Nigerian music stars Ayra Starr, Davido, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage have been nominated for the 2026 MOBO Awards, further underlining Nigeria’s growing influence on the global Black music stage.
The nominations were announced on Thursday, with contenders revealed across 20 categories ahead of the awards ceremony slated for March 26, 2026, at Co-op Live in Manchester.
This year’s edition is particularly significant, marking the first time the MOBO Awards will be held in Manchester and coinciding with the organisation’s 30th anniversary.
Davido, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage earned nods in the highly competitive Best African Music Act category, where they will compete with fellow Nigerians Ayra Starr, Rema, Shallipopi and Adekunle Gold.
Also shortlisted in the category are Ghana’s Moliy, Uganda’s Joshua Baraka and South Africa’s Tyla, reflecting the expanding global reach and cross-border appeal of African music.
Ayra Starr emerged as one of the standout African acts on the list, picking up nominations in both the Best African Music Act and Best International Act categories.
In the Best International Act category, the Rush singer will go head-to-head with international stars such as Cardi B, Kehlani, Gunna and Vybz Kartel. Tyla and Moliy also secured nominations in both categories.
Ayra Starr has enjoyed strong success at the MOBO Awards in recent years. At the 2025 ceremony, she made history as the first woman in 16 years to win the Best African Music Act award, while also taking home the Best International Music Act prize.
The MOBO Awards, widely regarded as Europe’s biggest celebration of Black music and culture, honour outstanding talent and releases from September 1, 2024, to October 1, 2025.
Commenting on the nominations, MOBO founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kanya King CBE, said the 2026 shortlist highlights the power, diversity and cultural impact of Black music worldwide.
“As MOBO marks its 30th anniversary, this year’s nominees truly reflect the culture and moment we are living in. Their voices matter — not only in the way they soundtrack our lives, but also in how they shape the future,” King said.
She added that the list represents “one of the strongest and most diverse showcases of Black British music excellence in years,” while also emphasising the awards’ growing international footprint.
Top Nominees and Broader Recognition
SNOW TV NEWS reports that Little Simz, Olivia Dean, Kwn and Jim Legxacy lead the 2026 nominations with four nods each. Central Cee, Skepta, PinkPantheress and FLO follow closely with three nominations apiece across major categories.
Beyond music, the awards will also recognise achievements in film, television and media. 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.
The ceremony will be preceded by the MOBO Fringe Festival, a week-long cultural programme organised in collaboration with Manchester City Council, featuring live performances, industry panels and creative workshops.
Hosts, performers and special honourees for the 2026 MOBO Awards are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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