She’s done it again: Olivia Dean was the big winner at the 2026 MOBO Awards on Thursday (March 26) with victories in three categories.
The award ceremony recognizes music of black origin and includes a genre-spanning category field. Held at the Co-op Live in Manchester, the event honoured the 30th anniversary of the MOBOs’ first ceremony in 1996.
Dean collected a clutch of prizes during the ceremony. Her sophomore album The Art of Loving won album of the year while breakout hit “Man I Need” earned the song of the year prize. She also collected the best female act award and performed live on the night. These were Dean’s first nominations and wins at the MOBOs. They come hot off the heels of Dean’s win in the best new artist category at the Grammys and a haul of four gongs at the BRIT Awards.
Northampton-born rapper DC3 picked up multiple prizes in the best newcomer category and the best gospel act category.
Jim Legxacy earned the best male act prize, his first major award as a recording artist. His acclaimed mixtape Black British Music was released via XL Recordings in 2025, and he scored three BRIT nominations last month. RAYE won music video of the year for “Where Is My Husband!”, directed by The Reids.
The ceremony featured a number of genre categories, with FLO (R&B act), Ezra Collective (Jazz act), WizKid (African act), Chip (Grime act) and more among the winners. Pharrell Williams was honoured with the global songwriting award and Slick Rick was recognized with the lifetime achievement award.
Alongside Dean, the night featured performances from FLO, Tiwa Savage, Aitch, Myles Smith and more. A special medley performance honouring 25 years of grime featured Chip, D Double E, Wiley, Nolay and Scorcher.
The ceremony was hosted by comedian Eddie Kadi and musician Eve, and broadcast live on Amazon Music’s Twitch channel. Speaking to Billboard U.K. in the lead-up to the event, founder Kanya King said the anniversary was a “testament to endurance and the imagination and power to shape Black culture far beyond the U.K.”
See the full winners at the 2026 MOBO Awards below.
Best male act
Central Cee
Elmiene
WINNER: Jim Legxacy
Nemzzz
Odeal
Skepta
Best female act
Flo
Kwn
Little Simz
WINNER: Olivia Dean
PinkPantheress
Sasha Keable
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
WINNER: 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”
WINNER: Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
PinkPantheress – “lllegal”
Raye – “Where Is My Husband!”
Tim Duzit – “Kat Slater”
Best newcomer
WINNER: DC3
EsDeeKid
Finessekid
Jim Legxacy
Kwn
namesbliss
Nia Smith
Sekou
Skye Newman
YT
Video of the year
Pozer – “Shanghigh Noon” (Directed by Bas Haselager)
FKA Twigs – “Eusexua“ (Directed by Jordan Hemingway)
Jim Legxacy – “’Father“ (Directed by Lauzza)
Little Simz – “Flood“ (Directed by Salomon Lighthelm)
WINNER: Raye – “Where Is My Husband!“ (Directed by The Reids)
Skepta & Fred Again – “Back 2 Back“ (Directed by Domamanic and Skepta)
Best R&B/soul act
Elmiene
WINNER: Flo
Kwn
Odeal
Olivia Dean
Sasha Keable
Best alternative music act
Alt Blk Era
Blood Orange
Hak Baker
Michael Kiwanuka
WINNER: Nova Twins
Rachel Chinouriri
Best grime act
WINNER: Chip
Jayahadadream
Kasst 8
Ruff Sqwad
Scorcher
Wiley
Best hip hop act
Aitch
Asco
Catch
WINNER: Central Cee
D-Block Europe
Kojey Radical
Little Simz
Loyle Carner
Wretch 32
Youngs Teflon
Best drill act
36
Booter Bee
Chy Cartier
Esdeekid
K-Trap
Leostaytrill
Nemzzz
Pozer
WINNER: Twin S
Wohdee
Best international act
WINNER: Ayra Starr
Cardi B
Clipse
Gunna
Kehlani
Leon Thomas
Mariah The Scientist
Moliy
Tyla
Vybz Kartel
Best media personality
Bemi Orojuogun (Bus Aunty)
DJ AG
In My Opinion
Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe (Melissa’s Wardrobe)
Nadia Jae
WINNER: Niko Omilana
PK Humble
Remi Burgz
Uche Natori
Winners Talking
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
WINNER: Stephen Graham – Adolesence
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Best African music act
Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Davido (Nigeria)
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
Moliy (Ghana)
Rema (Nigeria)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Tyla (South Africa)
WINNER: Wizkid (Nigeria)
Best Caribbean music act
Ayetian
Lila Iké
Masicka
Shenseea
WINNER: Vybz Kartel
Yung Bredda
Best jazz act
Cktrll
Ego Ella May
WINNER: Ezra Collective
Kokoroko
Nubya Garcia
Yazmin Lacey
Best electronic/dance act
FKA Twigs
Jazzy
Kilimanjaro
Pinkpantheress
Salute
WINNER: Sherelle
Best gospel act
Annatoria
WINNER: DC3
Faith Child
Imrhan
Sondae
Still Shadey
Best producer
Inflo
Jae5
Miles Clinton James
WINNER: P2J
Sammy Soso
Zach Nahome
Global songwriting award
WINNER: Pharrell Williams
Lifetime achievement award
WINNER: Slick Rick
