Rock Act, while Stormzy was named Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act. Stormzy himself seemed surprised by the win, laughing incredulously and agreeing that Central Cee “should have got the gong” [citation:3].
Genre Awards: JADE and RAYE Triumph
Former Little Mix star JADE won Pop Act for her solo single “Angel of My Dreams.” She delivered a spectacular performance, ascending to the ceiling adorned by giant white wings [citation:7].
Last year’s record-breaking winner RAYE was awarded R&B Act for the second time, accepting via video message [citation:7]. Her win was controversial, however, with critics arguing that more deserving nominees like Cleo Sol, FLO or Jorja Smith would have benefited more from the profile boost [citation:3].
“This vote was open to the general public,” wrote The Telegraph’s James Hall. “Which is surely why we have music critics?” [citation:3]
Liam Payne Tribute and Memorable Moments
The ceremony included a moving tribute to Liam Payne, who tragically passed away in October 2024. Host Jack Whitehall addressed the audience before a video montage was shown. The official programme included a written tribute, describing Payne as “a beacon of light for those who grew up with his work” [citation:7].
Sabrina Carpenter opened the show with a spectacular two-song medley of “Espresso” and “Bed Chem,” mixed with “Rule Britannia” and featuring a troupe of Beefeaters. Teddy Swims also delivered a soulful performance of “Bad Dreams” and “Lose Control” [citation:7].
Danny Dyer, presenting an award, brought some chaos to the proceedings, insulting Prime Minister Keir Starmer and providing one of the night’s most talked-about moments [citation:3].
Controversies: Fan Voting Under Fire
The public vote system, conducted this year via WhatsApp, came under heavy criticism from music journalists. Critics argued that the format favoured artists with larger fanbases rather than those who had released the most deserving work [citation:3].
Central Cee was widely tipped to win Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act but lost to Stormzy. The Cure, nominated for three awards including Album of the Year for Songs of a Lost World, went home empty-handed. RAYE’s win for R&B Act, despite releasing little new music in the eligibility period, also raised eyebrows [citation:3].
“Sometimes the public doesn’t know best,” wrote The Telegraph’s Poppie Platt, summing up the mood of many industry observers [citation:3].
Like Jeremy Kyle’s controversial television career, the fan-voting format divided opinion among music fans.
AI Music Debate Hits the Red Carpet
Beyond the awards themselves, the 2025 Brits became a platform for a major industry debate. Artists including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Kate Bush and Dua Lipa had voiced concerns about government plans that would allow AI companies to train models using British music without permission [citation:7].
On the red carpet, Paloma Faith, Myles Smith, Lola Young and Rachel Chinouriri added their voices to the opposition. The issue is set to define the relationship between the music industry and technology in the coming years.
Full List of Winners
- Album of the Year: Charli XCX – Brat
- Artist of the Year: Charli XCX
- Group of the Year: Ezra Collective
- Best New Artist: The Last Dinner Party
- Song of the Year: Charli XCX ft. Billie Eilish – Guess
- International Artist: Chappell Roan
- International Group: Fontaines D.C.
- International Song: Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
- Alternative/Rock Act: Sam Fender
- Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act: Stormzy
- Dance Act: Charli XCX
- Pop Act: JADE
- R&B Act: RAYE
- Rising Star: Myles Smith
- Global Success Award: Sabrina Carpenter
- Songwriter of the Year: Charli XCX
- Producer of the Year: A. G. Cook
FAQs
When were the Brit Awards 2025 held?
The ceremony took place on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at The O2 Arena in London [citation:1][citation:6].
Who won the most Brit Awards in 2025?
Charli XCX won five awards, the most of any artist that year [citation:5][citation:9].
Who hosted the Brit Awards 2025?
Jack Whitehall hosted the ceremony for the fifth time [citation:2][citation:7].
Who performed at the Brit Awards 2025?
Performers included Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Fender, JADE, The Last Dinner Party, Teddy Swims, Lola Young and Myles Smith [citation:2][citation:7].
What was the tribute at the Brit Awards 2025?
The ceremony paid tribute to Liam Payne, who tragically passed away in October 2024 [citation:7].
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