Burning up! Justin Bieber puts on a lively performance against a fiery backdrop as the BRIT Awards 2016 get underway...

It’s the biggest night of the year in the British music industry.

And Justin Bieber sent the crowd wild at London’s O2 Arena as he made his highly-anticipated performance against a fiery backdrop at the star-studded awards ceremony on Wednesday night.

The 21-year-old singer also picked up the Best International Male Solo Artist prize, beating Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Father John Misty and The Weeknd to the crown. 

Taking the O2 by storm: Justin Bieber was one of the most anticipated acts of the night as the BRIT Awards 2016 got underway in London on Wednesday

The visibly emotional star said as he collected his trophy: 'It just shows, life is a journey. Everyone has their own – their ups and their downs. I want to thank my fans. 

'Man I'm shaking a little bit right now. I'm really appreciative, you guys are awesome.' 

The crowd went wild for the Canadian pop star, who surprised fans with his acoustic rendition of Love Yourself with 2015 Critics’ Choice winner James Bay on guitar.

Bieber, the first ever artist to have held the first three UK chart positions at the same time, soon upped the tempo with a rendition of Sorry, pacing up and down in front of a wall of fire.  

Sizzling: Justin Bieber sent the crowd wild as he performed a medley of his current hits

Burning bright: The Canadian singer was given a campfire themed set for his star turn on stage 

The event kicked off in style with a performance from chart-topping band Coldplay, who serenaded the crowd with a rendition of their new anthem Hymn For The Weekend.

The band went on to win the Best British Group accolade, their ninth BRIT Award in total and their fourth in the same category.

Humanitarian Chris Martin said upon collecting the award: 'We’d like to dedicate this to all the people in refugee camps around the world, they could be us and we could be them.'

Jess Glynne next took to the stage next to sing a collection of hits from her bestselling album, I Cry When I Laugh, including toe-tapping tune Hold My Hand.

Rocking wild red curls and a black and white patterned trousersuit, the soulful singer put on a lively performance, surrounded by a large group of dancers. 

He's got skills: The singer showed off his fancy footwork alongside a troupe of scantily clad dancers

Helping hand: Justin was joined by 2015 Critics’ Choice winner James Bay on guitar for an acoustic rendition of Love Yourself

Taking it slow: The controversial singer showed off his vocals thanks to the slow tempo song 

James Bay was up next, performing his hit song, Hold Back The River.

Nominated in a whopping four categories, the star has come a long way since he burst onto the music scene last year. 

Hosts Ant and Dec joked that the 25-year-old musician was wearing the same hat as last year, poking fun of his favourite fashion accessory. 

The biggest event of the year in the British music industry's calendar is being hosted for the last time by Ant and Dec, after they revealed last week that they will be stepping down as its presenters: this will be their third time hosting, as they also presented in 2015 and 2001.

Kicking things off: Coldplay's Chris Martin serenaded the crowd with a rendition of their new anthem, Hymn For The Weekend, as the BRIT Awards unfolded at London's O2 Arena on Wednesday night

Opening with a bang: The bestselling band's melodic number concluded with a flutter of colourful confetti 

Regular guests: The best-selling band are regular fixtures at the Brits

But fans will no doubt be expecting their unique brand of giddy and cheeky hosting of the famously raucous show

The night would see perhaps one of its best musical line-ups in recent years, with homegrown stars Adele, Little Mix, Coldplay, James Bay and Jess Glynne being joined on stage by international hitmakers Rihanna, The Weeknd and Justin Bieber. 

While there were initially fears that Rihanna, 28, wouldn't be able to perform at the BRITs after cancelling her Grammys performance last Monday at the last minute due to illness, it seems as though the star will be taking to the stage.

Statement suit: Jess was dressed to impress in a patterned trouser suit and platform shoes 

It will be the fourth time Rihanna has performed at the BRITs: in 2008 she performed her massive hit Umbrella with The Klaxons, while at the 2011 ceremony viewers were treated to a medley of Only Girl in The World, S&M and What’s My Name. 

2012 saw Rihanna’s stunning rendition of We Found Love while the 2016 performance will come ahead of her huge UK stadium tour in June. 

Adele, 27, will be hoping for a better performance back on home turf following her Grammys performance, which was marred with technical issues.

It will be the Hello singer's first time performing at the BRITs since 2012, when she roused the audience - and the nation - with a haunting rendition of her mega-hit Someone Like You. 

Hot hopeful Adele leads this year's nods with four BRIT nominations. She is also one of the favourites for the BRITs Global Success Award, which is based on international sales success and would mean she could walk away with five awards on the night – something no artist has yet managed in one fell swoop.

Joining Adele with four nominations is James Bay (Best British Male Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act, British Single and MasterCard British Album of the Year) and Years & Years (British Group, British Breakthrough, British Single and British Artist Video of the Year).

Calvin Harris (British Male Solo Artist, British Single and British Artist Video of the Year) and Jess Glynne (British Female Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act and British Single) are both nominated for three awards.

While Coldplay, Jamie xx, Mark Ronson, Florence + The Machine, Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding have all earned two nominations.

If Coldplay win both their categories (British Group and Album of the Year) they'll become the most successful artist in BRIT history in both Best Album and British Group – they are currently tied with Arctic Monkeys on three wins each in both categories.

One Direction have also earned two nominations for British Group and British Artist Video of the Year for Drag Me Down.

Little Mix meanwhile have picked up their first ever BRIT Award nominations for their video for Black Magic as well as a chance a British Single for the same track.

The BRIT Awards 2016 with MasterCard will be broadcast live on ITV at 8pm.

Source: Dailymail