Wizkid, Ayra Starr, Damson Idris and Davido are among the 14 celebrities of Nigerian descent nominated for the 2026 MOBO Awards.
The award organisers unveiled the list of nominees via their website on Thursday.
Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Shallipopi, Ayra Starr, Rema and Adekunle Gold will battle it out in the ‘Best African Music Act’ category.
Ayra Starr was also nominated in the ‘Best International Act’ category alongside big names in the industry such as Cardi B, Gunna and Kehlani.
Odeal, the German-Nigerian singer, was nominated in the ‘Best Male Act’ and ‘Best R&B/ Soul Act’ categories.
Wunmi Mosaku, Dayo Koleosho, Damson Idris and Cynthia Erivo, the British actors of Nigerian descent, will also slug it in the ‘Best Performance in a TV Show/ Film’ category
Bemi Orojuogun, the UK-based Nigerian lady popularly known as Bus Aunty, and DJ Remi Burgz were also nominated in the ‘Best Media Personality’ category.
The 2026 MOBO Awards will take place on March 26 at the Co-op Live Arena, Manchester UK.
See the full list of nominations below:
Best Male Act
- Central Cee
- Elmiene
- Jim Legxacy
- Nemzzz
- Odeal
- Skepta
Best Female Act
- Flo
- Kwn
- Little Simz
- 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’
- Olivia Dean – ‘The Art Of Loving’
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’
Best Newcomer
- DC3
- EsDeeKid
- Finessekid
- Jim Legxacy
- Kwn
- Namesbliss
- Nia Smith
- Sekou
- Skye Newman
- YT
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’
Best R&B / Soul Act
- Elmiene
- Flo
- Kwn
- Odeal
- Olivia Dean
- Sasha Keable
Best Alternative Music Act
- Alt Blk Era
- Blood Orange
- Hak Baker
- Michael Kiwanuka
- Nova Twins
- Rachel Chinouriri
Best Grime Act
- Chip
- Jayahadadream
- Kasst 8
- Ruff Sqwad
- Scorcher
- Wiley
Best Hip-Hop Act
- Aitch
- Asco
- Catch
- 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
- Twin S
- Wohdee
Best International Act
- 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 (Melissas Wardrobe)
- Nadia Jae
- 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’
- Stephen Graham – ‘Adolesence’
- Wunmi Mosaku – ‘Sinners’
Best African Music Act
- Adekunle Gold
- Ayra Starr
- Davido
- Joshua Baraka
- Moliy
- Rema
- Shallipopi
- Tiwa Savage
- Tyla
- Wizkid
Best Caribbean Music Act
- Ayetian
- Lila Iké
- Masicka
- Shenseea
- Vybz Kartel
- Yung Bredda
Best Jazz Act
- Cktrl
- Ego Ella May
- Ezra Collective
- Kokoroko
- Nubya Garcia
- Yazmin Lacey
Best Electronic Act
- FKA Twigs
- Jazzy
- Kilimanjaro
- Pinkpantheress
- Salute
- Sherelle
Best Gospel Act
- Annatoria
- DC3
- Faith Child
- Imrhan
- Sondae
- Still Shadey
Best Producer
- Inflo
- Jae5
- Miles Clinton James
- P2J
- Sammy Soso
- Zach Nahome