Brit Awards will have an audience of 4,000 at London's O2 Arena without masks or social distancing

This year’s Brit Awards will be one of the first major indoor events to take place since the pandemic began as part of the Government’s Events Research Programme.

An audience of 4,000 will attend the annual music awards ceremony at London’s O2 Arena on May 11 without masks or social distancing.

The star-studded gala, which will see Dua Lipa and Arlo Parks perform, will be one of a series of scientifically controlled pilot events that will help determine how others operate after June 21 – the date when all Covid restrictions are planned to end.

Dua Lipa, pictured at the 2019 Brits Awards will perform in May’s concert

Some 4,000 fans will be able to attend next month’s concert without any masks or social distancing requirements 

The event-goers will be exempt from current Government guidance while they are at the venue but will have to adhere to the rules when travelling to and from the arena.

They must also show a recent negative lateral flow test result and will be asked to undergo Covid testing afterwards and sign up to Test and Trace in order to help scientists gain data on the safety of indoor events.

Organisers will also give away 2,500 tickets to key workers from the Greater London area to thank them for their work through ‘the difficult times’ of the pandemic. ‘This has been a long tough year for everyone and I’m delighted the night will honour the key worker heroes who have cared for us so well during that time and continue to do so,’ said Miss Lipa. ‘The Brit Awards are always special and this will truly make it a night to remember.’

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: ‘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.’ It comes after the Grammy Awards hosted a successful ceremony this year in Los Angeles, which saw nominees and performers, including Harry Styles and Beyonce, attend in person but without a live audience.

Arlo Parks, Celeste, Dua Lipa and Jessie Ware are up for the coveted Mastercard Album of The Year gong alongside male grime star J Hus, marking the first time in Brit Awards history that women have made up four out of five of the nominees.

It would mark only the ninth time a woman has won the award.

Pre-virus: Stormzy at February 2020’s Brits

Study: The Brits, with Dua Lipa, will help scientists get data on Covid safe events