The 2026 MOBO Awards nominations have been announced

The nominees for the 2026 MOBO Awards have been revealed, ahead of the Manchester ceremony in March. Check out a full list below.

The annual celebration of music of Black origin will take place at the Co Op Live on March 26, while also marking the 30th anniversary of the awards.

The awards will recognise the achievement of artists and releases from September 1 2024 to October 1 2025, and this year’s pack of nominees is lead by established stars such as Little Simz and Olivia Dean, alongside rising names such as  kwn and Jim Legxacy.

Simz, already a three time MOBO winner, is up for Album of the Year in association with Amazon Music for Lotus, Best Female Act in association with got2b, Best Hip Hop Act, and Video of the Year in association with Vevo for ‘Flood’.

After a huge 2025, Olivia Dean is up for Album Of The Year for The Art Of Loving, as well as Best Female Act, Best R&B/Soul Act, and the Song of the Year for ‘Man I Need’.

As for the newcomers, Kwn is up for Best Newcomer, Best Female Act, Best R&B/Soul, and Song of The Year for ‘Do What I Say’, while Jim Legxacy receives nods for Best Male Act in association with Prostate Cancer UK, Best Newcomer, Song of the Year for ‘3X’, and Video of The Year for ‘Father’.

Other notable nominees include EssDeeKid, Central Cee and Skepta. You can check out the whole list of nominees 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

“As MOBO enters its 30th year, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary breadth of talent we have championed over the past three decades. Time and again, artists have taken the recognition of a MOBO Award and transformed it into fuel for lasting success,” said Kanya King CBE, the founder and CEO of MOBO Group.

King went on to explain that the nominees are “a powerful reflection of the culture and moment we are living in”, and “represent one of the strongest and most diverse showcases of Black British music excellence we’ve seen in years.

The host, performers and honoured acts for the MOBOs 2026 will be announced in the coming months.