Awards season is glamorous, star-studded, and often a little bit bonkers, but the much-loved Brit Awards take the crown for the most chaotic ceremony.
This weekend, the Brits see Olivia Dean and Lola Young jointly lead the nominations, with other artists in the running for major awards also including Sam Fender, Lily Allen and Fred Again.
For the first time the awards will also be held in Manchester – the first time they’ve ever been staged outside of London.
While many are hoping the 2026 edition will all go off without a hitch, there’s every chance a memorable moment might play out like past years.
Brits night never disappoints, because who could forget 2023 when Sam Smith became the talk of the town in their latex inflatable suit?
Wild outfit choices don’t even touch the sides of the bizarre goings-on at the music awards, however, as the ceremony itself has proven audiences should expect the unexpected.
Everyone remembers where they were when Madonna dramatically fell down a set of stairs or when Lewis Capaldi’s entire speech got bleeped out for the broadcast.
Live shows are notoriously unpredictable. So, we’re revisiting the most mind-boggling and shocking moments from the Brit Awards ever.
Disastrous broadcast in 1989
After the Brits were first staged in 1977, just over a decade later it was decided that they’d be broadcast live for the first time in 1989.
Tasked with hosting the event was Mick Fleetwood and model Samantha Fox, however the pair struggled through the three-hour show, which was plagued by technical failures, long silences, and what some dubbed cringeworthy presenting.
The hosts themselves struggled to read from a faulty autocue, guests wandered on and off stage, the wrong artists were announced, and Government minister Kenneth Baker was loudly booed by the audience. The show was considered such a failure that for the 18 years after, the Brits were pre-recorded rather than aired live.
Union Jack dress in 1997
It may now be considered one of the most iconic outfits of all time, but in 1997 Spice Girls star Geri Halliwell took a massive risk after asked her sister to sew a Union Jack tea towel onto the front of a Gucci dress.
Due to concerns the flag could be associated with the far-right National Front, Geir had a CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) peace symbol stitched onto the back of the dress.
While the dress was largely positively received, some did question the use of the flag on a ‘sexy’ item of clothing.
Madonna’s cape catastrophe
Who could forget Madonna’s heartstopping tumble, which we’re sure even Madge would admit was a little iconic.
During her much-hyped performance in 2015, the evening took a shocking turn when not even a minute into her opening song, she fell down the stage steps.
She was just starting to belt her tune Living For Love when her long cape got caught around her neck and she was yanked down the stairs.
Professional that the 66-year-old Material Girl is, she simply picked herself up and continued singing, to the surprise of everyone watching.
Naturally, endless memes about ‘if you’ve had an accident at work’ plagued social media for weeks after.
Sam Smith’s controversial performance
In 2023 the Brits were hit with over 100 Ofcom complaints after Sam Smith ended the show with a powerful rendition of their song Unholy with Kim Petras.
While many were left in awe by the spectacle, which featured a crew of backing dancers, car props on stage and a passionate kiss between two dancers at the end, others felt the need to pick it apart.
The backlash came after they’d also performed at the Grammys, which saw them make history with their victory, with Kim becoming the first trans woman to take home a Grammy, and Sam becoming the first non-binary artist to do so. However, their performance, which saw them wear red ensembles and devil’s horns was labelled ‘satanic’ by some.
CMAT showing off her bum crack on the red carpet
Although skin-baring outfits on the red carpet are nothing new, in 2024 Irish singer CMAT – real name Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson – turned up in a long, black gown with a completely open, feathery-lined back, which was so low it showed off a lot of her bare bum.
Before the ceremony CMAT, who’d been nominated in the international artist of the year category, gave fans a sneak peek of her outfit, writing: ‘I told you I was good craic.’
But when it came to showing off her unique dress, CMAT’s bum was censored by ITV during the show’s reruns – with the singer later jokingly taking aim at ITV for ‘editing my bum crack out’ and declaring: ‘Give the people what they deserve (my arse) or I will set the CMAT babies on you! Tis a #feud officially.’
James Corden interrupts Adele
Speeches being cut short are fairly common in awards shows as recipients ramble on their thanks to everyone in their lives.
However, Adele didn’t take things lying down when James Corden cut her off in 2012 as she introduced Blur for the final performance.
Her idol George Michael was right there on stage with her, having shown up to the ceremony for the first time in 17 years, so it’s not surprising Adele was upset about her big moment being spoiled.
