This year’s BRIT Awards will take place with a live audience as part of the UK government’s Events Research Programme. And more than half of the 4000 tickets being made available for the awards show will be given to key workers.

Set to take place at the O2 Arena in London in May – the first show in the venue for over a year – attendees will not have to adhere to social-distancing rules or wear masks while inside the complex.

They will have to stick to regulations while travelling to the event, however, and possibly other rules set out by organisers. Proof of a recent negative lateral flow test for COVID-19 will also be required before entry is granted.

Once inside though, everyone will be free to party like it’s 2019. Albeit under the watchful eye of government scientists. But what’s a scientist or two between friends?

Of the 4000 tickets available, 2500 will be given away to key workers via a free ballot on the BRIT Awards website, which is set to open at midday today.

“This year’s BRIT Awards with Mastercard is one of the most significant in the show’s history”, says CEO of BRIT organisers the BPI, Geoff Taylor. “Not only will we be celebrating the brilliant music and artists that have helped us through the pandemic, but we hope it will provide a path for the return of live music that fans and artists have so sorely missed”.

“And”, he adds, “as a thank you to the key workers who have kept our country going through the difficult times, we are inviting them to be our audience for the first live performances at The O2 in over a year. We’re buzzing about the show and working closely with government, The O2 and all our partners to ensure all safety measures and guidelines are adhered to”.

The Events Research Programme aims to test different approaches that should allow a wider opening up of fuller capacity events without social distancing as COVID restrictions in the UK slowly lift.

Various pilot events have already been announced, although until this week none involved live music. However, earlier this week a specially organised mini music festival, the Sefton Park Pilot in Liverpool, was announced as an addition to the programme.

The addition of the BRITs show to the research scheme isn’t a complete surprise. In an interview in March, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said that the awards event was being considered for inclusion in the programme.

At the time, BRITs organisers said that nothing had been agreed as it wasn’t clear that the research initiative was compatible with “the complex production requirements of the BRITs”. Clearly those concerns have now been overcome.

Exact plans for the set up of the show are not clear, but you’ll be able to check for yourself on 11 May, as this one is going to be televised on ITV.

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