MOBO CELEBRATES 30 YEARS WITH EPIC CEREMONY IN MANCHESTER: WINNERS AND SHOW HIGHLIGHTS OF MOBO AWARDS 2026
- Mar 27
- 12 min read
26 March 2026 – Olivia Dean, Jim Legxacy, RAYE and Central Cee are amongst the top winners at the MOBO Awards 2026 tonight. Hosted by Eve and Eddie Kadi, the MOBO Awards 2026 brought the party from Manchester's Co-op Live to the world with an unparalleled evening of live music with legends, global and homegrown music stars – befitting of a celebration to mark 30 years of the MOBO Organisation. The star-studded ceremony brought together cultural forces from the world of music, sport and entertainment, including Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Denise Lewis DBE, Tinie Tempah, Alesha Dixon, Stephen Graham, and more. Full winners list below.
Audiences from across the globe tuned in to the livestream on the Amazon Music UK channel on Twitch to catch live performances by Olivia Dean, FLO, Slick Rick and Estelle, Tiwa Savage, Aitch, Myles Smith, Shenseea and the Grime medley with Chip, D Double E, Nolay, Scorcher and Wiley, curated by DJ Target.
Olivia Dean scooped three major awards – Album of The Year in association with Amazon Music for The Art of Loving, Song of The Year in association with 1664 Bière for 'Man I Need', and Best Female Act in association with got2b. The captivating, chart-topping British singer-songwriter is unquestionably one of the UK's hottest global music stars right now and the acknowledgement from MOBO is further testament to her undeniable talent and momentum.
Lewisham-born rapper, singer and producer Jim Legxacy won Best Male Act in association with Prostate Cancer UK and stands out as one of the most hotly-tipped artists this year with four nominations. Jim's critically-acclaimed 2025 album black british musicreshaped expectations of what UK music can sound like and positioned him at the helm of a movement; a new generation of storytellers and pioneers carving a path out of the comfort of the underground. His songwriting holds a mirror up to the Black British experience while creating space for complexity, sensitivity and experimentation.
RAYE won Video of The Year in association with VEVO for 'Where Is My Husband!', directed by The Reids. This is the first major award win for RAYE's latest chapter in music, landing serendipitously on the night before the release of her second album This Music May Contain Hope. Central Cee – already one of the most decorated rappers in MOBO history – won Best Hip Hop Act, his eighth MOBO trophy. FLO celebrated their first MOBO win, taking home Best R&B/Soul Act in association with Huda Beauty. Elsewhere, critically-lauded group Ezra Collective won Best Jazz Act and Stephen Graham won Best Performance in a TV Show / Film for Adolescence.
Teen Christian rap sensation DC3, who has unleashed a string of tracks that have gone viral on social media, wins two MOBO Awards – the coveted Best Newcomer, which has long been one of the UK industry's best early indicators of the next breakout stars, and Best Gospel Act supported by Premier Gospel.
Chip wins Best Grime Act supported by TRENCH, rounding off a triumphant year with his much-buzzed about album Grime Scene Saviour, further cementing a moment in time of another cultural crescendo for the genre. This marks a full circle moment for Chip, who won Best Grime Act 10 years ago. The latest triumph brings his total MOBO trophy tally to five, since winning Best Newcomer in 2008 when he was just 16.
More incredible talent showcasing the breadth of Black music and culture were celebrated: Nova Twins won Best Alternative Act, Sherelle won Best Electronic/Dance Act supported by BEMA & Mixmag, Twin S won Best Drill Act, Wizkid won Best African Music Act, Ayra Starr won Best International Act for the second consecutive year, Vybz Kartel won Best Caribbean Music Act, YouTuber Niko Ominala won Best Media Personality, and P2J won Best Producer.
Kanya King CBE, Founder and CEO of the MOBO Group, said:
"Thirty years ago, the MOBO Organisation was born out of a desire to create space where there was none — to recognise, celebrate and elevate Black music and culture . Tonight in Manchester, we've seen just how far that vision has come. From global icons to the next generation of trailblazers, this stage continues to be a home for excellence, creativity and truth.
"This isn't just a celebration of the past — it's a statement about the future. MOBO remains an important platform, and we are more committed than ever to opening doors, breaking barriers and championing the voices that shape culture around the world."
