PHARRELL WILLIAMS, SLICK RICK & ESTELLE, and SHENSEEA JOIN 2026 MOBO AWARDS IN MANCHESTER

Wednesday 11 March 2026  – Today, The 2026 MOBO Awards announces its special honourees and more unmissable performances for their epic 30th anniversary celebrations. Pharrell Williams will receive the MOBO Global Songwriter Award and Slick Rick will be honoured with MOBO Lifetime Achievement at the Manchester ceremony on 26 March, hosted by Eve and Eddie Kadi. 

Slick Rick and Estelle will join forces for a unique collaborative performance that highlights Slick's incredible Hip Hop journey. Plus, Jamaican superstar Shenseea joins the line-up alongside previously announced performers: Olivia Dean, FLO, Tiwa Savage, 'MOBO Salutes: Grime 25' medley with Wiley, Chip, Nolay, Scorcher and D Double E (curated by DJ Target), Aitch, and Myles Smith.

Europe's biggest celebration of Black music and culture is proud to bring together an unparalleled evening of live music with legends, global and homegrown music stars. Tickets for the 2026 MOBO Awards at Co-op Live in Manchester are available now via mobo.com/tickets. 

Amazon Music will livestream the 2026 MOBO Awards live from Co-op Live in Manchester as the Official Digital Music Streaming Partner. The ceremony will be available to watch on the Amazon Music UK channel on Twitch from 8.00PM GMT on 26 March. For more information, including the livestream and playlists, visit the event detail page here.

An exclusive BBC One broadcast special MOBO Awards 2026: Access All Areas, hosted by DJ Target, airs on 27 March. 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. Known for his authenticity and unmatched passion for music, Target has long been a fixture on the airwaves and in the industry with an extensive career as a DJ, producer and broadcaster on BBC Radio 1Xtra. He is renowned for his impact on the UK music scene, particularly around the birth of Grime music. He also serves as the curator of the 'MOBO Salutes Grime 25' special medley performance.

Listeners can also follow the action on BBC Radio 1Xtra with select tracks and artists being played across daytime shows in the lead up to the awards ceremony and on Thursday 26 March and Friday 27 March, 1Xtra Breakfast with Nadia Jae will broadcast from Salford, building the excitement and playing behind-the-scenes and red carpet interviews from the ceremony to listeners. 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, which will be available on BBC iPlayer.

Kanya King CBE, Founder and CEO of the MOBO Group, said: "MOBO has always been about recognising the cultural architects as well as the rising stars shaping the future. Pharrell Williams' songwriting genius has influenced the sound of global music for decades, while Slick Rick's storytelling laid the foundations for generations of hip hop artists. To celebrate that legacy with a special performance alongside Estelle is a real full-circle moment for us. And with Shenseea representing the vibrant new wave of Caribbean music on the world stage, this year's show captures exactly what the MOBO Group has stood for over the last 30 years."

A visionary figure in Hip Hop and pop culture for over three decades, Pharrell Williams is set to be honoured with the MOBO Global Songwriter Award in recognition of his influence on music. A 14-time GRAMMY Award–winning and Academy Award–nominated musician, producer and songwriter, Williams' journey began in the early 1990s, helping to reshape Hip Hop and R&B production. Pharrell's Midas touch has been part of numerous hits over the decades, amounting to an incredible 25 RIAA Platinum-certified singles as a producer or artist. Williams' peerless list of collaborators across different genres includes JAY Z, Snoop Dogg, Daft Punk, Mariah Carey, Kendrick Lamar, Tyler the Creator, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears and Clipse. He was recently honoured with the Global Impact Award at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards and at the Recording Academy Honours Presented by the Black Music Collective, and alongside Clipse won the GRAMMY for Best Rap Performance for 'Chains & Whips'.

South London-born Hip Hop Icon Slick Rick (born Ricky Martin Walters) – a GRAMMY-winning artist, master storyteller, fashion pioneer and the most sampled voice in Hip Hop history – will be honoured with the MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award. Globally regarded as the architect of modern rap storytelling, Slick Rick transformed Hip Hop through cinematic lyricism, unmistakable delivery, and a regal sense of style that helped define the culture's visual identity. With four multi-platinum albums and more than 3 billion streams, The Ruler's influence remains timeless and foundational. His cult classics 'La Di Da Di' and 'The Show' have been sampled or interpolated over a thousand times by artists including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, J. Cole, Mariah Carey, The Notorious B.I.G., Eminem and Miley Cyrus, while his seminal debut The Great Adventures of Slick Rick remains one of Hip Hop's most celebrated albums. His latest chapter, VICTORY (The Film) – featuring Nas, Giggs and Estelle and executive produced by Idris Elba followed by Victory (The Audio), his first studio album in over two decades debuted at #1 on Apple iTunes.

