Charli XCX wowing the audience with her high-energy performance at the 2025 Brit Awards, where she claimed multiple honours for her album ‘Brat’.
Credit : Shutterstock, Howard Weiss
The 2025 Brit Awards lit up London’s O2 Arena with a flurry of surprises, but the night undeniably belonged to Charli XCX, who scooped up five awards including Album of the Year for her zeitgeist-shaping, dance-pop epic, Brat.
Released in a swirl of neon lights and rebellious attitude, the record inspired a ‘Brat summer’ subculture that took hold both online and in clubs across the UK. With a sound that spans trashy electro bangers to tender ballads, it not only topped the UK charts for 38 weeks but also stormed the US, reaching No 3 and securing three Grammys. Charli, real name Charlotte Aitchison, credited her creative freedom for the album’s success, insisting, “You don’t need to compromise your vision.”
New talent on the Rise: Breakthrough acts & genre-bending winners
While Charli’s success was the big story, the evening also shone a spotlight on fresh talent. The Last Dinner Party, last year’s Rising Star recipients, claimed Best New Artist for their flamboyant mix of classic rock and alt-pop. The band used the moment to highlight the plight of independent music venues, urging arena operators to support grassroots spaces. Another shock came in the British Group category, where Ezra Collective—a jazz quintet known for fusing Afrobeat, funk, and hip-hop—triumphed over heavyweight acts like Coldplay. They became the first jazz group ever to win a Brit Award, with bandleader Femi Koleoso calling for more investment in youth clubs and music education.
In other highlights, Raye continued her winning streak by scooping up R&B Act for the second consecutive year, and Sam Fender grabbed Rock/Alternative Act, celebrating another No 1 album. Meanwhile, Chappell Roan flew the flag for international artists, bagging both International Song and International Artist, and dedicating her victory to creative risk-takers everywhere.
Unexpected performances & full winners unveiled at the Brit Awards
Host Jack Whitehall returned to the Brit Awards stage, peppering the ceremony with playful jabs at Simon Cowell, KSI, and Coldplay. He also acknowledged the “cringe” White House clash between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy the day before, proving that nothing was off-limits for his quick-witted commentary. Performances came thick and fast: Jade—who beat Charli XCX to Best Pop Act—dazzled with her new hit Angel of My Dreams, while Ezra Collective delivered a dynamic jazz-fuelled set.
By the time the final statuettes were handed out, Charli XCX had cemented her place as the year’s defining star. Yet the diverse roster of winners—ranging from Myles Smith in Rising Star to the unstoppable Stormzy in Hip-Hop/Grime/Rap—made it clear that British music remains a broad church, ready to welcome everyone from jazz upstarts to fearless pop renegades. Below is the full winners’ list, with Charli XCX at the top, reminding us all that you can claim the spotlight without ever sacrificing who you are.
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