MOBO AWARDS 2026 WINNERS
BEST MALE ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH PROSTATE CANCER UK - JIM LEGXACY
BEST FEMALE ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH got2b - OLIVIA DEAN
ALBUM OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH AMAZON MUSIC - OLIVIA DEAN - THE ART OF LOVING
SONG OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH 1664 Bière - OLIVIA DEAN - MAN I NEED
BEST NEWCOMER - DC3
VIDEO OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH VEVO - RAYE - 'WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!' (DIRECTED BY THE REIDS)
BEST R&B/SOUL ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH HUDA BEAUTY - FLO
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ACT - NOVA TWINS
BEST GRIME ACT SUPPORTED BY TRENCH - CHIP
BEST HIP HOP ACT - CENTRAL CEE
BEST DRILL ACT - TWIN S
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT - AYRA STARR
BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY - NIKO OMILANA
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM - STEPHEN GRAHAM - ADOLESCENCE
BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT - WIZKID
BEST CARIBBEAN MUSIC ACT - VYBZ KARTEL
BEST JAZZ ACT - EZRA COLLECTIVE
BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ACT SUPPORTED BY BEMA & MIXMAG - SHERELLE
BEST GOSPEL ACT SUPPORTED BY PREMIER GOSPEL - DC3
BEST PRODUCER - P2J
SPECIAL HONOURS
MOBO GLOBAL SONGWRITER AWARD - PHARRELL WILLIAMS
MOBO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - SLICK RICK
PERFORMANCES
FLO 'Access All Areas' + 'Leak It'
Slick Rick and Estelle medley 'Hey Young World', 'Children's Story', '1980', 'Walk On By (Dionne Warwick), 'Mona Lisa', 'American Boy', 'Landlord', 'Documents', 'Victory'
Olivia Dean 'A Couple Minutes'
'MOBO Salutes: Grime 25' medley (curated by DJ Target) featuring Chip 'Grime Scene Saviours', D Double E 'Grime Scene Saviours' + 'Streetfighter' + 'Frontline', Nolay 'No Help No Handouts' + 'Unorthodox Daughter' + 'When I'm Ere', Scorcher freestyle, Wiley 'Wot Do U Call It' + 'Holy Grime'
Tiwa Savage 'Energy' + 'You4Me'
Myles Smith 'Stargazing'
Aitch '1989' + 'Baby'
Shenseea medley 'Hit And Run', 'Shen Yeng Anthem', 'Shake It To The Max', 'Talk To Me Nuh'
R&B trio FLO kicked off the show with a bang. Opening with a jaw-dropping acapella rendition of 'AAA', the group flexed their signature harmonies before transitioning into the exclusive first televised performance of their new single 'Leak It'. Set in a nightclub amidst the drama of paparazzi camera flashes, Stella, Jorja and Renée brought 'it girl' energy and high-impact choreography to the stage, showing exactly why they're the UK's hottest girl group right now. This dazzling return to the MOBO Awards stage marked a full circle moment after the trio first performed at the ceremony during their debut year in 2022.
Hip Hop icon and recipient of this year's MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award, Slick Rickbrought gravitas and rich storytelling to the show. The set unfolded as a cinematic journey through his legacy, soundtracked by a sequence of iconic musical moments including 'Children's Story', 'Mona Lisa', Estelle coming out with '1980' and 'American Boy', and 'Landlord'. The performance culminated in a powerful declaration moment with a giant flag reveal and a stylised 'Documents' finale; blending noir-style visuals, fashion and vivid symbolism befitting of the untouchable Hip Hop king.
Next, Olivia Dean drew the audience in closer with an intimate performance of 'A Couple Minutes' – the latest track on her MOBO Award-winning album The Art of Loving to cross over 200 million Spotify streams. Surrounded by her band, the emphasis remains firmly on Olivia as she performs this soft, soulful track with effortless magnetism and poise.
The Grime medley performance curated by DJ Target followed, keeping the spotlight firmly on homegrown talent and telling our stories in only the way MOBO can. The performance summoned a powerful, immersive salute to Grime, built around the symbolic 'Three Flats' of Bow, using tower block architecture as both a visual and narrative anchor to honour the genre's roots in UK estates and pirate radio culture. Chip was the first one out the block with 'Grime Scene Saviours', picked up next by D Double E with a medley including 'Streetfighter' and 'Frontline', before Nolay delivered a knockout run of 'No Help No Handouts', 'Unorthodox Daughter' and 'When I'm Ere'. Scorcher kept the heat up with a blazing freestyle before the Godfather of Grime, Wiley, emerged for 'Wot Do U Call It' and 'Holy Grime'. The finale brought together all artists and visual elements, collapsing the architectural world into one explosive, collective moment that celebrates Grime's origins, evolution and enduring authority.
