The 2021 Brit Awards Ceremony on 11th May has been announced that it will go ahead with a live audience of 4,000 with no social distancing nor masks, as the latest addition to the Events Research Programme, a trial ran by the government with the help of scientists. The aim of the programme is to review venues opening again this summer to welcome large crowds.
However, there are strict entry requirements to the event. Firstly, only key workers are eligible to apply through their website for a chance to get one or two out of 2,500 tickets – however, they may bring a non-key worker as a guest. Secondly, all guests must have proof of a negative lateral flow test result before entering the venue. And lastly, they must take a test after the event a few days later, as part of the study. It is not a requirement to have been vaccinated, however, attendees are required to follow guidelines whilst travelling from and to the venue and also provide contact details for NHS Test and Trace.
Other events have been announced as part of the Events Research Programme, including Blossoms’ gig in Liverpool and FA Cup Finals. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said in a press release: “The BRITs are always a big night in the music calendar, but this year’s awards will be particularly special. They will reunite live audiences with the best of British talent for the first time in a year, while providing a vital opportunity to see how we can get large crowds back safely as soon as possible. Music connected us when we were separated by this pandemic, and now it’s going to help bring us back together again.”
Meanwhile, Geoff Taylor, the Chief Executive of BPI & BRIT Awards, said: “The BRIT Awards team are excited to confirm our plans to host a live audience at our ceremony on May 11th. There could be no better way to celebrate music’s biggest night than with an audience present for the first live performances at The O2 in over a year. Most importantly, this is also a key moment in the return of live music, which we all want to see back at scale as quickly as possible.”
The Brit Awards will be held in The O2 arena in London, with live performances from Dua Lipa, Headie One, Arlo Parks, Griff and more. Jack Whitehall will be hosting the event for the fourth year in a row. Full list of nominations can be found here.
