Olivia Dean was named Artist of the Year at the Apple Music Awards 2026, becoming the first artist from the United Kingdom to receive the honor. The award comes after a year in which the singer solidified her international growth, following her opening slot for Sabrina Carpenter last season.
According to the list shared by Chart Data, the winners of the award over the years have been:
- 2019: Billie Eilish
- 2020: Lil Baby
- 2021: The Weeknd
- 2022: Bad Bunny
- 2023: Taylor Swift
- 2024: Billie Eilish
- 2025: Tyler, the Creator
- 2026: Olivia Dean
With this award, Dean joins some of the biggest names in global music in the history of the Apple Music Awards. The recognition reinforces her position as one of the most prominent emerging artists of the moment and marks a milestone for British music in a category that until now had been dominated by artists from the United States and Puerto Rico.