Dean's late 2025 album The Art of Loving broke through in 2026. Her single "Man I Need" has charted on Apple Music's Daily Top 100 every day since first appearing on August 29, 2025. She won a Grammy for Best New Artist and four BRIT Awards, including Artist of the Year, and sold out a global tour. After opening for Sabrina Carpenter at Madison Square Garden in 2025, Dean returned for her own four-night residency and followed up with a six-night sold-out run at London's O2 Arena. Apple is gifting Dean a physical award: a custom Apple silicon wafer suspended between a polished sheet of glass and a machined aluminium body. The Best of 2026 playlists are available in the New tab of the Apple Music app. Previous winners of the Artist of the Year award include Tyler, the Creator, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift.
Apple Music names Olivia Dean Artist of the Year, launches Best of 2026 playlists
Olivia Dean is first UK artist to receive the honour
Apple Music has named UK artist Olivia Dean its Artist of the Year for 2026, the first time a UK artist has received the accolade. The service also released its Best of 2026 playlists, featuring year-end editions of popular playlists such as Rap Life, R&B Now, A-List Pop and Today’s Country.
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Analysis
Why This Matters
- The award highlights Apple Music's influence in the music industry, and recognising a UK artist signals a more international perspective.
- Dean's inclusion in the campaign may introduce her music to a broader audience.
- Curated year-end playlists are a major feature for subscribers looking to recap the year's standout tracks.
Background
Apple Music has named an Artist of the Year since at least 2023, with previous honours going to Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Tyler, the Creator. Olivia Dean is the first UK artist to receive the title.
What to Watch
- Dean's continued chart performance and potential nominations at upcoming award shows.
- Whether Apple Music's editorial picks influence other streaming services' year-end lists.
- The next Artist of the Year announcement, which will be compared with this year's choice.
Sources
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedApple Music named Olivia Dean its Artist of the Year for 2026 and launched Best of 2026 playlists.9to5Mac: “Apple Music rolls out 2026 year-end curated playlists and names Olivia Dean its Artist of the Year”
- SupportedDean is the first UK artist to receive the Artist of the Year honour.9to5Mac: “She is the first UK artist to receive this honor.”
- SupportedThe Best of 2026 playlists include year-end editions of Rap Life, R&B Now, A-List Pop and Today’s Country, and are in Apple Music’s New tab.9to5Mac: “Inside the ‘New’ tab in Apple Music, you’ll find ‘Best of 2026’ versions of popular playlists like Rap Life, R&B Now, A-List Pop, Today’s Country, and more.”
- SupportedDean’s late-2025 album The Art of Loving broke through in 2026.9to5Mac: “Olivia’s late 2025 album, The Art of Loving, truly broke through this year.”
- Supported“Man I Need” has charted on Apple Music’s Daily Top 100 every day since first appearing on August 29, 2025.9to5Mac: “Her hit “Man I Need” has charted on Apple Music’s Daily Top 100 every day since first appearing on August 29, 2025.”
- SupportedDean won a Grammy for Best New Artist and four BRIT Awards, including Artist of the Year.9to5Mac: “In addition to selling out her global tour, she won a GRAMMY for Best New Artist and four BRIT Awards, including Artist of the Year.”
- SupportedDean sold out her global tour.9to5Mac: “In addition to selling out her global tour, she won a GRAMMY for Best New Artist and four BRIT Awards, including Artist of the Year.”
- SupportedDean opened for Sabrina Carpenter at Madison Square Garden in 2025.9to5Mac: “In fall 2025, Olivia opened for Sabrina Carpenter at Madison Square Garden, in New York City.”
- SupportedDean later returned to Madison Square Garden for her own four-night residency.9to5Mac: “Less than a year later, she returned for her own four-night residency and followed up with a six-night sold-out run at The O2 Arena, in London.”
- SupportedDean followed the residency with a six-night sold-out run at London’s O2 Arena.9to5Mac: “Less than a year later, she returned for her own four-night residency and followed up with a six-night sold-out run at The O2 Arena, in London.”
- Partly supportedApple is gifting Dean a physical award made with a custom Apple silicon wafer suspended between polished glass and a machined aluminium body.9to5Mac: “it’s gifting Dean with a physical that includes a custom Apple silicon wafer “suspended between a polished sheet of glass, and a machined and anodized aluminum body.””
- SupportedPrevious Artist of the Year winners include Tyler, the Creator, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift.9to5Mac: “Last year’s Artist of the Year was Tyler, The Creator, in 2024 it was Billie Eilish, and in 2023 Taylor Swift won the prize.”