Y
1996

1996 in British Music

Oasis at Knebworth, the Spice Girls arrive, and Britpop goes supernova.

Key Events

  • Oasis play Knebworth to 250,000 fans over two nights — 2.5 million applied for tickets
  • Spice Girls release 'Wannabe' — Girl Power conquers the world
  • Trainspotting soundtrack defines the year's musical landscape

Dominant Genres

BritpopPopJungleDance

Notable Trends

  • The super-concert era peaks with Knebworth
  • Girl and boy bands dominate the singles chart
  • Britpop begins to fragment under its own weight

Key Artists of 1996

199519961997