🇬🇧 MOBO Turns 30: A Nationwide Legacy

The 2026 MOBO Awards are officially on the way and it’s a landmark year. Since 2009, the MOBO Awards have travelled the UK — from London to Liverpool to Leeds spotlighting Black British talent and transforming cities into cultural hubs. This year the organisation heads to Manchester to celebrate its 30th anniversary

Eve & Eddie Kadi to Host the 2026 Ceremony

Global hip-hop legend Eve and acclaimed comedian, broadcaster and cultural figure Eddie Kadi have been announced as this year’s hosts; a pairing that celebrates excellence from both sides of the Atlantic.

MOBO founder Kanya King described the decision as a powerful moment for the organisation’s 30-year legacy

First Wave of Performers Announced: Olivia Dean, FLO & Tiwa Savage

The first wave of this year’s performer announcements is female dominated with confirmed artists:

• Olivia Dean – The breakout star of 2025 with her a No.1 single “Man I Need”
• FLO – Fresh from releasing Access All Areas and completing the largest US headline tour by a British girl group in two decades
• Tiwa Savage – The Queen of Afrobeats herself With over 2.5 billion streams and a global impact spanning Afrobeats and R&B

Top Nominees for 2026

The most-nominated artists this year — each with four nods — include:

• Little Simz
• Olivia Dean
• kwn
• Jim Legxacy

Following closely behind with three nominations each are:
FLO,
Central Cee,
Skepta,
PinkPantheress.

In the TV category, Netflix’s Adolescence shines with multiple nominations recognising the work of Ashley Walters and Stephen Graham, and joined by nods in film for Cynthia Erivo and Wunmi Mosaku.

A Night Set to Shape Culture — Again

The 2026 ceremony promises everything MOBO is known for: world-class performances, cultural elevation, surprise appearances and iconic Black British moments and a stellar lineup.

With Eve and Eddie Kadi at the helm, and artists like Olivia Dean, FLO and Tiwa Savage already confirmed, MOBO30 is shaping up to be one of the biggest ceremonies in the award’s history and we cant wait 

by Topsy