The MOBO Awards has officially unveiled its 2026 nominations. Announced on Thursday, January 15, the shortlist spans 20 categories and recognises standout artists, releases and cultural figures from September 2024 through October 2025.
For the first time in its three-decade history, the MOBO Awards will take place in Manchester, forming a central pillar of the organisation’s 30th anniversary celebrations. The ceremony is set for Thursday, March 26, hosted at Co-op Live, the UK’s newest and largest live entertainment arena. Tickets are already on sale, while hosts, performers and special honourees will be announced in the coming weeks.
Leading this year’s nominations are Little Simz, Olivia Dean, and rising talents kwn and Jim Legxacy, each earning four nods. Little Simz continues her acclaimed run with nominations for Album of the Year for Lotus, Best Female Act, Best Hip Hop Act, and Video of the Year for “Flood.” Olivia Dean matches that total, recognised for her chart-topping album The Art of Loving, alongside nominations for Best Female Act, Best R&B/Soul Act, and Song of the Year for “Man I Need.”
Breakout R&B artist kwn secures nominations across Best Newcomer, Best Female Act, Best R&B/Soul Act, and Song of the Year for “Do What I Say.” Jim Legxacy, meanwhile, earns recognition for Best Male Act, Best Newcomer, Song of the Year for “3X” with Dave, and Video of the Year for “Father.”
Three nominations apiece go to Central Cee, FLO, PinkPantheress, and Skepta. Central Cee adds to his MOBO legacy with nominations including Album of the Year for Can’t Rush Greatness. Beyond music, MOBO continues to honour excellence across film, television and media. Acting nominations highlight performances from Ashley Walters, Stephen Graham, Cynthia Erivo, and Wunmi Mosaku, while the Best Media Personality category celebrates creators and broadcasters shaping culture across platforms. Ayra Starr, Tyla, and Moliy earning earned nominations in International categories.
See the full list of nominees for the 2026 MOBI Awards below.
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 ONES 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
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
Photo: Nick Flynn
Leave a Reply