The 2026 BRIT Awards will forever be remembered as the night K-pop officially conquered the British music establishment. BLACKPINK’s Rosé became the first K-pop artist in history to win a BRIT Award, taking home the trophy for International Song of the Year for her massive hit “APT.” with Bruno Mars. The ceremony took place on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, marking the first time the awards were held outside London .
Rosé’s victory breaks a long dry spell for K-pop at the BRITs. BTS had been nominated for International Group of the Year in 2021 and 2022, followed by BLACKPINK in 2023. In 2024, Korean DJ and producer Peggy Gou was shortlisted for International Song of the Year but did not win. Rosé finally brought the trophy home, cementing her place in music history .
A Heartfelt Acceptance Speech
When Rosé took the stage to accept her award, she made sure to thank everyone who helped make “APT.” the phenomenon it became. The BLACKPINK member kept her speech genuine and warm, expressing genuine surprise and gratitude.
“Oh my gosh! It is such an honor to be receiving this award in front of so many talented and you know admirable musicians here in the UK. So thank you so much,” Rosé said as she held the trophy .
She made sure to acknowledge her collaborator Bruno Mars, who could not be present at the ceremony. “Bruno, I’m receiving this award on behalf of the both of us. Thank you so much for everything for being my biggest mentor and best friend. Love you so much” .
Rosé also gave a special shout-out to her BLACKPINK bandmates, showing that even with her massive solo success, the group bond remains strong. “Give a shout out to BLACKPINK. Jennie, Jisoo and Lisa, I love you guys so much. Thank you for always inspiring me,” she added . She also thanked Teddy, the founder and chief producer of The Black Label, and her Atlantic Records family for their constant support .
The Song That Broke All Records
“APT.” was released in October 2024 as a pre-release single from Rosé’s debut solo studio album rosie . The song quickly became a global phenomenon, and its success story is unlike anything the music industry has seen from a K-pop act before.
The track takes its name and inspiration from a popular Korean party game called the “apartment game.” The playful concept, combined with Bruno Mars’ signature production and Rosé’s charismatic delivery, created a sound that crossed over effortlessly into Western pop markets .
The numbers behind “APT.” tell the story of its dominance. The song spent an incredible 45 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, the longest run ever recorded by a K-pop track on the chart. It peaked at an impressive No. 3 . In the United Kingdom, “APT.” reached No. 2 on the Official Singles Chart and remained on the chart for over a year, proving its staying power with British audiences .
The single also topped the IFPI Global Singles Chart, making Rosé the first K-pop artist and the first artist from outside North America and Europe to reach that position . The official BRIT Awards described “APT.” as the “record-breaking and best-selling global single of 2025” .
Adding to an Already Decorated Run
The BRIT Award is just the latest addition to a trophy case that is filling up fast for Rosé and “APT.” The song had already won big at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, where it took home Song of the Year and another award .
At the 68th Grammy Awards, “APT.” received nominations in three major categories: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. While it did not win the Grammy, those nominations alone were historic for a K-pop solo artist.
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A Historic Night for K-pop on the BRITs Stage
Rosé was not the only K-pop connection at the 2026 BRIT Awards. The ceremony also featured the first K-pop performance in BRITs history. The singing voices from the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters—EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami (Huntr/x)—took the stage to perform “Golden,” the film’s hit song .
“Golden” was also nominated in the International Song of the Year category alongside “APT.” Although it lost to Rosé, the performance itself was a milestone. The trio delivered a high-energy stage complete with pyro visuals, marking a massive moment for K-pop’s cinematic influence on a global platform .
Industry observers noted that Rosé’s win and the KPop Demon Hunters performance signal that K-pop is now fully integrated into the Western awards landscape. The genre is no longer just a trending topic but a formally recognized and celebrated part of the global music industry .
Full List of 2026 BRIT Awards Winners
The night belonged to several artists, with Olivia Dean emerging as the biggest winner of the evening. She took home Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for “The Art of Loving,” Pop Act, and Song of the Year for “Rein Me In” with Sam Fender .
Here are the key winners from the 2026 BRIT Awards:
- International Song of the Year: Rosé & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
- International Artist of the Year: Rosalía
- International Group of the Year: Geese
- Artist of the Year: Olivia Dean
- Album of the Year: Olivia Dean – “The Art of Loving”
- Group of the Year: Wolf Alice
- Song of the Year: Sam Fender (with Olivia Dean) – “Rein Me In”
- Breakthrough Artist: Lola Young
- Producer of the Year: PinkPantheress
- Songwriter of the Year: Noel Gallagher
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Ozzy Osbourne (posthumously)
Where to Watch or Stream the 2026 BRIT Awards
For fans who missed the live broadcast, the 2026 BRIT Awards ceremony is available for catch-up viewing. The show was broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX in the United Kingdom. For the first time, viewers could also watch live on YouTube .
International viewers should check their local listings, as the ceremony was distributed to broadcasters worldwide. Clips of Rosé’s historic acceptance speech and the full performance of “APT.” are also circulating on the official BRIT Awards social media channels and YouTube page.
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Rosé’s win at the 2026 BRIT Awards is a moment that fans will talk about for years, and for more exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage of your favorite K-pop stars, keep it locked on VvipTimes.
