The MOBO Awards nominations for 2026 are here, and we could not be more excited to celebrate the wealth of Black talent and culture. Today, the nominees across 20 categories have been announced in recognition of releases from 1 September 2024 to 1 October 2025.
From the soulful pop of Olivia Dean to the utter prowess of Raye to the consistently brilliant Little Simz, it's year filled with outstanding musical talent. Little Simz, a three-time MOBO winner, leads the way with four nominations for Album of the Year for the critically acclaimed Lotus, Best Female Act, Best Hip Hop Act, and Video of the Year for “Flood”, featuring Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly and directed by Salomon Ligthelm. Meanwhile, Dean is also up for four awards, including Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, Best Female Act, Best R&B/Soul Act and Song of the Year for “Man I Need."
The MOBO Awards will also honour actors for their contributions to film and TV last year. Netflix’s series Adolescence received two nominations for Best Performance in a TV Show / Film, for actors Ashley Walters and Stephen Graham. Cynthia Erivo for Wicked and Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners are also recognised in the same category.
“This year’s nominees are a powerful reflection of the culture and moment we are living in," Kanya King CBE, Founder and CEO of MOBO Group, said. “Their voices matter — not only in how they soundtrack our lives, but in how they shape the future. From sharp, socially conscious lyricism to boundary-pushing creativity that defies genre, this generation of artists is deeply connected to their communities."
The March ceremony in Manchester is sure to be one of the greatest parties of the year. Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 MOBO Awards.
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When are the MOBO Awards 2026?
The date is set for Thursday 26 March.
Where are the MOBO Awards 2026?
The MOBO Awards will be held at Co-op Live in Manchester.
How to get tickets to the MOBO Awards
General sale and VIP tickets are available to purchase here.
Leading names across skincare, makeup, hair, nails, fragrance and wellness.
See the full list of MOBO nominees
BEST MALE ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH PROSTATE CANCER UK
CENTRAL CEE
ELMIENE
JIM LEGXACY
NEMZZZ
ODEAL
SKEPTA
BEST FEMALE ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH got2b
FLO
KWN
LITTLE SIMZ
OLIVIA DEAN
PINKPANTHERESS
SASHA KEABLE
ALBUM OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH AMAZON MUSIC
CENTRAL CEE - CAN'T RUSH GREATNESS
EZRA COLLECTIVE - DANCE, NO ONE’S WATCHING
FLO - ACCESS ALL AREAS
KOJEY RADICAL - DON'T LOOK DOWN
LITTLE SIMZ - LOTUS
OLIVIA DEAN - THE ART OF LOVING
SONG OF THE YEAR
AJ TRACEY FEAT. JORJA SMITH - 'CRUSH'
DONAE'O FEAT. OMAR, LEMAR & HOUSE GOSPEL CHOIR - 'NIGHTS LIKE THIS'
FRED AGAIN, SKEPTA & PLAQUEBOYMAX - 'VICTORY LAP'
JIM LEGXACY & DAVE - '3X'
KWN - 'DO WHAT I SAY'
MYLES SMITH - 'NICE TO MEET YOU'
OLIVIA DEAN - 'MAN I NEED'
PINKPANTHERESS - 'ILLEGAL'
RAYE - 'WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!'
TIM DUZIT - ‘KAT SLATER’
BEST NEWCOMER
DC3
ESDEEKID
FINESSEKID
JIM LEGXACY
KWN
NAMESBLISS
NIA SMITH
SEKOU
SKYE NEWMAN
YT
VIDEO OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH VEVO
POZER - 'SHANGHIGH NOON' (DIRECTED BY BAS HASELAGER)
FKA TWIGS - 'EUSEXUA' (DIRECTED BY JORDAN HEMINGWAY)
JIM LEGXACY - 'FATHER' (DIRECTED BY LAUZZA)
LITTLE SIMZ - 'FLOOD' FEAT. OBONGJAYAR & MOONCHILD SANELLY (DIRECTED BY SALOMON LIGTHELM)
RAYE - 'WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!' (DIRECTED BY THE REIDS)
SKEPTA & FRED AGAIN - 'BACK 2 BACK' (DIRECTED BY DOMAMANIC and SKEPTA)
BEST R&B/SOUL ACT
ELMIENE
FLO
KWN
ODEAL
OLIVIA DEAN
SASHA KEABLE
From Olivia Dean’s summer-studded hits on ‘The Art of Loving’ to FKA Twigs’ extraordinary experimental release ‘Eusexua.’
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ACT
ALT BLK ERA
BLOOD ORANGE
HAK BAKER
MICHAEL KIWANUKA
NOVA TWINS
RACHEL CHINOURIRI
BEST GRIME ACT SUPPORTED BY TRENCH
CHIP
JAYAHADADREAM
KASST 8
RUFF SQWAD
SCORCHER
WILEY
BEST HIP HOP ACT
AITCH
ASCO
CATCH
CENTRAL CEE
D-BLOCK EUROPE
KOJEY RADICAL
LITTLE SIMZ
LOYLE CARNER
WRETCH 32
YOUNGS TEFLON
BEST DRILL ACT
36
BOOTER BEE
CHY CARTIER
ESDEEKID
K-TRAP
LEOSTAYTRILL
NEMZZZ
POZER
TWIN S
WOHDEE
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
AYRA STARR
CARDI B
CLIPSE
GUNNA
KEHLANI
LEON THOMAS
MARIAH THE SCIENTIST
MOLIY
TYLA
VYBZ KARTEL
BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY
BEMI OROJUOGUN (BUS AUNTY)
DJ AG
IN MY OPINION
MELISSA HOLDBROOK-AKPOSOE (MELISSA'S WARDROBE)
NADIA JAE
NIKO OMILANA
PK HUMBLE
REMI BURGZ
UCHE NATORI
WINNERS TALKING
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM
AARON PIERRE - MUFASA: THE LION KING
ASHLEY THOMAS - HOSTAGE
ASHLEY WALTERS - ADOLESCENCE
CYNTHIA ERIVO - WICKED
DAMSON IDRIS - F1
DAYO KOLEOSHO - EASTENDERS
LENNIE JAMES - MR LOVERMAN
MARIANNE JEAN-BAPTISTE - HARD TRUTHS
STEPHEN GRAHAM - ADOLESENCE
WUNMI MOSAKU - SINNERS
BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT
ADEKUNLE GOLD (NIGERIA)
AYRA STARR (NIGERIA)
DAVIDO (NIGERIA)
JOSHUA BARAKA (UGANDA)
MOLIY (GHANA)
REMA (NIGERIA)
SHALLIPOPI (NIGERIA)
TIWA SAVAGE (NIGERIA)
TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA)
WIZKID (NIGERIA)
BEST CARIBBEAN MUSIC ACT
AYETIAN
LILA IKÉ
MASICKA
SHENSEEA
VYBZ KARTEL
YUNG BREDDA
BEST JAZZ ACT
CKTRL
EGO ELLA MAY
EZRA COLLECTIVE
KOKOROKO
NUBYA GARCIA
YAZMIN LACEY
BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ACT SUPPORTED BY BEMA & MIXMAG
FKA TWIGS
JAZZY
KILIMANJARO
PINKPANTHERESS
SALUTE
SHERELLE
BEST GOSPEL ACT SUPPORTED BY PREMIER GOSPEL
ANNATORIA
DC3
FAITH CHILD
IMRHAN
SONDAE
STILL SHADEY
BEST PRODUCER
INFLO
JAE5
MILES CLINTON JAMES
P2J
SAMMY SOSO
ZACH NAHOME
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