Aitch and Myles Smith have joined the line-up of live performers for the MOBO Awards 2026. Find all the details below.
This year’s ceremony is due to take place at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Thursday March 26, marking the biggest and most influential celebration of Black music and culture in Europe. It’ll also serve as the awards’ 30th anniversary edition.
Today (Thursday March 5), organisers have confirmed that Aitch will be taking to the stage in his home city on the night. The rapper is nominated for Best Hip-Hop Act at the MOBOs 2026, alongside the likes of Central Cee, Little Simz and Loyle Carner.
Smith, who is in the running for Song Of The Year (‘Nice To Meet You’), is set to perform live as well.
Both artists join the previously announced performers Olivia Dean, FLO and Tiwa Savage. There’ll also be a ‘MOBO Salutes: Grime 25’ medley with Wiley, Chip, Nolay, Scorcher and D Double E (curated by DJ Target).
The MOBO Awards 2026 will be presented by global hip-hop icon Eve and comedian and broadcaster Eddie Kadi.
The nominees for this year’s MOBOs were revealed in January, led by Little Simz, Olivia Dean, and rising NME 100 stars kwn and Jim Legxacy – all of whom earned four nominations each.
Central Cee, FLO, PinkPantheress and Skepta have three nods apiece. The 10 nominees for Best Newcomer, meanwhile, include EsDeeKid, Legxacy, Finessekid and YT. Check out the full nominations list here.
More performers and special honourees are still to be announced in the coming weeks, according to a press release.
Tickets to attend the MOBO Awards 2026 are on sale now – you can buy yours here.
Amazon Music will livestream the ceremony as the official digital music streaming partner. Fans can tune in via the Amazon Music UK channel on Twitch from 8pm GMT on March 26. Find more information here.
Myles Smith’s ‘Nice To Meet You’ was nominated for Song Of The Year at the BRITs 2026 last Saturday (February 28), but lost out to Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s collaborative single ‘Rein Me In’.
Dean dominated this year’s awards by taking home four statues overall, including Artist Of The Year and Best Pop Act. In 2025, Smith won the BRITs Rising Star award.
Last year’s MOBOs were held at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, and saw Bashy take home the prestigious Album Of The Year prize for his first record in 15 years, ‘Being Poor Is Expensive’, Darkoo win Best Female Act and Song Of The Year for ‘Favourite Girl’, and Ayra Starr win Best African Music Act and Best International Act.
The post MOBOs 2026: Aitch and Myles Smith join line-up of live performers appeared first on NME.
