2006 Brit Awards

26th Brit Awards
Date	14 February 2006
Venue	Earls Court
Host	Chris Evans
Most awards	Kaiser Chiefs
Television/Radio coverage
Network	ITV

The 2006 Brit Awards were the 26th edition of the biggest annual pop music awards in the United Kingdom. They are run by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 15 February 2006 in Earls Court in London. It attracted 4.70 million viewers, one of the lowest viewed ceremonies. 2007's show went on to pass the 5 million barrier again.

The ceremony was hosted by Chris Evans, who also hosted the 2005 Brit Awards. It lasted about three hours, and the alcohol ban of the previous year had been relaxed. The biggest surprise performance was that from Prince, who reunited with Wendy and Lisa from The Revolution, together with Sheila E. for the performance. 2006's biggest winners were the Kaiser Chiefs, who came away with three awards. Coldplay and Green Day both came away with two awards, Coldplay collecting their sixth overall. Other winners included the Arctic Monkeys for their only nomination, and acts such as KT Tunstall and Kanye West. Arcade Fire were the most unsuccessful act, being nominated for three awards but winning none of them.

Live performers

• Coldplay – "Square One"
• KT Tunstall – "Suddenly I See"
• Kaiser Chiefs – "I Predict a Riot"
• James Blunt – "You're Beautiful"
• Kanye West – "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" / "Gold Digger"
• Kelly Clarkson – "Since U Been Gone"
• Gorillaz – "Dirty Harry"
• Jack Johnson – "Better Together"
• Paul Weller – "Medley"
• Prince – "Te Amo Corazón" / "Fury" / "Purple Rain" / "Let's Go Crazy"

The awards

The nominations were announced on 10 January 2006.

MasterCard British Album	Best British Single
Coldplay – X & Y Gorillaz – Demon Days James Blunt – Back to Bedlam Kaiser Chiefs – Employment Kate Bush – Aerial	Coldplay – "Speed of Sound" James Blunt – "You're Beautiful" Shayne Ward – "That's My Goal" Sugababes – "Push The Button" Tony Christie (featuring Peter Kay) – "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo"
Best British Male	Best British Female
James Blunt Antony and the Johnsons Ian Brown Robbie Williams Will Young	KT Tunstall Charlotte Church Kate Bush Katie Melua Natasha Bedingfield
Best British Group	Best British Breakthrough Act
Kaiser Chiefs Coldplay Franz Ferdinand Gorillaz Hard-Fi	Arctic Monkeys James Blunt Kaiser Chiefs KT Tunstall The Magic Numbers
Best British Rock Act	Best British Urban Act
Kaiser Chiefs Franz Ferdinand Hard-Fi Kasabian Oasis	Lemar Craig David Dizzee Rascal Kano Ms. Dynamite
Best British Live Act	Best Pop Act
Kaiser Chiefs Coldplay Franz Ferdinand KT Tunstall Oasis	James Blunt Katie Melua Kelly Clarkson Madonna Westlife
Best International Album
Green Day – American Idiot Arcade Fire – Funeral Kanye West – Late Registration Madonna – Confessions on a Dancefloor U2 – How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Best International Male	Best International Female
Kanye West Beck Bruce Springsteen Jack Johnson John Legend	Madonna Björk Kelly Clarkson Mariah Carey Missy Elliott
Best International Group	Best International Breakthrough Act
Green Day Arcade Fire The Black Eyed Peas The White Stripes U2	Jack Johnson Arcade Fire Daniel Powter John Legend The Pussycat Dolls

Outstanding Contribution to Music

• Paul Weller

See also

• Naomi Awards

Controversy

• Some of the more famous British pop acts failed to get a nomination. Bands like Girls Aloud and McFly both had top 10 hits in both the single and album charts but neither were nominated, and Oasis who were eligible, but were snubbed in the category of Best Album, only had 2 nominations.

External links

• Brits 2006 homepage
• NME report on Brits nominations