Ozzy Gets Brits Lifetime Achievement Award
Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne will receive the Brits Lifetime Achievement award, recognizing his decades-long influence on rock and metal both as a solo act and Black Sabbath frontman. This latest accolade cements his place among the most impactful figures in British music history.
The award will be presented posthumously, following Osbourne's death in July 2025 at the age of 76. The ceremony will feature an all-star tribute performance curated by his wife, Sharon Osbourne, and fronted by Robbie Williams. The tribute will include a special arrangement of Ozzy's 1991 hit "No More Tears" and feature his former band members Zakk Wylde, Robert Trujillo, Tommy Clufetos, and Adam Wakeman. The 2026 ceremony marks the first time in the BRITs' 50-year history that the event will be held outside of London, taking place at Manchester's Co-op Live. This BRITs honor is the latest in a long line of accolades for the "Prince of Darkness." His career boasts five Grammy Awards and over 100 million album sales worldwide, combining his solo work and his time with Black Sabbath. He was also a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once with Black Sabbath in 2006 and again as a solo artist in 2024. Black Sabbath, formed in Birmingham in 1968, is widely credited with creating the heavy metal genre. The band's first three albums—*Black Sabbath*, *Paranoid*, and *Master of Reality*—are considered seminal works of the genre, and the group has sold over 70 million records. After being fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched a formidable solo career. His debut solo album, "Blizzard of Ozz" (1980), was a multi-platinum success, followed by a string of seven multi-platinum albums in the U.S. In 1996, he and Sharon launched the successful heavy metal touring festival, Ozzfest. The Lifetime Achievement Award, also known as the Outstanding Contribution to Music award, places Osbourne among rock royalty. Previous recipients include The Beatles, Elton John, Queen, and Paul McCartney. Queen frontman Freddie Mercury made his last public appearance when accepting the award with his band in 1990.
