Nigeria’s influence on the global music scene continues to grow as Ayra Starr, Davido, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage secure nominations at the 2026 MOBO Awards.
The organisers of the prestigious awards unveiled the nominees on Thursday, revealing contenders across 20 categories ahead of the ceremony slated for March 26, 2026, at Co-op Live in Manchester.
The upcoming edition is particularly significant, marking the first time the MOBO Awards will be held in Manchester and coinciding with the event’s 30th anniversary.
In one of the most hotly contested categories, Best African Music Act, Davido, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage will compete alongside fellow Nigerian stars Ayra Starr, Rema, Shallipopi and Adekunle Gold.
The category also features Ghanaian singer Moliy, Uganda’s Joshua Baraka and South African sensation Tyla, underscoring the growing international reach and cross-border appeal of African music.
Ayra Starr emerged as one of the most prominent African acts on the shortlist, earning nominations in both the Best African Music Act and Best International Act categories.
In the international category, the ‘Rush’ hitmaker will go head-to-head with global stars such as Cardi B, Kehlani, Gunna and Vybz Kartel. Tyla and Moliy also received nominations in both categories.
The nominations further cement Ayra Starr’s rising profile at the awards.
At the 2025 ceremony, she made history by becoming the first woman in 16 years to win Best African Music Act, while also taking home the Best International Music Act award.
Widely regarded as Europe’s biggest celebration of Black music and culture, the MOBO Awards recognise outstanding artists, projects and performances released between September 1, 2024, and October 1, 2025.
Reacting to the announcement, MOBO founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kanya King CBE, said the 2026 shortlist reflects the depth, diversity and global impact of Black music today.
“As MOBO enters its 30th year, this year’s nominees capture the spirit of the times we’re living in,” King said. “Their voices don’t just soundtrack our lives; they help shape the future of culture.”
She added that this year’s nominations represent one of the strongest and most diverse showcases of Black British music in recent years, while also highlighting the awards’ expanding international footprint.
Strong Field Across Categories
Leading the overall nominations are Little Simz, Olivia Dean, Kwn and Jim Legxacy, who each picked up four nods. Central Cee, Skepta, PinkPantheress and FLO followed closely with three nominations each across major categories.
The 2026 awards will also spotlight achievements beyond music. Nominees for Best Performance in a TV Show/Film include Cynthia Erivo for Wicked, Ashley Walters and Stephen Graham for Netflix’s Adolescence, and Nigerian-British actress Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners.
Ahead of the main ceremony, Manchester will host the MOBO Fringe Festival — a week-long cultural celebration organised in partnership with Manchester City Council.
The programme will feature live performances, industry discussions and creative workshops, with hosts, performers and special honourees set to be announced in the coming weeks.
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With Nigerian artists once again dominating key categories, the 2026 MOBO Awards stand as a powerful reflection of Africa’s growing influence on the global Black music landscape.
Full List Of 2026 MOBO Awards Nominees
BEST MALE ACT
CENTRAL CEE
ELMIENE
JIM LEGXACY
NEMZZZ
ODEAL
SKEPTA
BEST FEMALE ACT
FLO
KWN
LITTLE SIMZ
OLIVIA DEAN
PINKPANTHERESS
SASHA KEABLE
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
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
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
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
FKA TWIGS
JAZZY
KILIMANJARO
PINKPANTHERESS
SALUTE
SHERELLE
BEST GOSPEL ACT
ANNATORIA
DC3
FAITH CHILD
IMRHAN
SONDAE
STILL SHADEY
BEST PRODUCER
INFLO
JAE5
MILES CLINTON JAMES
P2J
SAMMY SOSO
ZACH NAHOME