BRIT Awards 2026, US-Israel strikes on Iran, Bill Clinton and the Epstein files

BRIT Awards 2026: music, mayhem and mic-drop moments

The Brit Awards returned in full force, blending pop spectacle with unpredictable twists as the UK music industry gathered to crown its biggest stars.

Olivia Dean emerged as the evening’s undeniable standout, winning every award for which she was nominated: artist of the year, song of the year, best pop artist and best album for The Art Of Loving. By the time she made her third emotional walk to the podium, the singer looked completely overwhelmed and kept her speech disarmingly brief.

“It takes a lot of good people to make a good artist… I don't know what else to say. Thank you, bye!” she said, as the audience roared its approval.

The show opened with Harry Styles performing Aperture in what appeared to be a nostalgic school uniform, though fashion insiders quickly clocked it as a sharply tailored Chanel pin-striped suit. 

Rosalía later claimed the best international artist prize and used her moment to reflect on the global reach of her music. “It's such an honour to bring my music far from home and I would love to share this with all my peers who also make music in Spanish,” she said, earning one of the night’s warmest receptions.

The host, meanwhile, kept the energy high with a string of unapologetically bold jokes. Addressing the audience at the outset, he warned: “There might be some swearing but don't worry, we've got the best in the business on the bleep button. It's the guy who did the BAFTAs. Nothing gets past him.”

Beyond the glitz and chaos, there was also a powerful call to action. Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice used her time on stage to spotlight the crisis facing grassroots venues. Speaking candidly, she highlighted the importance of the “pubs, clubs and grassroots venues where we quite literally learned to play our instruments and write our songs.”

“Despite the billions of pounds the live sector contributes to our economy, last year 30 independent venues closed down, 6000 jobs were lost and over half of small venues made no money at all,” she asserted.

“It shouldn't be a battle to survive as a band or an artist. We shouldn't be reliant on favours or one-off funding schemes.

With that, here are the full list of winners:

• Artist of the year - Olivia Dean

• Group of the year - Wolf Alice

• Album of the year - Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving

• Breakthrough artist - Lola Young

• International artist - Rosalía

• International group - Geese

• Song of the year (voted by the public) - Sam Fender with Olivia Dean – Rein Me In

• International song of the year (voted by the public) - Rosé and Bruno Mars – APT.

• Alternative/rock act - Sam Fender

• Pop act - Olivia Dean

• Hip-hop/grime/rap act - Dave

• R&B act - Sault

• Dance act - Fred Again, Skepta, PlaqueBoyMax

• Critics’ choice - Jacob Alon

• Producer of the year - PinkPantheress

• Songwriter of the year - Noel Gallagher

• Outstanding contribution to music - Mark Ronson

• Lifetime achievement - Ozzy Osbourne

‘Sinners’ dominate 2026 NAACP Image Awards

The NAACP Image Awards turned into a celebration of cinematic dominance and cultural pride as Sinners swept the night with an astonishing 13 wins.

After leading the field with 18 nominations and earning a record-breaking 16 Oscar nods, the Ryan Coogler film capped off awards season momentum by taking best motion picture, while its leading man, Michael B. Jordan, claimed the ceremony’s highest individual honor, entertainer of the year.

The Coogler-directed drama had already stacked up 10 trophies in non-televised ceremonies earlier in the week, but the live broadcast from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, aired on BET and CBS, delivered some of its biggest moments.

During the telecast, Sinners added three more wins: best motion picture, best actor for Jordan, and breakthrough performer for Miles Caton. Accepting the top film prize, Ryan Coogler thanked audiences for “wrapping [their] arms around the movie,” praised Warner Bros. Pictures co-chairs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy for believing in the project, and urged them to stand for recognition.

Jordan’s acceptance for best actor became one of the evening’s most emotional highlights. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “This is a place where I always felt encouraged, always felt like I was being celebrated and nourished. […] You told me it was OK to keep going because I felt seen here, I felt comfortable, I felt the love.”

He then dedicated the award to his late friend and co-star Chadwick Boseman, adding, “I was thinking about lead actor, and I was thinking about what lead actor meant to me, and, honestly, I’ve got to dedicate this award to Chadwick Boseman.”

He ended on a note that brought the audience to its feet: “I love being Black. I love y’all.”

US and Israel strikes Iran, Supreme Leader Khamenei killed

A dramatic escalation in Middle East tensions unfolded over the weekend after the United States and Israel carried out a large-scale military operation that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, according to an announcement from President Donald Trump.

“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump, posting on social media Saturday afternoon, threatened that the attacks will continue. “The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!” he wrote.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then confirmed their collaboration with the US for a joint operation against what he dubbed as a “terrorist regime in Iran.”

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the killing as a “declaration of war against Muslims, particularly Shiites across the globe.”

In a message issued ahead of Khamenei’s funeral, he vowed that Iran would fight for justice. "The Islamic Republic of Iran considers seeking justice and retaliation against those responsible for this historic crime–both its perpetrators and those who ordered it–a duty and a legitimate right, and it will pursue this responsibility with full determination," he noted.

Bill Clinton denies involvement in the Epstein files

Former President Bill Clinton forcefully denied any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activity during nearly six hours of closed-door testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Friday, pushing back against allegations tied to his past association with the disgraced financier.

Opening his remarks to lawmakers, Clinton declared, “I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing. I know what I saw, and more importantly, what I didn’t see. I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn’t do. I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong.”

According to sources familiar with the proceedings, members of the Republican-led panel repeatedly confronted Clinton with photographs drawn from materials recently released by the Justice Department. Several of the images showed him alongside women linked to Epstein. Each time he was asked whether he had sexual relations with any of them, Clinton responded that he had not. 

Lawmakers also focused on a widely circulated image of Clinton seated in a jacuzzi with a woman whose face had been redacted. He told the panel he did not know her and again denied any sexual involvement, the sources said.

ICYMI:

• The United Kingdom has agreed to let the United States use its military bases for strictly defensive operations amid the expanding conflict with Iran, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Sunday. Starmer stressed that while the bases will support limited defensive actions, the UK will not take part in offensive strikes or broader attacks on Iranian territory.

• At the NAACP Image Awards, Regina Hall dedicated a heartfelt moment to honor fellow actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo. Speaking from the stage, Hall praised the pair following last week’s BAFTA Awards: “I’d like to take a moment to the two kings who are in this audience and just send you so much love for your class.”

• OpenAI has reached a landmark agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to allow its artificial intelligence tools to be integrated into classified military systems. The announcement comes just hours after former President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to cease using AI tools from rival company Anthropic.

— Bea Bertuldo

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