Letting everyone know how she felt, Adele flipped her middle finger to the camera as James ushered her off stage.
He later said he would have let her continue, but producers were frantically telling him to stop due to ad break restrictions.
Lewis Capaldi’s heavily censored speech
Lewis Capaldi had viewers of the 2021 awards in stitches as almost his entire speech was censored by ITV due to profanity.
He presented the final award for best British album, which was given to 2024’s opening act Dua Lipa for Future Nostalgia, but decided to get a little blue.
In true Lewis fashion, he told everyone to ‘shut up’, before declaring: ‘Hello, motherf**kers!’
The rest of the speech was a mystery to ITV viewers as the entire thing ended up being bleeped – until social media got involved and revealed his real comments.
‘Listen, guys,’ he urged. ‘I’m f**king sweating. It’s like a swamp down there, I’m telling you. Sweaty b****ks.
‘It’s great to be here tonight, it’s just great to be out of the house, to be honest. It’s been a great year for albums, most of all because I haven’t f**king released one. It’s a total honour to present the award for album – best album. Let’s hope that this year is even bigger and better than ever for British music!’ he said.
‘And let’s also hope that Scotland win at the Euros,’ the Before You Go hitmaker concluded, receiving an audible boo from the crowd.
Jarvis Cocker invades Michael Jackson’s stage
Sad actors, emotional backdrops, Michael Jackson belting out his moving Earth Song on stage – what could go wrong?
This 1996 performance went down in history, not for the Bad singer’s vocals but because Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker decided to storm the stage.
As the song reached its crescendo, the frontman ran on and mooned the crowd before wiggling his bum and rushing off.
He later declared it had been ‘a form of protest at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind of Christlike figure with the power of healing’.
Robbie Williams squares up to Liam Gallagher
Fights and awkward encounters are the bread and butter of any drama-filled awards ceremony, and in 2000, a feud was kicked off that would last two decades.
In an iconic speech, Robbie Williams decided to challenge Oasis’ Liam Gallagher to a fight.
He said: ‘A hundred grand of your money and a hundred grand of my money, we’ll get in the ring, we’ll have a fight and you can all watch it on TV.’
Reigniting flames of a sparring session in 2019, Robbie added: ‘I think last time in the noughties Liam wanted to go down to an abandoned railway track or something.
‘I don’t want to do that. It’s got to be f**king whistles and bells if it happens… Liam and I would be a wonderful thing.’
‘I’m in good nick. I’ve been boxing and sparring. So let’s just say I’d be more than happy to get in the ring with him,’ he added to GQ Hype Magazine at the time.
Sabrina Carpenter’s raunchy tribute to the UK sparks Ofcom complaints
Last year pop star Sabrina Carpenter drew the ire of some Brits viewers after a raunchy performance.
The American singer took to the stage wearing a red sparkly military-style blazer dress and walked down an aisle lit up with the Union flag as performers dressed as King’s guard soldiers followed behind, before stripping down into a red sparkly lingerie set.
During the broadcaster some threatened to ring watchdog Ofcom because they felt the performance shouldn’t have been allowed before the 9pm watershed – with it later being confirmed 825 complaints had been made.
Caroline Aherne’s cocaine gag
Showcasing her quick wit at the expense of the nominees, comedian Caroline Aherne took a shot at the rumoured drug usage backstage in 1997.
The late star, better known as Mrs Merton, took to the stage and announced: ‘Charlie, wherever you are, can you make yourself known.’
She added: ‘They’re all asking for you backstage …’
‘Charlie’ is a common nickname for cocaine, and the joke managed to slip past censorship to air on ITV’s live show, entering the history books as one of the best and most shocking moments.
Joss Stone’s bizarre accent
Pop icon Joss Stone was born and raised in England, rising to fame in 2003 with her hit album, The Soul Session.
In 2007, she was called on stage to sing and speak as she sent love to Robbie Williams and called out Russell Brand, who hosted that year.
However, it was her strange accent that garnered attention, as she appeared to have adopted an American lilt, leading to fans slating her.
She later hit back at the criticism and said: ‘It’s not really that big a deal is it? I didn’t kill anyone, I wasn’t snorting cocaine and punching paparazzi…
‘I just had a little bit of a twang – Jesus, calm down!’
The Brit Awards 2026 air tonight on ITV and ITVX at 8.15pm.
A version of this article was first published on March 2, 2024.
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