Ayra Starr and Wizkid shine at 2026 MOBO Awards as Nigerian artistes record major wins

At the 2026 MOBO Awards, Nigerian music stars Ayra Starr and Wizkid carried the national flag high with major wins that once again showed how strong Afrobeats has become globally. The event marked the 30th anniversary of the MOBOs and was hosted for the first time in Manchester at the Co-op Live Arena. The show, which celebrates Black music and culture, featured performances from top artists like Olivia Dean, FLO, and Tiwa Savage, alongside a special Grime 25 medley. Ayra Starr, just 23 years old, won the Best International Act award for the second consecutive year, defeating global stars like Cardi B, Gunna, and Clipse. Her back-to-back victory makes her one of the brightest young African talents shaping world music. Wizkid, another Nigerian giant, took home the Best African Music Act award, beating out fellow icons such as Davido, Rema, Shallipopi, Adekunle Gold, Tiwa Savage, and Tyla. His win adds another feather to his already full cap of MOBO awards and cements his place as one of the leading faces of Afrobeats. Other Nigerian-related wins included Niko Omilana, who bagged Best Media Personality, and producer P2J, who was honoured as Best Producer for his contributions across Afrobeats, R&B, and pop. British artists also had their shine: Olivia Dean won three major awards—Best Female Act, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year—while others like RAYE, Central Cee, FLO, and DC3 also took home top honours. Special recognition went to global legends Pharrell Williams and Slick Rick. Altogether, the 2026 MOBOs highlighted how Nigerian and African music continue to dominate and influence global sounds.