MOBO Awards 2026: Ayra Starr, Wizkid, and More Make The List (FULL LIST)

The organisers of the MOBO Awards have released the full list of nominees for the 2026 edition, and Nigerian artists are once again among the most prominent names. Ayra Starr leads the Nigerian contingent with two nominations — Best International Act and Best African Music Act — putting her in a strong position to repeat her success from last year.

Other Nigerian stars nominated in the Best African Music Act category include Wizkid, Davido, Rema, Tiwa Savage, Adekunle Gold and Shallipopi. Their inclusion highlights Nigeria’s continued dominance in global Afrobeats and Black music culture.

Beyond performing artists, Nigerian producer P2J earned a nomination for Best Producer, while media personality Bemi Orojuogun (Bus Aunty) was nominated for Best Media Personality, showing Nigeria’s influence across different areas of the creative industry.

Founded in 1996 by Kanya King, the MOBO Awards celebrate achievements in music of Black origin, including hip hop, R&B, reggae, Afrobeats, gospel, jazz and more. This year’s ceremony marks the 30th anniversary of the awards and will be held in Manchester for the first time on March 26, 2026.

The strong showing by Nigerian artists reflects the country’s growing global impact and reinforces Afrobeats’ position as one of the world’s most influential music movements today.