Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

The BRIT Awards 2021 will be first major indoor music event to welcome back a live audience

22/04/2021

The BRIT Awards with Mastercard 2021

Tuesday May 11 2021 - at The O2 arena on ITV and ITV Hub

The BRIT Awards celebrate the return to live music as the first major indoor music event - with a special audience of invited key workers

The BRIT Awards 2021 will be first major indoor music event to welcome back a live audience - a pivotal moment in the return of live music at scale

2,500 tickets to be gifted by the recorded music industry to frontline heroes - ballot for free tickets opens on brits.co.uk on Thursday 22nd April at 09.00 hours

***

This has been a long tough year for everyone and Im delighted the night will honour the key worker heroes who have cared for us so well during that time and continue to do so. They are quite simply an inspiration. The BRIT Awards are always special and this will truly make it a night to remember. - DUA LIPA

***

The BRIT Awards 2021 with Mastercard today confirm that they plan to welcome a live audience of 4,000 people at this year's event taking place on 11th May at The O2 arena in London, and to be broadcast live on ITV and ITV Hub.

The indoor ceremony and live show will form part of the Government's scientific Events Research Programme, using enhanced testing approaches to examine how events can take place without the need for social distancing1.

Working closely with the Government to adhere to safety guidelines, this means The BRITs, as the first live music show at The O2 in over a year, will play an important role in paving the way for the return of live music at scale as the UK emerges from the past year's restrictions.

2,500 tickets to be gifted by the recorded music industry to frontline workers

We are further delighted to announce that, in recognition of their extraordinary efforts during the pandemic, the BRITs is inviting key workers from the Greater London Area2 to make up most of the audience for the UK's biggest night in music. The majority of the tickets (2,500) will be gifted by record labels and the recorded music industry via ballot to frontline workers2 (and a guest of their choice) from a range of sectors to thank them for their remarkable hard work and selfless commitment.

All applicants and attendees must consent to participating in the Government's scientific Events Research Programme on the basis of its terms and conditions1.

The BRIT Awards 2021 is set to be an incredible night of reflection and celebration. A ballot for free tickets for key workers will open on www.brits.co.uk on Thursday 22nd April 2021 from 09.00 hours.

Speaking about this news, global superstar and multi BRIT nominated artist who will be performing on the night, Dua Lipa said:

This has been a long tough year for everyone and Im delighted the night will honour the key worker heroes who have cared for us so well during that time and continue to do so. They are quite simply an inspiration. The BRIT Awards are always special and this will truly make it a night to remember.

Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI & BRIT Awards, said:

This year's BRIT Awards with Mastercard is one of the most significant in the show's history. Not only will we be celebrating the brilliant music and artists that have helped us through the pandemic, but we hope it will provide a path for the return of live music that fans and artists have so sorely missed. And as a thank you to the key workers who have kept our country going through the difficult times, we are inviting them to be our audience for the first live performances at The O2 in over a year.

We're buzzing about the show and working closely with Government, The O2 and all our partners to ensure all safety measures and guidelines are adhered to.

Danielle Kennedy Clarke, Deputy General Manager of The O2, said:

We're proud that The O2 has been selected to host the largest indoor capacity pilot event with The BRITs. This scientific trial is an important step on the path to recovery for the live entertainment industry, and our operational teams are making the final preparations to be able to welcome people into The O2 arena again for the first time in more than a year.

Mastercard return as headline partner for the 23rd year, having supported The BRITs for over two decades, bringing cardholders closer to music through a range of priceless experiences - from tickets to The BRITs, or Priceless Surprises with some of the UK's best loved artists. This year, Mastercard will continue to sponsor the much sought after Mastercard Album of the Year award, as well as British Single with Mastercard for the first time and is proud to carry on connecting people to priceless possibilities. Amazon Music is the Official Digital Music Partner for a second year and will host the Official BRIT Awards 2021 playlist as well as sponsor the Male and Female Solo Artist categories.

ITV Studios is handling international distribution for the Brit Awards.

[end]

www.brits.co.uk

Notes to Editors

1 Through the Events Research Programme, the annual UK music industry showcase will test the safety of live audiences returning to indoor seated settings on a large scale. The research gathered from this year's BRIT Awards will build on the evidence collected at other pilots in the programme, including the World Snooker Championships at the Sheffield Crucible and an outdoor gig at Sefton Park hosted by Festival Republic. The evidence from these pilots will be used to inform government policy to bring about the phased return of fuller audiences to venues and events across England.

Audience members will not be socially distanced or required to wear face coverings in the arena, but they will be required to follow existing Government guidance when travelling to the venue and adhere to rules set out by the event organisers.

Attendees must have proof of a negative lateral flow test result to enter
LINK: https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/brit-awards-2021-will-b...
See more stories from itv

Europe Stories

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

26/02/2026

Rohde & Schwarz awarded contract by Israel Airports Authority for QPS201 security scanners

Rohde & Schwarz awarded contract by Israel Airports Authority for QPS201 securit...

