What was notable about Harry Styles' BRITs opening?

A televised first look at new music and a fashion-forward comeback

Harry Styles opened the 2026 BRIT Awards with a high-profile live debut that doubled as a clear statement of intent. For the first time on television he performed material from his forthcoming record, delivering the single "Aperture" as the ceremony’s opening number. The performance marked a major promotional moment: it introduced new music to a mass audience after the singer’s multi-year break from releasing and performing new material.

The staging and presentation also mattered. Styles showed up on the BRITs red carpet in a Chanel pinstriped suit and ballet flats, then followed with a show-stopping set that critics and fans described as confident and theatrical. The decision to premiere a new single at one of the UK’s biggest music nights gave the track immediate buzz and linked the album rollout directly to an awards event watched by industry figures and international media.

Why this matters now

• The TV premiere turns a single release into a headline moment and likely boosts streaming and search traffic.
• Performing new material live tests audience reaction ahead of the album’s full release and can shape marketing choices.
• The fashion and staging reinforced Styles’ profile as a pop star who blends music with high-fashion spectacle.

The BRITs slot also positioned him amid other notable moments at the ceremony — tributes, award winners and red-carpet headlines — ensuring the new song reached both casual viewers and hardcore fans. It’s still early to say how the single will perform long-term, but using a major awards show to launch a new era is a traditional, high-impact move: it signals that the artist is back and ready to headline the conversation around music this year.