Olivia Dean Wins Best New Artist, Extending Nine-Year Solo Female Streak

Olivia Dean arrived at Manchester's Co-op Live on Thursday as a performer and left as the night's dominant winner, taking Best Female Act and both the Album and Song of the Year prizes for "The Art of Loving" and its lead single "Man I Need." The ceremony marked the MOBO Awards' 30th anniversary, and for the first time in its history, the celebration of Black music culture took place in Manchester.

Dean added the MOBO trophies to a trophy shelf that already includes a Grammy. She clinched the Grammy for Best New Artist in a milestone moment for the British pop singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice. That win, at the 68th Grammy Awards on February 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, extended one of the most remarkable category streaks in the ceremony's history. It was the first time a British artist had won Best New Artist since Dua Lipa in 2019, and just the fifth time this century, following Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Sam Smith.

When Dean accepted the Grammy, she wasn't just cementing a huge moment in her own career. As an artist on Island Records in the U.S., she also helped her label make history: after Chappell Roan won Best New Artist at the 2025 ceremony, Island Records became the first record label in at least 40 years to land back-to-back Best New Artist victories.

Dean's Grammy win also continued a nine-year unbroken run of solo female winners in the category. The streak traces back to Alessia Cara in 2018 and continued through Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Olivia Rodrigo, Samara Joy, Victoria Monét, and Chappell Roan before Dean claimed the award. Holding her first Grammy trophy, Dean fought back tears before delivering her acceptance speech. "I never really imagined that I would be up here," she said. "An artist is really nothing without their team. This is for you, too, and my family. I'm up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant. I'm a product of bravery and I think those people need to be celebrated. We're nothing without each other."

Dean's father is English and her mother is of Jamaican and Guyanese descent. Her maternal grandmother emigrated to the United Kingdom from Guyana at age 18 as part of the Windrush generation.

The Grammy followed a 2025 that reshaped Dean's commercial standing on both sides of the Atlantic. Her second album, "The Art of Loving," topped the UK Albums Chart and produced the UK number-one single "Man I Need." In the United States, the single peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and drove the album to No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Though "The Art of Loving" arrived in September, just outside the 2026 Grammys eligibility window, three earlier singles, "Nice to Each Other," "Lady Lady," and "Man I Need," secured her place on the ballot. After opening for Sabrina Carpenter's "Short n' Sweet" tour, Dean quickly became an arena headliner herself.

In February 2026, Dean won four awards at the 46th Brit Awards ceremony, triumphing in Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Pop Act as a soloist, and sharing Song of the Year with collaborator Sam Fender for "Rein Me In."

Her rise has not been without friction. Dean publicly criticized Ticketmaster for resale prices on her concert tour, calling them "a disgusting service" and saying the prices were "vile and completely against our wishes." Ticketmaster later agreed to cap resale prices and refund fans who had overpaid.

At the MOBO ceremony, Dean was also among the night's performers, alongside FLO, Aitch, and Myles Smith, and a grime medley featuring Chip, D Double E, Nolay, Scorcher, and Wiley, curated by DJ Target. The show also featured special appearances from Pharrell Williams, who was honoured with the global songwriter award, and Slick Rick, who received a lifetime achievement prize. International awards went to Ayra Starr, named Best International Act, Wizkid for Best African Music Act, and Vybz Kartel for Best Caribbean Music Act.