The censorship of these statements has lead to concerns from artists about how musicians should feel empowered to be political. Indie-underdog CMAT, nominated for International Artist Of The Year, stated she was “not a big fan of anyone trying to argue that art is not a political place” and that “everything is politics. But more than ever, art is politics because you don’t get to make art in a fascist state. Fascism is on the rise in every single country in the world.”

She had previously criticised Berlin film Festival jury’s Wim Wenders, who stated that cinema should “stay out of politics”. The Irish singer shunned Wenders’ statement as she commented on “fascism rearing its ugly head in Ireland, its showing its ugly head all over the UK and don’t even get me started on America.”

“It’s cowardice,” She said in interview with The Guardian, “And I think it is showing that these people are extremely separate from how normal people live their everyday lives. You know, they’ve become successful artists. Become successful musicians, film-makers, and so they have wiped their hands clean of having to do anything with the working classes or having to do anything with anyone who is oppressed in any nation because they have the luxury of doing that. And I don’t think that’s fair.”

Theo Ellis, drummer of UK Group of The Year BRIT winners Wolf Alice, said he felt it was left to musicians to speak out on current political affairs because of the lack of coverage in traditional media.

“[Musicians] have the power to expose people to information they might not have got somewhere else,” he said.

UK Group of The Year 2026 BRIT winners Wolf Alice on the red carpet. CREDIT: Ian West/PA Images via Getty Image

Alternative/rock category nominees Wet Leg also voiced political concerns on the red carpet. “I think that to be apolitical is political,” stated frontwoman Rhian Teasdale. The group’s guitarist Joshua Omead Mobaraki also commented on the rise of Reform UK, saying he “[doesn’t] want UK Reform to win any seats.”

Hip-hop king of the UK scene Loyle Carner shared similar concerns about UK Reform. “It’s scary times we’re living in. But it’s such low-hanging fruit. I feel, in my circle, or the echo chamber I exist in, to say that I hate Nigel Farage … it’s not hard to say that.”

Artist of the year runner-up Rebecca Taylor AKA Self Esteem expressed sympathy with other musicians who felt their political statements were being censored. “I just can’t not say what I think because it’s too frightening. I’m genuinely terrified that we’re going into a dark place, darker than where we are already.”

Alongside the nominees, comedian Jack Whitehall who was this year’s award presenter had his comments axed from the broadcast, notably a joke about Peter Mandelson. Whitehall joked that he spotted Mandelson sitting amongst a ‘politicians table’. Former Labour grandee Mandelson was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with investigation into allegations that he leaked sensitive information to sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Geese-drummer Max Bassin also had part of his speech censored from broadcasting as he accepted the award for International Group Of The Year. He made it as far as, “What’s up the Brits! I just want to say-” before the remaining speech was censored.

“Free Palestine, f*ck ICE, R.I.P. Mani, let’s go Geese,” he stated.

Once a seemingly neutral ground for politics, music and culture intersecting, the BRITs have taken a much stricter approach to political statements. In previous years, several political moments were captured on the award’s stage. 1995’s awards saw R&B royalty Prince perform a silent protest against his record label dispute, appearing onstage with “SLAVE” written on his cheek. Stormzy also utilised the stage for political input during his 2018 performance where he spoke out on the 2017 Grenfell Tower Fire, confronting Theresa May as he rapped “Where’s that money for Grenfell? You criminals.”

The sensitivity regarding political statements has been amplified across many awards ceremonies this year. In the BAFTAs last week, My Father’s Shadow director Akinola Davies announced “Free Palestine” during his acceptance speech for Best Debut by A British Writer, Director or Producer. This remark was edited out of the BBC broadcast.

In the Grammy awards ceremony last month, several artists including Hailey and Justin Bieber and Joni Mitchell were seen wearing pin badges that read “ICE out”. The censorship controversy is particularly prevalent due to what producers are ruling out as acceptable versus what is unacceptable. At the BAFTAs, John Davidson used a racial slur onstage that was didn’t get censored during broadcasting. An official apology was made owed to the activist’s Tourette’s Syndrome, but many have called the outburst “unacceptable”. The incident has sparked conversations about political censorship seeming unjustified comparatively.

No official announcements about the censorships of these statements has been made by the BRIT awards.

The Brooklyn-based group began making music together in 2016, led by frontman Cameron Winter. Though the group have been meticulously crafting and perfecting three studio albums over the last 10 years, the enigmatic Getting Killed (2025) was the one to pull them into the spotlight. A melting pot of experimental rock, post-punk, funk and country blues, Geese have gripped millions of listeners worldwide with their unconventional sound. The album received critical acclaim after its release in September last year and was named Best Album of 2025 by NME.

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Max Bassin with BRIT award, shared by The BRIT Awards (@brits)

Geese-drummer Max Bassin accepted the award on the group’s behalf. In his speech, he expressed solidarity with Palestine and condolences to Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, who passed away in November 2025.

“What up the Brits! I just want to say, free Palestine, f*ck ICE, RIP Mani, let’s go Geese.”

Bassin’s speech was censored by BRIT producers during the live-broadcast.

