Olivia Dean Wins Best New Artist Grammy With Emotional Tribute to Immigrant Grandmother

British soul-pop singer's acceptance speech celebrates bravery in the face of adversity

Feb. 1, 2026 at 9:47pm by Ben Kaplan

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British soul-pop singer Olivia Dean claimed the prestigious Best New Artist trophy at the 68th Grammy Awards on Sunday night, delivering an emotional acceptance speech that honored her immigrant grandmother and celebrated bravery in the face of adversity. The 26-year-old London artist beat out seven other nominees to win one of music's most coveted awards, capping a meteoric rise that saw her become a global breakout star in 2025.

Why it matters

Dean's victory and moving speech highlighting her family's immigrant experience resonated with the current political climate in the US, where multiple artists addressed immigration enforcement during the ceremony. Her values as a strong feminist and advocate for fans also demonstrate her commitment to using her platform for social impact.

The details

Dean was visibly moved as she accepted the award, wiping away tears throughout her speech. She paid tribute to her grandmother, who emigrated to the UK from Guyana at age 18 as part of the Windrush generation, making enormous sacrifices to build a new life. Dean has consistently honored her grandmother's legacy, including with the song "Carmen" from her debut album. The Best New Artist win caps a remarkable year for Dean, whose 2025 album "The Art of Loving" brought her major success in the US and helped secure the Grammy nomination.

  • Olivia Dean won the Best New Artist Grammy on February 2, 2026.
  • Dean's album "The Art of Loving" was released on September 26, 2025.

The players

Olivia Dean

A 26-year-old British soul-pop singer who won the Best New Artist Grammy in 2026 after a meteoric rise to global success in 2025.

Chappell Roan

The previous year's Best New Artist winner, who presented the award to Olivia Dean.

Christine Dean

Olivia Dean's mother, who serves as deputy leader of the Women's Equality Party in the UK and has been a major influence on Olivia's strong feminist values.

Windrush generation

The post-World War II migration of Caribbean citizens to Britain, which included Olivia Dean's grandmother.

Mickalene Thomas

An American painter whose art exhibition "All About Love" at The Broad in Los Angeles inspired the title of Olivia Dean's album "The Art of Loving."

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What they’re saying

“I never really imagined that I would be up here, let alone nominated, so thank you so much.”

— Olivia Dean (Grammy.com)

“I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn't be here... I am a product of bravery and I think that those people deserve to be celebrated.”

— Olivia Dean (Grammy.com)

“We're nothing without each other, thank you so much.”

— Olivia Dean (Grammy.com)

What’s next

Dean has announced the Art of Loving tour, a debut headlining arena run kicking off July 10 in San Francisco before hitting major markets across North America.

The takeaway

Olivia Dean's Grammy win and emotional acceptance speech celebrating her immigrant roots and family's bravery resonated deeply, highlighting the power of authenticity and representation in music. Her success also demonstrates that mission-driven, socially conscious artists can achieve mainstream acclaim and commercial success.