The MOBO Awards are marking their 30th anniversary in style, with two huge honours and a wave of new performers confirmed for the 2026 ceremony.
Pharrell Williams will receive the MOBO Global Songwriter Award, while hip hop icon Slick Rick will be presented with the MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award.
The milestone ceremony takes place on 26 March at Co-op Live in Manchester, hosted by Eve and Eddie Kadi.
Slick Rick and Estelle unite for special performance
To celebrate Slick Rick’s legacy, the legendary storyteller will take to the MOBO stage for a special collaborative performance with Estelle, highlighting his influence on hip hop across decades.
They’ll be joined by Jamaican star Shenseea, who has also been added to the performance line-up.
The latest announcements join an already stacked bill featuring:
- Olivia Dean
- FLO
- Tiwa Savage
- Aitch
- Myles Smith
There will also be a special ‘MOBO Salutes: Grime 25’ medley curated by DJ Target, featuring grime heavyweights Wiley, Chip, Nolay, Scorcher and D Double E.
A major moment for Pharrell
Few artists have shaped modern music quite like Pharrell Williams. Across a career spanning more than three decades, the producer, songwriter and performer has worked with a staggering list of artists including Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Daft Punk, Mariah Carey and Justin Timberlake.
A 14-time Grammy winner, Pharrell has helped define the sound of pop, hip hop and R&B for decades. His catalogue includes 25 platinum-certified singles as a producer or artist, cementing his status as one of the most influential songwriters in global music.
Celebrating a hip hop pioneer
Slick Rick, born in South London, remains one of hip hop’s most influential storytellers. Known as “The Ruler”, his distinctive voice and cinematic lyricism helped shape the genre, with classics like “La Di Da Di” and “The Show” becoming some of the most sampled tracks in hip hop history.
With more than three billion streams and four multi-platinum albums, his influence continues to echo across generations of artists.
Speaking about the honour, Slick Rick said it was a “real honour” to be recognised by the MOBO Awards, praising the event for celebrating the richness of Black music and culture.
How to watch
Fans who can’t attend in Manchester will still be able to catch the action.
Amazon Music will livestream the ceremony on its Amazon Music UK Twitch channel from 8pm on 26 March.
The celebrations will also continue on the BBC, with “MOBO Awards 2026: Access All Areas” airing on BBC One the following day. Hosted by DJ Target, the special will offer backstage access and behind-the-scenes moments from the night.
With legends being honoured, global stars performing and grime celebrating its 25th anniversary, the MOBO Awards 2026 are shaping up to be one of the biggest nights in UK music this year.
Pop Scoop founder and editor. Ex showbiz/tech editor at the Cyprus Mail. Former sub-editor at Archant. Former art director Sky TV. Co-founder of Kool Magazine and freelanced for the BBC, Channel 4, Warner Bros and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.
