London’s women singers are truly at the top of their game right now. You only had to watch the BRIT Awards last weekend to see rising stars like Olivia Dean, RAYE and Lola Young absolutely owning the stage. Lily Allen is back in the spotlight with her long-awaited comeback tour. And, of course, this wave of talent is no surprise—London has always produced iconic voices, from Adele to Amy Winehouse. As we welcome International Women’s Day 2026 in London this Sunday, we’re saluting the voices that make this city sing.
Olivia Dean
The world can’t get enough of Olivia Dean. The Grammy-winning, Haringey-born singer recently dominated the 2026 BRITs, sweeping in four of the major categories: Artist of the Year, British Album (The Art of Loving), Pop Act and Song (“Rein Me In”). Her story began busking outside Wood Green Tube station in North London with the same bandmates she performs side by side with today.
Adele
You can take the girl out of Tottenham, but not Tottenham out of the girl. Born and bred in Tottenham, Adele attended the BRIT School in Croydon from 2002-2006 and released her debut album 19 in 2008 to critical acclaim. The British singer-songwriter has sold out music venues in London and around the world, including Wembley and the O2 Arena.
You can catch a string performance in London paying homage to Adele’s most loved songs this season—more info here.
Amy Winehouse
The one and only Amy. The London singer who took jazz and made it her own with unmistakable vocals. Born in Enfield, Winehouse moved to Camden soon after the release of her first album Frank in 2003. She’d frequent iconic jazz clubs in London like Jazz Cafe—a gritty jazz dive that inspired her Back to Black masterpiece released in 2006.
RAYE
At this point, RAYE needs no introduction. Raised in Croydon, the “Escapism” singer attended the BRIT school between 2011-2013. In 2024, she won a whopping six BRIT awards-–the most ever in one singular night. She’s set to release her sophomore album THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE on 27 March.
Lola Young
Another BRIT and Grammy winner, South London singer Lola Young catapulted to stardom after her hit “Messy” went viral on TikTok around summer 2024. Since then, she’s sold out O2 Academy Brixton, London Palladium and Electric Brixton. But before fame, from the age of 11, she’d tour around bars in Beckenham and London pubs at open mic nights.
Lily Allen
Lily Allen is a London powerhouse. Ever since her debut, she’s always repped the city, from her 2006 breakout hit “LDN” to her most recent album West End Girl released last year. The singer is currently on a UK and US tour, headlining the London Palladium with classical renditions of her earlier tunes plus performances of her most recent release in full.
Jessie Ware
Jessie Ware is a London superstar. Hammersmith-born and Clapham-raised, she shares BRIT School roots with Florence Welch and broke through with her soulful debut Devotion (2012)—a Mercury Prize nominee. With seven BRIT nods, dancefloor anthems like “Save A Kiss” and her 2023 hit That! Feels Good!, Ware’s disco-glam legacy lights up the best clubs in London and beyond every weekend.
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa is a certified A-list pop queen. She grew up in West London and broke through with her self-titled debut album—a career-defining pop bible featuring hits like “Be the One”, “IDGAF” and “New Rules”. Her five UK No.1s—from “One Kiss” to “Dance The Night”—have packed the O2 and Wembley, and she’s showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Sade
Smooth Operator herself, Sade Adu was born in Ibadan but raised in Tottenham, North London, where she honed her silken jazz-soul voice. Forming the band Sade in the early ’80s, her debut Diamond Life (1984) turned West London lounges into global legend-makers.
Kate Bush
East Wickham-raised in Southeast London, Kate Bush rewrote pop at 19 with The Kick Inside (1978). Her theatrical genius—from Bexleyheath bedrooms to worldwide phenomenon, including Running Up That Hill‘s massive 2022 revival via Stranger Things—paved the way for the boundary-breaking women dominating today’s charts.