With just a few weeks to go until the MOBO Awards arrive in Manchester, two more major names have been added to the line-up. Local rap star Aitch and singer-songwriter Myles Smith will now take to the stage at Co-op Live when the ceremony lands in the city on 26 March.
They join an already stacked list of performers including Olivia Dean, FLO, Tiwa Savage and a special ‘MOBO Salutes: Grime 25’ medley curated by DJ Target, featuring Wiley, Chip, Nolay, Scorcher and D Double E. The show will be hosted by hip-hop icon Eve alongside comedian and broadcaster Eddie Kadi.
For Manchester, it’s a big moment. The MOBO Awards – Europe’s biggest celebration of Black music and culture – are marking 30 years of the organisation this year, and the ceremony is bringing that milestone north for the first time at Co-op Live.
Few artists represent the city better than Aitch. The New Moston rapper has become one of the UK’s most recognisable voices in rap over the last few years, racking up nine UK Top 10 singles and more than 1.5 billion streams worldwide. His cheeky delivery and sharp lyricism have made him a standout figure in British hip hop, while still keeping that unmistakable Mancunian energy.
He’s no stranger to the awards either. Aitch first picked up a MOBO in 2020 for Best Newcomer and has since been nominated in several major categories, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year. He’s back in the running again this year, nominated for Best Hip Hop Act following the release of his second album 4, which topped the UK Independent Albums Chart.
Joining him on the bill is Myles Smith, one of the UK’s fastest-rising singer-songwriters. His breakout hit Stargazing became the longest-running charting track by a UK artist on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2024 and helped push his global streams past the billion mark.
Since then he’s been on a serious run – sold-out headline shows across the UK, Europe, Australia and North America, a huge Glastonbury set last summer and a collaboration with Niall Horan on the track Drive Safe. That momentum has also translated into awards recognition, including an Ivor Novello for Most Performed Work and Rolling Stone UK’s Breakthrough Award.
The ceremony itself will be broadcast live from Co-op Live on the night of 26 March, with a livestream available via the Amazon Music UK channel on Twitch from 8pm.
But the awards are only one part of what’s happening. In the lead-up to the ceremony, the city will host the MOBO Fringe Festival – a week-long programme of events, talks and performances taking place across Manchester. Expect industry panels, talent showcases and creative workshops, alongside initiatives designed to spotlight emerging artists from Greater Manchester.
For a city with such a deep musical history, it’s a fitting backdrop. Over the past three decades the MOBO Awards have travelled around the UK – from London to Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow and Newcastle – shining a spotlight on Black music and culture while connecting with local scenes. Now, in its 30th anniversary year, the celebration arrives in Manchester for what should be one of the most energetic editions yet.
Tickets for the 2026 MOBO Awards are available now.
