The 2026 MOBO Awards are gearing up for a huge night, with a star-studded celebration set to honor the event’s 30th anniversary.
On Wednesday (March 11), organizers announced that Pharrell Williams is this year’s recipient of the MOBO Global Songwriter Award, while hip-hop legend Slick Rick will take home the MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony on March 26.
Taking place at Manchester’s Co-op Live, the show will be hosted by Eve and Eddie Kadi. Slick Rick is set to join forces with Estelle for what a press release describes as “a unique collaborative performance that highlights Slick’s incredible hip-hop journey.” Jamaican superstar Shenseea will also grace the stage, marking her first appearance in the U.K. since her 2024 headline tour.
They join a stacked list of previously-announced performers: Olivia Dean, FLO, Tiwa Savage, Aitch, and Myles Smith. There will also be a grime medley curated by DJ Target, featuring genre pioneers Wiley, Chip, Nolay, Scorcher and D Double E.
Kanya King CBE, founder and CEO of the MOBO Group, said: “MOBO has always been about recognizing the cultural architects as well as the rising stars shaping the future. Pharrell Williams’ songwriting genius has influenced the sound of global music for decades, while Slick Rick’s storytelling laid the foundations for generations of hip hop artists.
“To celebrate that legacy with a special performance alongside Estelle is a real full-circle moment for us. And with Shenseea representing the vibrant new wave of Caribbean music on the world stage, this year’s show captures exactly what the MOBO Group has stood for over the last 30 years.”
Ricky Walters, aka Slick Rick, added: “It’s a real honor to be recognized by the MOBO Awards, which have long celebrated the richness of Black music and culture. From Mitcham, south London to New York and beyond, my journey in hip-hop has always been about storytelling, imagination and staying true to the culture, so this moment right here feels special and warm.”
Pharrell’s relationship with The MOBOs stretches back over two decades. He was invited to host the ceremony in London in 2004 but was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. A year later, however, he received nominations for best single and best video for Snoop Dogg collab “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” scooping the prize in the latter category.
Tickets for the 2026 MOBO Awards are available now via the official MOBO website. The show will also be available to watch on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, while the BBC Radio 1Xtra will broadcast live from Manchester. Other visual and audio content related to the event will be available across BBC platforms.
The MOBOs ceremony, first held in November 1996, was the first in Europe to celebrate Black music and has become a staple of the awards season calendar. Performers over the years include Rihanna (2006), Lauryn Hill (2005), Sade (2000) and Destiny’s Child (1999).
Earlier this week, King spoke to Billboard U.K. about creating a lasting legacy for The MOBOS. “Thirty years isn’t just a milestone but a testament to endurance and the imagination and power to shape Black culture far beyond the U.K,” she said.
“When I started the MOBO Awards, there was no real infrastructure or clear pathways for Black music here. Institutional recognition was virtually nonexistent. To be standing here three decades later, still influential, still evolving and still driving the conversation feels deeply emotional and incredibly affirming. It reinforces the importance of our original mission and the incredible work the team and our communities have done.”
