Nigerian artistes Ayodeji Balogun aka Wizkid and Oyinkansola Aderibigbe aka Ayra Starr, alongside British-Nigerian media personality Niko Omilana, were among the winners at the 2026 Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards.

The awards which celebrate excellence in music of Black origin, held at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester hosted by American rapper Eve Cooper and Congolese-British comedian Eddie Kadi.

In one of the night’s international wins, Ayra Starr clinched Best International Act, for the second time in a row, beating other artistes such as Cardi B, Gunna and Tyla. 

Wizkid also clinched the Best African Music Act, winning over fellow Nigerians musicians such as David Adeleke (Davido), Rema, Tiwa Savage, Adekunle Gold and Shallipopi. 

Beyond music, British-Nigerian YouTuber and online content creator known for his comedy and prank videos, Niko Omilana also emerged a winner, grabbing the Best Media Personality award. 

Other notable winners included Olivia Dean who clinched three awards for Best Female Act, Album of the Year and Song of the Year. Central Cee won Best Hip-Hop Act, Flo earned Best R&B/Soul Act, Chip grabbed Best Grime Act, and Twin S clinched Best Drill Act.

The full list  of winners: 

Best Male Act

• Central Cee
• Elmiene
• Jim Legxacy
• Nemzzz
• Odeal
• Skepta
  
  Winner: Jim Legxacy

Best Female Act

• Flo
• Kwn
• Little Simz
• Olivia Dean
• PinkPantheress
• Sasha Keable
  
  Winner: Olivia Dean

Album of the Year

• Central Cee – Can’t Rush Greatness
• Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
• Flo –  Access All Areas
• Kojey Radical – Don’t Look Down
• Little Simz – Lotus
• Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving
  
  Winner: Olivia Dean

Song of the Year

• AJ Tracey feat. Jorja Smith – Crush
• Donaeo 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
  
  Winner: Olivia Dean

Best Newcomer

• DC3
• EsDeeKid
• Finessekid
• Jim Legxacy
• Kwn
• Namesbliss
• Nia Smith
• Sekou
• Skye Newman
• YT
  
  Winner: DC3

Video of the Year

• Pozer – Shanghigh Noon
• FKA Twigs –  Eusexua
• Jim Legxacy –  Father
• Little Simz – Flood
• Raye –  Where Is My Husband!
• Skepta & Fred Again –  Back 2 Back
  
  Winner: RAYE

Best R&B / Soul Act

• Elmiene
• Flo
• Kwn
• Odeal
• Olivia Dean
• Sasha Keable
  
  Winner: Flo

Best Alternative Music Act

• Alt Blk Era
• Blood Orange
• Hak Baker
• Michael Kiwanuka
• Nova Twins
• Rachel Chinouriri
  
  Winner: Nova Twins

Best Grime Act

• Chip
• Jayahadadream
• Kasst 8
• Ruff Sqwad
• Scorcher
• Wiley
  
  Winner: Chip

Best Hip-Hop Act

• Aitch
• Asco
• Catch
• Central Cee
• D-Block Europe
• Kojey Radical
• Little Simz
• Loyle Carner
• Wretch 32
• Youngs Teflon
  
  Winner: Central Cee

Best Drill Act

• 36
• Booter Bee
• Chy Cartier
• Esdeekid
• K-Trap
• Leostaytrill
• Nemzzz
• Pozer
• Twin S
• Wohdee
  
  Winner: Twin S

Best International Act

• Ayra Starr
• Cardi B
• Clipse
• Gunna
• Kehlani
• Leon Thomas
• Mariah The Scientist
• Moliy
• Tyla
• Vybz Kartel
  
  Winner: Ayra Starr

Best Media Personality

• Bemi Orojuogun (Bus Aunty)
• DJ Ag
• In My Opinion
• Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe (Melissa’s Wardrobe)
• Nadia Jae
• Niko Omilana
• Pk Humble
• Remi Burgz
• Uche Natori
• Winners Talking
  
  Winner: Niko Omilana

Best Performance in a TV Show/Film

• Aaron Pierre – Mufasa: The Lion King
• Ashley Thomas –  Hostage
• Ashley Walters –  Adolescence
• Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
• Damson Idris – F1
• Dayo Koleosho – Eastenders
• Lennie James – Mr Loverman
• Marianne Jean-Baptiste –  Hard Truths
• Stephen Graham –  Adolesence
• Wunmi Mosaku –  Sinners
  
  Winner: Stephen Graham

Best African Music Act

• Adekunle Gold
• Ayra Starr
• Davido
• Joshua Baraka
• Moliy
• Rema
• Shallipopi
• Tiwa Savage
• Tyla
• Wizkid
  
  Winner: Wizkid

Best Caribbean Music Act

• Ayetian
• Lila Iké
• Masicka
• Shenseea
• Vybz Kartel
• Yung Bredda
  
  Winner: Vybz Kartel

Best Jazz Act

• Cktrl
• Ego Ella May
• Ezra Collective
• Kokoroko
• Nubya Garcia
• Yazmin Lacey
  
  Winner: Ezra Collective

Best Electronic Act

• FKA Twigs
• Jazzy
• Kilimanjaro
• PinkPantheress
• Salute
• Sherelle
  
  Winner: Sherelle

Best Gospel Act

• Annatoria
• DC3
• Faith Child
• Imrhan
• Sondae
• Still Shadey
  
  Winner: DC3

Best Producer

• Inflo
• Jae5
• Miles Clinton James
• P2J
• Sammy Soso
• Zach Nahome
  
  Winner: P2J

MOBO Lifetime Achievement

• Slick Rick

MOBO Global Songwriter

• Pharrell Williams