The nominations for the 2026 MOBOs are officially out
Another awards season is already well underway, and over in the music business, the nominees for the 2026 MOBOs have just been revealed.
Founded by the legendary Kanya King back in 1996, the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year
In case you missed the news back in September, this year’s ceremony will be held right here in Manchester for the very first time, and we’re understandably buzzing about it.
As heading up North wasn’t already exciting enough, the nominations are looking well and truly stacked as always; without further ado, here is the shortlist in full:
2026 MOBOs Nominees
BEST FEMALE ACT, IN ASSOCIATION WITH got2b
- FLO
- KWN
- LITTLE SIMZ
- OLIVIA DEAN
- PINKPANTHERESS
- SASHA KEABLE
BEST MALE ACT, IN ASSOCIATION WITH PROSTATE CANCER UK
- CENTRAL CEE
- ELMIENE
- JIM LEGXACY
- NEMZZZ
- ODEAL
- SKEPTA
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 LIGHTHELM)
- 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
Yes, the magical Ms Dean is absolutely ALL OVER this list…
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
@the.manc The limited edition 4 Box is out now at @Archies in collaboration with @Aitch – so we sat down to try it for the first time with the man himself. 👏 #themanc #mancheshester #manc #archies #aitch #burger #manchestermusic #takeaway #manchesterfood #manchestereats #manchestertakeaway ♬ original sound – The Manc
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
- INFLO
- JAE5
- MILES CLINTON JAMES
- P2J
- SAMMY SOSO
- ZACH NAHOME
What do you make of the nominations this year?
There’s also still a chance of grabbing a seat to watch the 2026 MOBO Awards ceremony in person at Co-op Live if you’re interested.
You can find out more about the remaining ticket availability right HERE.
Read more:
- Five Greater Manchester-based artists we’ve been listening to this month | December 2025
- Biffy Clyro at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
- Madison Beer announces massive Manchester show at Co-op Live arena
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Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)