And with that, another BRIT Awards draws to a close. Thousands of artists, music lovers and industry folk descended on London’s O2 Arena to celebrate British and international music, featuring performances from Sabrina Carpenter, The Last Dinner Party, Sam Fender and many others.
The night started with the red carpet, before guests and nominees took to their seats for a night of live music and winner announcements.
Comedian and former Time Out cover star Jack Whitehall hosted the ceremony, and we reported on all the goings-on as the night unfolded, direct from London’s O2 Arena in Greenwich. Check it out below.
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Night wraps as Charli xcx takes home Album of the Year
The singer-songwriter took home a total of five BRIT awards, including Album of the Year for – of course – Brat. In her final acceptance speech, she said ‘this time culture caught up with us’ and advised younger artists to not compromise their vision, thanking her collaborators in her final acceptance speech before Ezra Collective performed with Jorja Smith to close the show.
Tribute to Liam Payne
Jack Whitehall introduced a heartfelt tribute to the late former One Direction member and singer-songwriter, Liam Payne.
TikToker Big John makes a guest appearance
The BRITs will just always be better than the Grammys #BRITs2025 pic.twitter.com/7j8ll6BVdQ
— Charlie Watts (@char1iewatts) March 1, 2025
Do you think he’s really sat with Lenny Kravitz? And who’s making the better small talk, them two or Danny Dyer and HorsegiirL?
Charli xcx thanks legends in her speech
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The winner of Best Dance Act thanked her producer AG Cook alongside the late SOPHIE, pop star Robyn and Justice.
Raye wins best R&B act
Read our interview with Raye here.
Stormzy takes home Best Hip Hop/Grime Act
When receiving the award, the rapper said he ‘doesn’t think any of the awards should be fan voted’, but is grateful to the BRITs and to the public regardless. He also said, ‘I am wearing shades because mashed up my eye playing padel’.
Our top song of 2024 wins big
Chappell Roan bagged the award for International Song of the Year with her track ‘Good Luck, Babe!’. Read our write-up on our Best Songs of 2024 List, here.
Ezra Collective beats The Cure and Bring Me The Horizon for Group of the Year
@brits “the solution lies with giving a young person a trumpet”🎺 @Ezra Collective ❤️ #BRITs ♬ original sound - BRITs
The jazz group and former Time Out Londoners of the Year took home the award. In the band’s acceptance speech, frontman Femi shouted out youth clubs, teachers and schools for supporting young people playing music.
Danny Dyer, Nick Grimshaw and Sam Ryder are in attendance — as well as one surprise guest
Jack Whitehall said that BRITs legend ‘Robbie Williams’ was in the audience – but it was actually a monkey puppet, a gag alluding to the star’s recent biopic, Better Man.
The Sugababes presents Best Pop Act to JADE
The former Little Mix star took a speech written on a piece of paper out of her dress and thanked her fans and management.
Charli xcx wins Song of the Year
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Presented by Lenny Kravitz, Charli xcx took home the award for her song ‘Guess’ with Billie Eillish, beating The Beatles, Dua Lipa and Coldplay.
Jack Whitehall welcomes guests as the host for the evening
The comedian said that multiple BRIT nominee Charli xcx ‘asked not to perform this evening so she could get drunk instead’. Very Brat of her.
Sabrina Carpenter opens the show
she had two minutes and singlehandedly triggered boomers lol thats my girl #BRITs #BRITs2025 pic.twitter.com/B8gq0O75Dc
— sangyifan brainrot (@sprinkleflakes) March 1, 2025
Complete with a group of backup dancing Beefeaters and soundbite of ‘Rule Britannia’, pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter opened the show with a performance of her hits ‘Espresso’ and ‘Bed Chem’.
The arena fills up
BRIT School students were out in full force in the standing section of the O2 by the stage, while nominees and industry people were seated on the traditional round tables in the centre. Seated guests in the rest of the arena were each given a light-up BRITs wristband, and by 8pm, the whole venue had filled up as the show was about to begin.
Stars including Nia Archives, Munya Chawawa, Teddy Swims and Sabrina Carpenter take to the red carpet
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The BRITs kicked off in usual fashion by rolling out the red carpet. Stars went all out: singer Sabrina Carpenter made an appearance with a show-stopping bubblegum pink fishtail gown, GK Barry turned heads in a glam black floor-length dress, while Rachel Chinouriri brought the drama in a flowing mint-coloured number. Perhaps most eye-catching, though, was Teddy Swims, wearing a jacket embellished with teddies and other cuddly plush toys.
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