MOBO Awards 2026 Celebrates 30 Years of Black Music and Culture in Manchester

The MOBO Awards 2026 took over Manchester’s Co-op Live arena last night, marking the 30th anniversary of the iconic awards ceremony. The event brought together some of the biggest names in music, entertainment and culture, celebrating achievements across black music and beyond in what was one of the biggest MOBO ceremonies in recent years.

The night featured performances from a wide range of artists including Olivia Dean, FLO, Slick Rick, Estelle, Tiwa Savage, Aitch and Myles Smith, making it a night that reflected the diversity and global influence of black music.

One of the standout stars of the evening was Olivia Dean, who continues to have a huge year. After winning Best New Act at the Grammys and multiple awards at the BRIT Awards earlier this month, she continued her winning streak at the MOBOs. She took home Best Female Act, Album of the Year for 'The Art Of Loving', and Song of the Year for 'Man I Need', as well as performing during the ceremony.

A major moment during the night saw legendary rapper Slick Rick receive the MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising a career that has spanned more than four decades and influenced generations of artists. His 2025 album 'Victory' marked his first album in 26 years and was warmly received by fans. Another special award went to Pharrell Williams, who was honoured with the Global Songwriter Award.

One of the biggest competitive awards of the night, Best Male Act, went to rising Lewisham rapper Jim Legxacy, who has been building momentum with his blend of grime, rap and R&B. His project 'Black British Music' helped establish him as one of the most exciting voices in UK rap.

The Video of the Year award went to Raye for 'Where Is My Husband!', while Best Newcomer was won by DC3.

Other major winners included:

Best Hip Hop Act – Central Cee

Best R&B/Soul Act – FLO

Best Grime Act – Chip

Best Drill Act – Twin S

Best International Act – Ayra Starr

Best African Music Act – Wizkid

Best Caribbean Music Act – Vybz Kartel

Best Jazz Act – Ezra Collective

Best Electronic/Dance Act – Sherelle

Best Gospel Act – DC3

Best Media Personality – Niko Omilana

The 2026 ceremony wasn’t just about the winners — it was also a celebration of 30 years of the MOBO Awards and their impact on British music and culture. Over the past three decades, the awards have played a major role in highlighting black British talent and giving a platform to artists who have gone on to achieve global success.

From legendary figures like Slick Rick to new generation stars like Olivia Dean, the MOBO Awards 2026 showed the full spectrum of black music — from grime, drill and hip-hop to R&B, jazz, gospel and electronic music.

Thirty years in, the MOBO Awards remain one of the most important nights in UK music, and the 2026 ceremony proved the culture is stronger than ever.