Queen of Afrobeats Tiwa Savage took viewers on a journey through two contrasting worlds, tracing her evolution from intimate soulfulness to high-energy Afro-house through a fusion of a brand new Amapiano-based track 'Energy' and 'You4Me'. Starting with a warm, live-band setting centred on Tiwa's authenticity, the vibe then switched at a jukebox moment where a symbolic coin drop triggered a shift in sound and visual narrative. This part of the performance erupted with high-energy choreography with dancers, amplifying energy and movement amidst the dual colour palettes.
Myles Smith delivered a special new orchestral rendition of his major hit 'Stargazing', curated especially for the MOBO Awards. This impactful new interpretation was accompanied by a grand and striking performance that showed a different side to the British singer-songwriter's artistry, accompanied by powerful special effects and dramatic lighting.
Manchester's own rap star Aitch claimed the night, opening his performance of '1989' with the iconic guitar riff sample of The Stone Roses' 'Fools Gold', immediately rooting him in his hometown with plenty of local references woven in throughout his performance. Surrounded by a troupe of dancers, the vivid and high-energy stage showed off Aitch's charm as he moved from one stage set up to the next, finishing on his big hit 'Baby'.
Jamaican superstar Shenseea closed the night with a raw, sensual and fiery celebration of Dancehall music, complete with high-energy and heated choreography with dancers as she breathlessly blazed through a medley of 'Hit and Run', 'Shen Yeng Anthem', 'Shake It To The Max' and 'Talk To Me Nuh'.
"MOBO Awards 2026: Access All Areas", presented by DJ Target, airs on BBC Onetomorrow night (27 March) at 11.25pm. Follow Target as he brings viewers candid moments with the stars in the room, with exclusive backstage chats and an up-close look at the moments behind the glitz and glamour of one of the biggest nights in the UK music calendar. In honour of MOBO's 30th anniversary celebrations, BBC One will also be broadcasting "MOBO at 30: Greatest Moments", a special programme featuring iconic performances and moments over the decades, straight after. Viewers can catch up on both programmes on BBC iPlayer.
Ahead of the Awards, MOBO Fringe 2026 delivered the MOBO Organisation's biggest and most exciting programme to date, transforming Manchester into a city-wide celebration of Black music, culture and creativity. The free week-long programme brought together live performances, industry conversations, cultural activations, workshops and talent development initiatives across the city. The activities spotlit Manchester's vibrant creative communities while creating meaningful opportunities for artists, young people and cultural leaders across the region. Delivered with support from Manchester City Council in partnership with Manchester Music City, the MOBO Fringe programme has been developed in collaboration with more than 50 community leaders, creatives, grassroots platforms and industry representatives, ensuring the Fringe reflects the voices and energy of those already shaping culture in the city.
About MOBO
Since 1996, the MOBO Organisation has discovered and supported talent in music, film and TV. MOBO operates 365 days a year to create events, content, partnerships and opportunities for young people in the entertainment industries and beyond. For 30 years, the MOBO Awards has remained a significant cultural event in the British music industry, celebrating excellence in Black music and culture. Its enduring legacy as the premiere outlet for recognising and honouring the artistic achievement of exceptional British and international talent in Hip-Hop, Grime, R&B and Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Electronic/Dance, Alternative, Gospel and African music has been unparalleled. Global superstars who have been part of the Awards include Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Sade, Lionel Richie, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Usher, Rihanna, Cardi B, Davido and H.E.R., just to name a few. The Awards has proudly been hosted all over the United Kingdom over the years including shows in London, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Coventry, Sheffield and Newcastle.
Beyond the Awards, MOBO is committed to discovering, supporting and championing the next generation of talent. Through initiatives such as MOBO UnSung and MOBO Help Musicians Amplified, MOBO provides vital funding, mentorship and development opportunities for emerging artists. Across the wider creative and tech industries, MOBO also drives representation and connects career opportunities for Black talent through MOBOLISE, a platform designed to empower diversity, excellence and transformation in the workplace. Through the MOBO Trust and its long-standing partnership with Help Musicians, close to £1 million has been awarded in funding, mentoring and development support, helping artists turn ambition into action.
