Image: Apple
Apple has named British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean its Apple Music Artist of the Year for 2026, making her the first artist from the United Kingdom to receive the honor following a breakout year that turned her into one of music’s biggest stars.
The announcement, made Monday in Apple’s Newsroom, recognizes the success of Dean’s second album, The Art of Loving, released in late 2025. The record’s popularity continued to grow throughout 2026, helped by the hit single “Man I Need,” a run of sold-out concerts and major music industry awards.
Apple says “Man I Need” has appeared on its Daily Top 100 chart every day since August 29, 2025, an unusually sustained run that reflects the song’s popularity beyond its initial release. Dean also won Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards and collected four BRIT Awards, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for The Art of Loving.
Her rise has been especially visible onstage. Dean opened for Sabrina Carpenter at Madison Square Garden in fall 2025, then returned less than a year later for four headline shows at the same New York venue. She also completed six sold-out nights at London’s O2 Arena, a sign of how quickly her audience has expanded.
Reacting to the Apple Music honor, Dean said: “I love making music. It’s the best thing in the world.” She described being recognized for her impact as an artist as an amazing feeling.
Apple Music’s editorial team highlighted Dean’s ability to connect with listeners through personal songs about love, friendship and relationships. Her sound draws on classic soul and pop, with influences ranging from Sade to Prince and Lauryn Hill, while retaining a contemporary style that has helped her reach a worldwide audience.
Rachel Newman, Apple’s co-head of Apple Music, praised Dean’s openness and the emotional connection her songs create, saying the singer’s ability to reach people helped turn an already successful year into a defining moment in her career.
The award places Dean alongside previous Apple Music Artist of the Year recipients, including Tyler, The Creator, who won in 2025, and Billie Eilish, who received the award for a second time in 2024. Dean is the first UK artist to join that group.
Dean will receive Apple’s custom Artist of the Year trophy, which contains a silicon wafer suspended between polished glass and a machined, anodized aluminum body. The design is intended to connect the award to the Apple chips that power the devices people use to listen to music.
To mark the announcement, Apple Music is also featuring a selection of playlists celebrating Dean’s music and the artists who helped shape the past year. Listeners can explore her catalog on Apple Music, including The Art of Loving and “Man I Need.”
The latest recognition caps a year in which Dean moved from a promising British performer to an internationally recognized headliner. For Apple Music, it is also an opportunity to spotlight an artist whose audience has grown steadily through both streaming and live performances.