26/02/2026

Rohde & Schwarz highlights its unique CMX500 one-box tester tailored for NTN testing at MWC Barcelona 2026

Rohde & Schwarz highlights its unique CMX500 one-box tester tailored for NTN tes...

26/02/2026

Rohde & Schwarz high-efficiency transmitter powers next-gen broadcast services in Serbia

Rohde & Schwarz high-efficiency transmitter powers next-gen broadcast services i...

26/02/2026

Rohde & Schwarz highlights its comprehensive embedded systems test solutions at embedded world 2026

Rohde & Schwarz highlights its comprehensive embedded systems test solutions at ...

26/02/2026

Rohde & Schwarz to showcase spectrum security and network efficiency solutions at Mobile World Congress 2026

Rohde & Schwarz to showcase spectrum security and network efficiency solutions a...

26/02/2026

Rohde & Schwarz and Broadcom showcase first Wi-Fi 8 RF signaling tests, paving way for next-gen connectivity

Rohde & Schwarz and Broadcom showcase first Wi-Fi 8 RF signaling tests, paving w...

26/02/2026

Rohde & Schwarz advances AI-RAN testing using digital twins with NVIDIA

Rohde & Schwarz advances AI-RAN testing using digital twins with NVIDIA Rohde & Schwarz, in collaboration with NVIDIA, continues to drive AI-RAN innovation fo...

26/02/2026

Rohde & Schwarz and LITEON demonstrate highthroughput 5G femtocell testing with the PVT360A

Rohde & Schwarz and LITEON demonstrate high throughput 5G femtocell testing with...

26/02/2026

SES Extends EGNOS GEO-1 Satellite Service to Power Precise Navigation Across Europe

The agreement ensures Europe's satellite-based augmentation continues enhanc...

26/02/2026

RT KIDS celebrate Kidscreen success in San Diego

There were two big wins for RT KIDS shows at the 17th Kidscreen Awards in San Diego this week with Maddie Triggs and BeddyByes both taking home gongs. The K...

26/02/2026

VEON to Release FY25 Earnings Update on March 13, 2026

26 Feb 2026 VEON to Release FY25 Earnings Update on March 13, 2026 Dubai and New York, February 26, 2026 - VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON), a global digital operator ...

26/02/2026

UKTV Highlights: Saturday February 28th - Friday March 6th 2026

What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week? This week's highlights include new episodes of Will and Ralf Should Know Better, The Marlow Murder Club...

26/02/2026

Sky partners with STARZ on high-impact boxing drama Fightland, executive produced by Curtis 50 Cent Jackson

Thursday 26 February 2026 Sky partners with STARZ on high-impact boxing drama F...

26/02/2026

An Open Letter to Our Fellow Leaders in Global Media

Thursday 26 February 2026 An Open Letter to Our Fellow Leaders in Global Media From: Tim Davie, BBC Director-General Jon Slade, CEO, Financial Times Anna B...

26/02/2026

Teatro alla Scala Elevates Backstage Communication with Riedel's Bolero

Wuppertal February 26, 2026 Teatro alla Scala Elevates Backstage Communication with Riedel's BoleroRiedel Communications today announced that Fondazione T...

26/02/2026

RT confirms receipt of payment for its share of GAAGO

RT has confirmed that it has today received payment from the GAA for its 50% share of GAAGO. RT confirmed in February 2025 that it had agreed in principle wi...

26/02/2026

RT Statement: Broadcast of Nations League fixture

RT Statement regarding the broadcast of Republic of Ireland vs Israel Nations League fixture If the match goes ahead and that is a decision for the FAI as ...

25/02/2026

Level Up Your Playlists' Transitions With Smart Reorder

It's never been easier to customize your Spotify listening experience. Last year, we introduced more control over the way your playlist sounds, giving Premi...

25/02/2026

Who's Going to Lead Hip-Hop's Next Generation? Vote Now on Spotify

Hip-hop thrives on constant reinvention, with bold voices and fearless experimentation continually pushing the genre's boundaries. Every era brings new lead...

25/02/2026

Magyar Telekom Shapes The Digital Future With Consistent Performance - Magyar Telekom's Q4 and full year 2025 results

In 2025, Magyar Telekom continued the consistent execution of its long-term stra...

25/02/2026

Mix Tapes to Video Call Dates

Joe Wilkinson and Joe Marler reunite for a tongue-in-cheek campaign exploring the hilarious extremes of modern loveWednesday 25 February 2026 Mix Tapes to Vide...

25/02/2026

Alcom Elevates Headend Video Service with Harmonic to Drive Growth

Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Leverages AI-Powered Encoding to Deliver Exceptional Video Quality to Alcom Customers SAN JOSE, Calif. - Feb. 25, 2...