Amongst other historic international nominees was Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalía, the Catalan-star behind 2025 hit ‘Berghain’. Awarded International Artist of the Year, she surpassed music-giants Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter. In a ceremony dominated by 4-time winner Olivia Olivia Dean, Rosalía has been described for her first ever win as an “underdog“.

International Song of The Year winners Bruno Mars and Rosé triumphed over Chappell Roan, Lady Gaga and Sombr and many other chart-topping artists with their hit ‘APT’. The title was awarded according to votes from the public via WhatsApp and their win saw Rosé making history as the first ever K-Pop award winner in BRITs history. This, along with a performance by Huntr/X of Golden from the movie KPop Demon Hunters, saw K-pop represented more than ever in the ceremony.

This year’s BRITs saw many historic wins and special moments for artists and the ceremony itself. Held in Manchester, leaving London for the first time in 47 years, the ceremony featured many special dedications to the late-Manchester legend Mani, who rocked in The Stone Roses and Primal Scream.

Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July 2025, was given a lifetime achievement award. Widow Sharon Osbourne accepted the award on the late-rockstar’s behalf, who honoured him as “authentic, gifted, totally unpredictable, a wild man, a true artist”. The awards ceremony closed with a tribute to Osbourne, a performance ‘No More Tears’ led by Robbie Williams and band featuring Metallica’s Robert Trujillo and Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde.

Read more about how this year’s BRITs made history including Lola Young’s Breakthrough Artist win here and the winners of the 2026 Song of the Year here.

International Group of the Year
WINNER: Geese
Haim
HUNTR/X (Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei Ami)
Tame Impala
Turnstile

International Song of the Year
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Chappell Roan – “Pink Pony Club”
Disco Lines & Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”
Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song”
Gracie Abrams – “That’s So True”
HUNTR/X (EJAE / Audrey Nuna / REI AMI) – “Golden”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With a Smile”
Ravyn Lenae – “Love Me Not”
WINNER: Rosé & Bruno Mars – “Apt.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Sombr – “Undressed”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

International Artist of the Year

Bad Bunny
Chappell Roan
CMAT
Doechii
Lady Gaga
WINNER: Rosalía
Sabrina Carpenter
Sombr
Taylor Swift
Tyler, the Creator

Having shifted from DIY basement recordings to major network TV, Geese used the slot to cement their growing reputation as one of guitar music’s most innovative young bands. They delivered a pair of tracks from ‘Getting Killed‘, starting with ‘Au Pays du Cocaine’, followed later in the show by ‘Trinidad’. For a group that has built its following through relentless touring and word of mouth, the episode represented a pivotal first appearance on the long‑running NBC sketch series, which often serves as a national breakout stage for emerging artists.

‘Au Pays du Cocaine’, the eighth track on the 11‑song album, showcased the band’s slower, more atmospheric side, with touring keyboardist Sam Revaz joining the core lineup on stage. Frontman Cameron Winter’s vocals leaned into the song’s drifting, narcotic mood, while the band kept the arrangement taut and restrained. For their second slot, Geese shifted into a harsher gear with ‘Trinidad’, the album’s diverse opening track, balancing stripped‑down, eerie verses with a chorus of heavy chaos that highlighted their dynamic control.

The episode was hosted by Teyana Taylor, star of the film ‘One Battle After Another’, who was making her own hosting debut on the show. First announced as musical guests for the January 24 broadcast on January 7, Geese’s appearance alongside Taylor was quickly picked up by music outlets and fan communities. The performance arrived after the group spent much of late 2025 on the road in support of ‘Getting Killed‘, an album that saw them dominate year‑end lists, spark intense online discussion and sell out shows across the globe, including multiple packed dates in the band’s birthplace, New York.

Forming in Brooklyn in 2016, the band currently consist of vocalist and multi‑instrumentalist Cameron Winter, guitarist Emily Green, bassist Dominic DiGesu, and drummer Max Bassin, with Sam Revaz joining on keyboards for live shows. The SNL spot underlines the band’s growing profile on American network television and signals the scale of opportunities now available to them.

To date, Geese have released four studio albums: “A Beautiful Memory” (2018), “Projector” (2021), “3D Country” (2023) and “Getting Killed” (2025). Their SNL debut is set to be followed by further touring in early 2026, including a show in Honolulu on January 31 and appearances at several major festivals around the world later in the year, positioning the band for an even bigger year ahead as they push their sound to wider audiences.

• May 7-9: San José del Cabo, MX – Viva El Gonzo
• May 22-23: London, UK – Electric Brixton
• May 25: Brussels, BE – La Madeleine
• May 27-28: Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg
• May 30: Cologne, DE – Bürgerhaus Stollwerck
• Jun 1: Paris, FR – Élysée-Montmartre
• Jun 3: Berlin, DE – Festsaal Kreuzberg
• Jun 5: Aarhus, DK – Northside Festival
• Jun 13: Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
• Jun 15-16: Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome
• Jun 19-20: New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
• Jun 23-24: Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery
• Jun 26-27: Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
• Jun 30-Jul 1: Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion
• Jul 3-4: Saratoga, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Cente

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