The MOBO stage will celebrate his extraordinary influence with a special performance alongside British R&B star Estelle. Returning to the awards for the first time in 18 years, the GRAMMY-winning artist – with more than 10 million records sold worldwide – previously won Best Newcomer in 2004 before claiming Best Female and Best Song for American Boy in 2008. Together, these two icons unite for a once-in-a-generation moment – the centerpiece of the 30th anniversary celebration of the MOBO Awards.

Ricky Walters pka Slick Rick says "It's a real honour to be recognised by the MOBO Awards, which have long celebrated the richness of Black music and culture. From Mitcham - South London to New York and beyond, my journey in Hip Hop has always been about storytelling, imagination and staying true to the culture, so this moment right here feels special and warm."

Jamaican superstar Shenseea is one of the planet's most-buzzed about artists. The two-time MOBO Award winner became the first female artist to win MOBO's Best Reggae Act in 2021, and followed up last year with her second win for Best Caribbean Music Act. She is also up for Best Caribbean Music Act this year. Shenseea broke the record last year as the highest-streamed female Jamaican artist on Spotify with over 1 billion combined streams. With her GRAMMY-nominated second album Never Gets Late Here, she staked her claim as a global star to be reckoned with, masterfully fusing different genres with her authentic Jamaican style. Shenseea's indisputable global appeal has seen her become one of the most in-demand international artists right now, securing collaborations with Mariah Carey, Vybz Kartel, Megan Thee Stallion and Wizkid. She dominated the airwaves in 2025 with the viral hit 'Shake It To The Max (FLY) Remix' – her collaboration with Moliy and Skillibeng – surpassing over 100 million YouTube views.

Deliveroo becomes the Official Food Delivery Experience Partner, working with Wingstop UK to bring an exciting food offering to the 2026 MOBO Awards. MOBO is delighted to have them join their previously announced partners and sponsors Amazon Music, Prostate Cancer UK, got2b, Vevo and Huda Beauty on board. 

Amazon Music sponsors the Album of The Year category, and is the Official Digital Music Streaming Partner of the 2026 MOBO Awards and the Official Partner of The MOBO Fringe Summit event – which takes place on Tuesday 24 March at Aviva Studios in Manchester. The Summit will include two Amazon Music hosted panel events. More information on MOBO Fringe here. MOBO will also be launching exclusive MOBO 30 T-shirts and hoodies via Amazon's on-demand merch platform. Shop here. 

Prostate Cancer UK continues its vital role as the Official Men's Health Charity Partner and sponsor of the Best Male Act category, raising essential awareness of the higher risk of prostate cancer among Black men and campaigning to address health inequalities across the UK. got2b returns as the Official Hairstyling Partner and sponsor of the Best Female Act category, championing individuality, self-expression and creativity on one of the biggest nights in music and culture. Vevo joins as a partner this year, sponsoring Video of the Year and supporting the category's focus on visual excellence. Huda Beauty is the Official Makeup Partner and sponsor of the Best R&B/Soul Act category, celebrating creativity, confidence and self-expression across culture and media.

MOBO Fringe (17 - 24 March)A week-long celebration of Black music, creativity and community in Manchester 

As the MOBO Organisation marks its landmark 30th anniversary and the MOBO Awardsheads to Manchester for the first time, MOBO Fringe 2026 returns with its biggest and most exciting programme to date, transforming Manchester into a city-wide celebration of Black music, culture and creativity. Full programme details, visit: mobo.com/fringe 

Running from Tuesday 17 March to Tuesday 24 March, the free week-long programme will bring together live performances, industry conversations, cultural activations, workshops and talent development initiatives across the city, building momentum ahead of the 2026 MOBO Awards.

For the first time in its history, the MOBO Awards is coming to Manchester, a city globally recognised for shaping musical movements and cultural conversations. MOBO Fringe 2026 extends that moment far beyond the awards ceremony, spotlighting 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. 

Across the week, attendees can expect a dynamic programme spanning live music showcases, industry panels, education programmes, heritage activations and community-led events, hosted in some of Manchester's most loved cultural venues.