About Amazon Music
Amazon Music is an immersive audio entertainment service that connects fans, artists, and creators through music, podcasts, and culture. Amazon Music brings fans closer to what they love, with curated and personalized playlists, artist livestreams, artist merch, and Amazon Exclusive podcasts. Prime members get access to over 100 million songs in shuffle mode, All-Access playlists, plus the largest catalogue of ad-free top podcasts, included with their membership. Customers can upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for full, on-demand access to 100 million songs, as well as millions of songs in HD, Ultra HD, and Spatial audio, and the world's largest selection of audiobooks from Audible. Anyone can listen to Amazon Music by downloading the free Amazon Music app, or wherever they listen to music, including Alexa-enabled devices. Learn more at amazon.co.uk/music.
About Prostate Cancer UK
● Prostate Cancer UK is the UK's biggest public funder of prostate cancer research, and delivers support services and award-winning health information trusted by doctors and the NHS to help men navigate the disease. Our mission is a future where no man dies of prostate cancer – and the next leap forward will be a national screening programme.
● Prostate Cancer UK is campaigning to right health inequalities faced by Black men across the UK. The charity have submitted evidence to the National Screening Committee for targeted screening for men at highest risk of the disease- which includes Black men and men with a family history- and a decision is expected on this before the end of the year (2025). The charity is also campaigning to change outdated NHS guidelines for GPs so that they can proactively start conversations with Black men about their risk and a quick and simple blood test (PSA test) to check for signs of prostate cancer from 45 years old.
● Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.1 in 4 Black men will get prostate cancer, that's double the risk of other men. If you're Black, your risk also increases if your dad or brother had it, or you're over 45.The earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat, and an earlier diagnosis could save your life. You can check your risk in just 30 seconds here.
● Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer can visit the Prostate Cancer UK website or contact Prostate Cancer UK's Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383, or via email, webchat or WhatsApp.
About got2b
got2b – the brand that truly shows your personality, originally from the US. got2b is a trendsetter for hairstyling and colour products. Since 2001, got2b stands for unique hair styles, individual looks, attitude, and encourages people to celebrate their originality. The got2b range expertly balances product effectiveness with predominantly vegan formulas*. The got2b portfolio is unisex, diverse and colourful and for everyone who wants to express their individual style. In 2025, got2b kicked off its new partnership with ILGA-Europe, the leading advocacy group in the region, advising on got2b's Pride activations with their expertise and deep knowledge of the community's need.
*free from animal derived ingredients.
About Huda Beauty
Huda Beauty's mantra is that Beauty is Self-Made. Founded by leading beauty authority Huda Kattan in 2013, the brand has evolved to become a globally renowned beauty movement that challenges conventional standards and empowers beauty lovers worldwide. Known for inspiring transparency within the industry and creating iconic, innovative and cult-favorite products, such as the ICONIC Easy Routine - Easy Primer, Easy Blur & Easy Bake Setting Powder - the brand makes beauty accessible and fun for all. Driven by their community, Huda Beauty encourages a celebration of individuality and self-expression that goes beyond just make-up. In 2025, Huda Beauty reached a major milestone, becoming a fully independent company as of June—a bold step that reinforces its commitment to creative freedom, community-driven innovation, and founder-led vision. Earlier in 2025, Huda Beauty was honored as the Most Popular Beauty Brand Globally in both Q1, Q2 & Q3 2025 by Cosmetify, further cementing its status as a global leader in the beauty industry. Recognised for its commitment to quality, authenticity and innovation, the brand has also received numerous accolades and has been honored with prestigious awards, including the Allure Best of Beauty Award, Elle Beauty Award, and Cosmopolitan Beauty Award.
About Vevo
Vevo is the world's leading music video network, connecting an ever-growing global audience to high quality music video content for more than a decade. Founded by Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment in 2009, Vevo offers fans worldwide a vast array of premium content to choose from, showcasing official music videos alongside a constantly developing lineup of live performances and innovative original programming. From top superstars to rising new talents, Vevo brings incomparable cross-promotional support to artists across the musical spectrum, at every stage of their careers. Vevo has consistently evolved over the past decade to lead within today's ever-changing media landscape, embracing partnerships with a number of leading distribution platforms to deliver extraordinary content within ad-supported environments. With more than 25B views across television, desktop and mobile devices each month, Vevo brings music videos to the world – when, where, and how fans want them. Vevo is available on YouTube, Samsung, Samsung TV Plus, Roku, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Amazon Prime Video, VIZIO WatchFree+, Foxtel, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Freestream, and Rakuten TV.
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