The MOBO Awards Fringe, a week of live performances, industry-led events and panels has arrived in Manchester ahead of the award ceremony. The MOBO Awards will take place on 26 March at the Co-op Live Arena including an impressive line up of performances from Olivia Dean, Tiwa Savage, FLO and a medley from various Grime musicians.
The MOBO Awards are Europe’s largest and most significant celebration of Black music and culture. And the MOBO Fringe events are designed to uplift and connect new talent with industry professionals. Events are held in the ceremony’s host city and span many different genres and disciplines. Today, 24 March, ten Manchester-based artists will perform at The Social, Aviva Studios. These performances serve as part of the MOBO x PPL Manchester Talent Development Programme which supports new talent through mentorships, performance opportunities and industry knowledge.
Also taking place today is the MOBO Summit in association with Amazon Music. The official website describes the summit as “[bringing] together artists, executives and emerging creatives for a day of panels, workshops and networking focused on the future of music, culture and creative careers.” Panels for the day include the MOBO30 Legacy Spotlight celebrating 30 years of MOBO’s cultural impact, Getting Seen and Heard a panel with voices from Amazon Music, Mixtape Madness and I Luv Live, and Independently Done a panel led by artists who have made careers outside of major labels. There will also be a specific Manchester focus to the event, with cultural discussions featuring Red Bull, the playmaker group and BBC Music Introducing, which will center on how cities like Manchester are leaders in fostering new opportunities in the UK industry.
MOBO Group Founder, Kanya King, said when the location for 2026’s events was announced, “For 30 years, MOBO has been more than an awards show – it has been a movement, shaping culture, championing creativity, and opening doors for generations of talent.” She went on to say that the MOBO Awards celebrating 30 years is “a reminder that when you celebrate culture, you don’t just preserve history – you shape the future. Three decades on, the MOBO Awards remain a powerful reminder of how music can inspire, unite, and transform lives.” Finally she added, “Manchester has always been a city of music and movement, and now, together with MOBO, we will write the next chapter of cultural history.”
The star-studded award ceremony will take place on Thursday 26 March. Hip-hop icon Eve and comedian Eddie Kadi are set to host this year. It will be the latter’s second year in a row hosting the event. Leading the nominees for the evening are Olivia Dean, Little Simz, kwn and Jim Legxacy with four nominations each. Dean and Little Simz are both up for Album of the Year and Best Female Act. While recent recipient of the BRIT Award for Best Producer, PinkPantheress as well as FLO, Central Cee and Skepta are all up for three awards each.
The 2026 MOBO Awards will be streamed live on Amazon Music’s Twitch, a link to that can be found here.
