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Five Jamaican artists and one Trinidadian artist have been nominated for Best Caribbean Music Act at the 2026 MOBO Awards.
Yung Bredda, born Akhenaton Lewis, is the only Trinidad-born nominee and representing the soca genre.
Jamaican acts Ayetian and Masicka earn their first-ever MOBO Award nominations.
The sole reggae act on the list Lila Iké was nominated in the Best Reggae Act category in 2020 and 2021.
Last year’s category winner Shenseea Shenseea is Jamaica’s most awarded female act at the MOBO Awards. Her nominations include:
• 2020: Best International Act (Nominated)
• 2021: Best Reggae Act (Won)
• 2022: Best Caribbean Music Act (Nominated)
• 2025: Best Caribbean Music Act (Won)
She is presently signed to Sony UK as she launches the next phase of her career.
Dancehall icon Vybz Kartel has received three competitive MOBO nominations and was honoured last year with the MOBO Impact Award.
His MOBO history includes:
• 2004: Best Reggae Act (Nominated – later withdrawn due to controversy over lyrics)
• 2009: Best Reggae Act (Nominated)
• 2010: Best Reggae Act (Nominated)
• 2025: MOBO Impact Award (Recipient)
This year Kartel is also nominated for Best International Act alongside Ayra Starr, Cardi B, Clipse, Gunna, Kehlani, Leon Thomas, Mariah the Scientist, Moliy and Tyla.
Olivia Dean and Little Simz lead the 2026 MOBO Awards nominations, with both artists earning four nominations each. They’re joined by rising acts Jim Legxacy and Kwn, who also score four nominations across categories. Dean and Simz are competing in the major Album of the Year category, described as the “prestigious album of the year field.”
Co-founded by Kanya King and Andy Ruffell, the awards continue MOBO’s mission of celebrating Black music and culture, with the piece stating the show “champion[s] Black music and culture across a wide spectrum of genres and disciplines.”
The event will be held on March 26 at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, continuing the MOBO tradition of taking the ceremony to different cities — previously including Newcastle (2025), Sheffield (2024), Coventry (2021), and Leeds (2019).
Other standout nominees include Central Cee, Skepta, PinkPantheress, and FLO, each with three nominations. The nominee list also spans TV/film, with Cynthia Erivo nominated for Wicked, facing competition including Stephen Graham in Adolescence. The article adds that “Tickets for the event are on sale now”, while “performers and special honorees” will be announced later.
MOBO Organisation celebrates 30 years of impact as a major cultural institution this year.
English (US) ·