24/02/2026

Spotify and Liquid Death Bring Music to the Afterlife With the Eternal Playlist Urn and Playlist Generator

Life needs music. So does the afterlife. That's why Spotify has partnered wi...

24/02/2026

Fans Enter Bad Bunny's Universe at Spotify's Immersive Experience in So Paulo

Last weekend, S o Paulo buzzed with energy as Bad Bunny took the stage for two n...

24/02/2026

Clear-Com's Arcadia Central Station and FreeSpeak Icon Beltpacks Keep Red Bull's...

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...

24/02/2026

Paul C. Brunson to front second series of true crime docu-series Red Flag for U and U&W

Paul C. Brunson: Red Flag to be produced by FirstLookTV and launch in 2026 UKTV...

24/02/2026

dB at MPTS 2026

This year, we're back at the Media Production and Technology Show (MPTS) in London. As always, we're looking forward to catching up with existing contac...

24/02/2026

dB Makes Further Key Appointments

We are pleased to announce that Pete Whiteway is joining the dB Technology Group as a Senior Systems Engineer. Pete brings over 20 years of experience in broadc...

24/02/2026

End-to-End Transparency in the Supply Chain You Can Touch

End-to-End Transparency in the Supply Chain You Can Touch The team at LogiMAT 2025 - from left: Michael Dreimann, Andr Haff, Nicolas Lapp, Bernd Jaschinski-...

24/02/2026

RT Commercial announces expansion of Partnerships Team to accelerate crossplatform brand opportunities

Katharine Wolinska appointed to lead Partnerships RT Commercial has announced ...

23/02/2026

3 Prompts to Try Using Prompted Playlist, Expanding in Beta to the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Sweden

Prompted Playlist is expanding in beta to Premium listeners in the U.K., Ireland...

23/02/2026

5 Years in Nigeria: A Look Back at How Listeners Are Championing Homegrown Sounds

When Spotify launched in Nigeria in February 2021, the very first song a user st...

23/02/2026

aconnic to showcase cybersecurity and digital sovereignty solutions at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona

aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, will present its latest cybersecurity, ...

23/02/2026

X-Rite Pantone Launches Event Series to Modernize Textile Color Workflows

X-Rite Pantone Launches Event Series to Modernize Textile Color Workflows X-Rite Pantone, the global authority in color standards and color science, today a...

23/02/2026

Audience peak of over a million on RT2 as Ireland beat England in the Six Nations

Audience peak of over a million on RT 2 as Ireland beat England in the Six Natio...

20/02/2026

When Memory Gets Expensive, Is it Time to Swap the Box?

In our latest blog, Tim Pearson explores the impact that increased memory prices are having on the consumer electronics market, and particularly the set-top box...

20/02/2026

Calrec Type R: Shaping the Future of Radio at Flirt FM

Calrec Type R: Shaping the Future of Radio from the Heart of Flirt FM Love may have filled the airwaves last week for Valentine's Day, and we've just c...

20/02/2026

Other Voices returns to RT this Spring with performances from Dermot Kennedy, Amble, Florence Road and more

Other Voices returns to RT this Spring with performances from Dermot Kennedy, A...

19/02/2026

Watch Robyn's Long-Awaited Return to the Stage in Spotify's Exclusive Concert Film

Last November, Spotify hosted an unforgettable night with Robyn, where top fans ...

19/02/2026

UKTV Highlights Saturday February 21st - Friday February 27th 2026

What can I watch on UK TV this week?What can I stream on U this week? This guide highlights new and returning comedy, a critically acclaimed drama series avai...

19/02/2026

izzi Accelerates Strategic Fiber Broadband Expansion with Harmonic

Harmonic's cOS Virtualized Broadband Platform Is Simplifying Fiber Rollouts, Lowering Infrastructure Spend, and Delivering Exceptional Broadband Experiences...

19/02/2026

Fox Corporation Announces It Will Match U.S. Government's $1,000 Contribution To Trump Accounts Children's Retirement Program

Fox Corporation Announces It Will Match U.S. Government's $1,000 Contributio...

18/02/2026

Bad Bunny to Make History in Tokyo With First-Ever Billions Club Live Performance in Asia

Following an extraordinary 2025 in which he was named Spotify's Global Top A...

18/02/2026

Bad Bunny har historia en Tokio con el primer Billions Club Live en Asia

Despu s de un extraordinario 2025 en el que fue nombrado Top Artista Global de Spotify por cuarta vez, algo sin precedentes (y tras su presentaci n en el halfti...

17/02/2026

The AI Wild West, and Why it Needs a Sheriff

AI Is Scaling Faster Than Governance And That's a Risk AI adoption hasn't rolled out through neat transformation programmes. It has spread organically...