Manchester’s run as the UK’s most important music city shows no sign of slowing, with the MOBO Awards confirming the full nominations list ahead of their 2026 ceremony in the city.
Europe’s biggest celebration of Black music and culture will take place at Co-op Live on 26 March, marking a major moment for Manchester as it continues to attract the UK’s biggest cultural institutions.
The announcement comes as Manchester prepares to host not just the MOBOs, but also the BRIT Awards in 2026 — with the newly unveiled BRITs Fringe rolling out a city-wide programme of grassroots events, education initiatives and industry showcases in the run-up to the ceremony. Together, the two events underline the city’s growing pull across music, culture and the creative economy.
READ MORE: ‘The music press is essentially dead’ – meet the Manchester platform trying to revive it
This year’s MOBO nominations span hip hop, R&B, grime, jazz, gospel, electronic and international music, reflecting the breadth of Black music and culture the awards have championed for three decades.
In Best Male Act, nominees include Central Cee, Skepta, Nemzzz and Odeal, while Best Female Act features FLO, Little Simz, Olivia Dean and PinkPantheress. The Album of the Year shortlist includes releases from Central Cee, Ezra Collective, FLO, Kojey Radical, Little Simz and Olivia Dean.
The Song of the Year category sees collaborations and chart-shaping tracks recognised, with nominees including AJ Tracey featuring Jorja Smith, Fred again.. with Skepta and Plaqueboymax, RAYE, Olivia Dean and PinkPantheress.
Rising talent is also in focus, with a packed Best Newcomer category spotlighting names such as Jim Legxacy, KWN, Nia Smith, Sekou and Skye Newman — reinforcing the MOBOs’ long-standing role as a launchpad for the next generation.
Beyond music, the MOBOs continue to reflect Black excellence across culture more broadly. The Best Performance in a TV Show/Film category includes nominees from major productions such as Mufasa: The Lion King, Wicked, EastEnders and Adolescence, while international categories recognise artists from across Africa, the Caribbean and the US, including Ayra Starr, Cardi B, Tyla, Wizkid and Vybz Kartel.
The awards also celebrate the wider ecosystem around music, with categories recognising producers, media personalities, video directors and genre specialists across grime, drill, jazz, gospel and electronic music.
The 2026 ceremony marks 30 years of the MOBO organisation, celebrating three decades of shaping culture, championing talent and creating defining moments in British music. Show hosts, performers and special honourees are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
With the MOBO Awards and the BRIT Awards — plus the new BRITs Fringe — all landing in Manchester within weeks of each other, the city’s position as a national and international cultural powerhouse is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
2026 MOBO AWARDS – FULL NOMINATIONS
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 – Shanghai Noon (Dir. Bas Haselager)
- FKA twigs – Eusexua (Dir. Jordan Hemingway)
- Jim Legxacy – Father (Dir. Lauzza)
- Little Simz feat. Obongjayar & Moonchild Sanelly – Flood (Dir. Salomon Ligthelm)
- RAYE – Where Is My Husband! (Dir. The Reids)
- Skepta & Fred again.. – Back 2 Back (Dir. Domamanic & 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 – Adolescence
- 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
Zach Nahome
Inflo
JAE5
Miles Clinton James
P2J
Sammy Soso
