Nigerian music stars Wizkid and Ayra Starr spearheaded a dominant showing for the country at the 2026 edition of the MOBO Awards, as Afrobeats continued its commanding rise on the global stage.
The landmark 30th anniversary ceremony was held at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, marking the first time the prestigious event took place in the northern city while celebrating three decades of Black music and culture.
Ayra Starr emerged as one of the night’s standout performers, clinching the Best International Act award for the second consecutive year. The achievement places her among a rare class of African artistes to secure back-to-back wins in the category, underlining her growing global influence.
The singer triumphed over a strong international field that included Cardi B, Tyla, Gunna, and Vybz Kartel, standing as the only Nigerian nominee in the category.
In the Best African Music Act category, Wizkid reaffirmed his status as a global Afrobeats powerhouse, emerging winner in a highly competitive lineup that featured fellow Nigerian heavyweights Davido, Rema, Tiwa Savage, Adekunle Gold, and Shallipopi.
The victory further cements Wizkid’s legacy as one of the most decorated African artistes in MOBO history and a key figure in the global expansion of Afrobeats.
Nigeria’s influence extended beyond performance categories into media and production. Popular content creator Niko Omilana was named Best Media Personality, reflecting the growing intersection between digital culture and mainstream entertainment. Meanwhile, acclaimed producer P2J won Best Producer for his work across Afrobeats, R&B, and pop.
British singer Olivia Dean emerged as the biggest overall winner of the night, taking home Best Female Act, Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, and Song of the Year for “Man I Need.”
Other notable winners included Central Cee (Best Hip-Hop Act), Raye (Video of the Year), and FLO (Best R&B/Soul Act).
The ceremony also paid tribute to music legends, with Pharrell Williams receiving the Global Songwriter Award, while hip-hop pioneer Slick Rick was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.