Aitch and Myles Smith Confirmed as Performers for the 2026 MOBO Awards
With three weeks to go until the 2026 MOBO Awards takes over Manchester, Europe’s biggest celebration of Black music and culture is proud to announce three more star performers for the show. Manchester’s own rap star Aitch and British singer-songwriter Myles Smith will join already announced performers Olivia Dean, FLO, Tiwa Savage and the ‘MOBO Salutes: Grime 25’ medley with Wiley, Chip, Nolay, Scorcher and D Double E.
The 2026 MOBO Awards takes place live from Manchester’s Co-op Live on 26 March, hosted by global hip-hop icon Eve and comedian and broadcaster Eddie Kadi. Tickets are available now via mobo.com/tickets.
Amazon Music will livestream the 2026 MOBO Awards live from Co-op Live in Manchester as the Official Digital Music Streaming Partner. The ceremony will be available to watch on the Amazon Music UK channel on Twitch from 8.00PM GMT on 26 March. For more information, including the livestream and playlists, visit the event detail page here.
Mancunian rap star Aitch is flying the flag for the North at the 2026 MOBO Awards. With nine UK Top 10 singles and over 1.5 billion combined streams, Aitch is a local hero who has taken the sound of the North to a global audience with his signature cheeky charisma and lyrical prowess. He took home his first MOBO Award in 2020 for Best Newcomer and gained two more MOBO nominations in 2022 for Album of the Year and Song of The Year. Aitch launched his sophomore album “4” last year, which topped the UK Independent Album Chart and was hailed by Rolling Stone UK as a “blistering return to form”. He is up for Best Hip Hop Act at this year’s awards.
British singer-songwriter Myles Smith has quickly established himself as one of the UK’s most compelling new voices, connecting with audiences through heartfelt storytelling and melodic sincerity. His global smash hit ‘Stargazing’ became the longest-running charting track by a UK artist on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2024, helping him surpass 1.1 billion streams worldwide to date. Building on that momentum, Myles recently released his collaboration with Niall Horan, ‘Drive Safe’, which has already amassed more than 13.5 million streams on Spotify and continues to climb. Over the past 12 months, he has performed to more than 100,000 fans across sold-out headline shows throughout the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America, as well as delivering a standout set to a packed audience at Glastonbury last year. In 2025, Myles was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work and the Rolling Stone UK Breakthrough Award, even fronting the publication’s prestigious Awards Issue. This summer, he will join Ed Sheeran as main support on his US tour, further cementing his international rise. He is also nominated for Song of the Year for ‘Nice To Meet You’.
MOBO is delighted to have their previously announced partners and sponsors Amazon Music, Prostate Cancer UK, got2b, Vevo and Huda Beauty on board.
Amazon Music sponsors the Album of The Year category, and is the Official Digital Music Streaming Partner of the 2026 MOBO Awards and the Official Partner of The MOBO Fringe Summit event – which takes place on Tuesday 24 March at Aviva Studios in Manchester. The Summit will include two Amazon Music hosted panel events. More information on MOBO Fringe will be announced tomorrow. MOBO will also be launching exclusive MOBO 30 T-shirts and hoodies via Amazon’s on-demand merch platform. Shop here. Listen to the Official MOBO Awards 2026 Playlist and MOBO 30 Playlist streaming now exclusively on Amazon Music.
Prostate Cancer UK continues its vital role as the Official Men’s Health Charity Partner and sponsor of the Best Male Act category, raising essential awareness of the higher risk of prostate cancer among Black men and campaigning to address health inequalities across the UK. got2b returns as the Official Hairstyling Partner and sponsor of the Best Female Act category, championing individuality, self-expression and creativity on one of the biggest nights in music and culture. Vevo joins as a partner this year, sponsoring Video of the Year and supporting the category’s focus on visual excellence. Huda Beauty is the Official Makeup Partner and sponsor of the Best R&B/Soul Act category, celebrating creativity, confidence and self-expression across culture and media.
Ahead of the ceremony, MOBO is also collaborating with Manchester City Council to deliver the MOBO Fringe Festival, a week-long celebration of music, culture, and creativity in the lead-up to the Awards. The free programme will feature industry panels, talent showcases, live performances and creative workshops spanning music, tech, and the arts, creating opportunities for the next generation while spotlighting Manchester’s vibrant local scene.
As part of MOBO Fringe, MOBO recently announced the MOBO Fringe: Manchester Talent Programme supported by PPL, a new initiative designed to champion 10 emerging artists from Greater Manchester. The programme will deliver education workshops, industry insight and live performance opportunities during MOBO Fringe week, creating a platform for local talent to shine.
The MOBO Fringe Festival is a vital part of the MOBO Organisations ongoing commitment to celebrating music, arts, and culture while championing local creatives. Building on the success of MOBO Fringe 2025 in Newcastle, which drew thousands of attendees and delivered an estimated £1 million+ in combined economic and social impact for the city and wider North East region, the Manchester programme promises an exciting, citywide celebration designed to energise the city, empower communities and inspire audiences nationwide.
Since 2009, the MOBO Awards has proudly paved the way by taking its celebrations to cities across the UK, shining a spotlight on Black music and culture while championing local talent and communities. From London to Liverpool, Leeds to Glasgow, Coventry to Sheffield and Newcastle, MOBO has transformed cities, stages and arenas into cultural hotspots. Now, as the MOBO Organisation steps into its 30th anniversary year, it’s bringing the MOBO magic to Manchester, a city globally renowned for its musical movements, creative spirit and cultural influence.
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