2026 MOBO Awards Nominees Revealed: Which Star’s Destiny Is Written in Gold—and Who’s Shockingly Missing?
Added on January 16, 2026 inMusic News Cards
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Isn’t it curious how the cosmos aligns just as the MOBO Awards unveil their 2026 nominees? As the stars twinkle above, the music industry below lights up with a dazzling array of talent, all vying for a slice of glory in this milestone 30th year of celebrating Black excellence. With Olivia Dean and Little Simz leading the pack of nominations, it feels almost written in the stars that this night in Manchester will be unforgettable. Now, here’s a playful pondering — could Mercury’s current sway influence who takes home the big prize, or will another celestial factor steer the evening’s surprises? Either way, the constellation of artists shining across R&B, hip-hop, grime, and more promises a night where storytelling and cultural impact reign supreme. Ready to dive into who’s nominated and who might just steal the show? LEARN MORE.
The list of nominees for the MOBO Awards, which celebrate black music in the UK and abroad, has been released and there’s a plethora of talent set to be celebrated.
It’s a shame there can only be one winner for each award but plenty of work has gone into making the music which has been nominated and just getting there is an achievement.
Olivia Dean and Little Simz top the number of nominations with four apiece for their work, The Art of Loving and Lotus respectively, and it marks 30 years since the awards were founded.
Select categories are open to voting and you can check them out here.
Kanya King CBE, Founder and CEO of MOBO Group, said: “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.
Founder and CEO of MOBO Group Kanya King said the 2026 nominations ‘represent one of the strongest and most diverse showcases of Black British music excellence we’ve seen in years’
(Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
“This year’s nominees are a powerful reflection of the culture and moment we are living in.
“Their voices matter – not only in how they soundtrack our lives, but in how they shape the future. From sharp, socially conscious lyricism to boundary-pushing creativity that defies genre, this generation of artists is deeply connected to their communities.
“The 2026 nominations represent one of the strongest and most diverse showcases of Black British music excellence we’ve seen in years.
“Spanning R&B, dance-electronic, and experimental rap, what unites these artists is the power of their storytelling, their confidence and cultural impact. Congratulations to all our nominees – we can’t wait to celebrate with you in Manchester.”
And the nominees are…
Olivia Dean has scored several nominations (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
Little Simz could have a big night in Manchester (John Phillips/Getty Images for BFC)
Central Cee is up for a MOBO Award (Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)
Raye could win for ‘Where Is My Husband!’ (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFC)
Rachel Chinouriri is up for the Best Alternative Music award (Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for for iHeartRadio)
Nova Twins Amy Love and Georgia South have been nominated (Katja Ogrin/Redferns)
There’s also awards for the screen actors, will Wunmi Mosaku win for Sinners? (Warner Bros)
The 2026 MOBO Awards will be held in Manchester on 26 March.
Featured Image Credit: Erika Goldring/Getty
Topics: Music
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