Olivia Dean is Apple Music’s 2026 artist of the year
Dean's late 2025 album "The Art of Loving" hitting in late 2025, her Grammy, and four BRIT awards including artist of the year cemented her place as Apple Music's top artist . In the span of a year she had a four-night residency at Madison Square Garden, and followed up with a six-night sold-out run at London's O2 Arena.…
Apple Music has introduced new playlists and content under the 'Best of 2026' category, concluding the year with a curated showcase. In the 'New' section of the platform, users can access 'Best of 2026' editions of widely-loved playlists like Rap Life, R&B Now, A-List Pop, and Today's Country. The company has also announced Olivia Dean as its Artist of the Year for 2026, highlighting her meteoric rise and impact on the music scene this year.
Olivia is the first UK artist to receive this prestigious recognition. Her 2025 album, The Art of Loving, played a pivotal role in her ascent, with her single "Man I Need" consistently appearing in Apple Music's Daily Top 100 since its release on August 29, 2025. Dean's success extended beyond music, as she sold out her worldwide tour, won a GRAMMY for Best New Artist, and claimed four BRIT Awards, including Artist of the Year.
She also opened for Sabrina Carpenter at Madison Square Garden and had two sold-out runs at the O2 Arena in London. To honor her achievement, Apple Music gifted Dean a physical disc featuring a custom Apple silicon wafer. Previous winners of the Artist of the Year title include Tyler, The Creator (2024), Billie Eilish (2023), and Taylor Swift (2023).
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