Nominees announced for 2026 MOBO Awards in Manchester

The artists nominated for awards at the 2026 MOBO Awards in Manchester have been revealed. Check out a full list below. The awards ceremony marks the biggest and most influential celebration of Black music and culture in Europe, and will be heading to Manchester later this spring to mark the 30th anniversary. It’ll take place on Thursday March 26 at the Co-op Live arena, and today (Thursday January 15) - the full run of nominees in all 20 categories have been announced. The awards this year will recognise outstanding talent and releases from September 1 2024 to October 1 2025, and leading this year’s nominations are Little Simz , Olivia Dean , and rising stars kwn and Jim Legxacy - each earning four nominations. Little Simz already has three MOBOs under her belt, and is this year up for Album of the Year in association with Amazon Music for ‘ Lotus ’, Best Female Act in association with got2b, Best Hip Hop Act, and Video of the Year in association with Vevo for ‘ Flood ’. VIDEO Olivia Dean is also up for Album Of The Year for ‘ The Art Of Loving ’, as well as Best Female Act, Best R&B/Soul Act, and Song of the Year for ‘Man I Need’. Kwn is tipped for Best Newcomer, Best Female Act, Best R&B/Soul, and Song of The Year for ‘Do What I Say’, and Jim Legxacy is up for Best Male Act in association with Prostate Cancer UK, Best Newcomer, Song of the Year for ‘3X’, and Video of The Year for ‘Father’. On their heels are Central Cee , Flo , PinkPantheress and Skepta , each with three nominations, and the 10 nominees for Best Newcomer include EsDeeKid , Jim Legxacy, Finessekid and YT . VIDEO Best Male Act In Association With Prostate Cancer Uk Central Cee Elmiene Jim Legxacy Nemzzz Odeal Skepta Best Female Act In Association With Got2b Flo Kwn Little Simz Olivia Dean Pinkpantheress Sasha Keable Album Of The Year In Association With Amazon Music Central Cee - Can’t Rush Greatness Ezra Collective - Dance, No Ones 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 Video Of The Year In Association With Vevo 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...

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