The MOBO Awards marked their 30th anniversary in style, with a huge night of performances, big wins and standout moments in Manchester.
Hosted by Eve and Eddie Kadi at Co-op Live, the 2026 ceremony brought together some of the biggest names in music, sport and entertainment.
Olivia Dean dominates the night
Olivia Dean was the standout winner, taking home three major awards including Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, Song of the Year for “Man I Need”, and Best Female Act.
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Elsewhere, Jim Legxacy picked up Best Male Act, while RAYE won Video of the Year for “Where Is My Husband!”.
Central Cee continued his dominance, winning Best Hip Hop Act and securing his eighth MOBO award, while FLO celebrated their first win with Best R&B/Soul Act.
Other winners on the night included:
- Ezra Collective (Best Jazz Act)
- Stephen Graham (Best Performance in TV/Film)
- DC3 (Best Newcomer and Best Gospel Act)
- Chip (Best Grime Act)
- Nova Twins (Best Alternative Act)
International and genre awards also went to Ayra Starr, Wizkid and Vybz Kartel.
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Big performances and standout moments
The night was packed with performances, streamed globally via Amazon Music.
FLO opened the show with a slick, high-energy set, debuting new track “Leak It”, while Slick Rick delivered a cinematic performance celebrating his legacy alongside Estelle.
Olivia Dean followed with a stripped-back performance of “A Couple Minutes”, bringing things down to an intimate moment before the night ramped back up.
One of the biggest highlights came from the ‘MOBO Salutes: Grime 25’ medley, curated by DJ Target, which saw Wiley, D Double E, Nolay, Scorcher and Chip take to the stage.
Performances from Tiwa Savage, Myles Smith, Aitch and Shenseea kept the energy high throughout.
Special honours and celebrations
Special awards were presented to Pharrell Williams, who received the Global Songwriter Award, and Slick Rick, who was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Beyond the main ceremony, MOBO Fringe 2026 transformed Manchester into a week-long celebration of Black music and culture, with events, workshops and talks taking place across the city.
Fans can catch more behind-the-scenes moments when “MOBO Awards 2026: Access All Areas” airs on BBC One, with additional content available on iPlayer.
Three decades in, the MOBOs proved once again why they remain one of the most important nights in UK music.
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.
