Olivia Dean cemented her status as one of the UK’s most exciting rising stars after sweeping three major prizes at the MOBO Awards, which were held in Manchester for the first time.
The London-born artist took home Album of the Year for her acclaimed second record The Art of Loving, beating strong competition from Little Simz and her album Lotus, as well as Central Cee with Can’t Rush Greatness.
Blending soul, pop and R&B influences, Dean has steadily built a reputation for emotionally rich songwriting and a distinctly modern take on classic British soul.
Accepting the top prize, she paid tribute to influential voices in her life, saying the award was dedicated to author bell hooks and “all the black feminists that inspire me to love better and love the people in my life”.
Dean’s success didn’t stop there. She also won Best Female Act, telling the audience she felt “so proud to be a black British female artist”, and picked up Song of the Year for her chart-topping single ‘Man I Need’, capping off a standout night that firmly places her at the forefront of the UK music scene.
The MOBO Awards—founded in 1996 to celebrate music of Black origin across genres including hip-hop, R&B, grime, jazz and more—have long been a key platform for recognising both emerging and established talent.
Past winners have included some of the biggest names in global music, making Dean’s triple win a significant milestone in her career.
Elsewhere on the night, hip-hop pioneer Slick Rick was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, delivering a career-spanning performance alongside Estelle.
Meanwhile, global superstar Pharrell Williams received the Global Songwriter Award, with legendary producer Nile Rodgers praising him as an artist who “changed my life”.
Among the other winners, Raye secured Video of the Year for ‘Where Is My Husband!’, while Wizkid and Vybz Kartel took home honours in the African and Caribbean categories respectively.
Rising acts like DC3 and Ayra Starr also featured prominently, highlighting the global reach of the awards.
For Irish audiences, the MOBOs continue to resonate as a barometer of what’s shaping contemporary music across the UK and beyond. Dean’s breakthrough moment, in particular, reflects a wider shift towards genre-blending artists who can move seamlessly between soul, pop and R&B—something that has increasingly found a strong following among Irish listeners.
With three major awards and growing international recognition, Olivia Dean’s trajectory now looks firmly set upward—and if this year’s MOBOs are anything to go by, she’s only just getting started.
MOBO Awards 2026 winners: Full list of winners and nominees
Best male act
- Central Cee
- Elmiene
- Jim Legxacy - WINNER
- Nemzzz
- Odeal
- Skepta
Best female act
- Flo
- Kwn
- Little Simz
- Olivia Dean - WINNER
- Pinkpantheress
- Sasha Keable
Album of the year
- Central Cee – Can’t Rush Greatness
- Ezra Collective – Dance, No Ones Watching
- Flo – Access All Areas
- Kojey Radical – Don’t Look Down
- Little Simz – Lotus
- Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving - WINNER
Song of the year
- AJ Tracey feat Jorja Smith – crush
- Donae’o feat Omar, Lemar & House Gospel Choir – nights like this
- Fred Again, Skepta & Plaqueboymax – victory lap
- Jim Legxacy & Dave – 3x
- Kwn – do what I say
- Myles Smith – nice to meet you
- Olivia Dean – man I need - WINNER
- Pinkpantheress – illegal
- Raye – where is my husband!
- Tim Duzit – kat slater
Best newcomer
- Dc3 - WINNER
- Esdeekid
- Finessekid
- Jim Legxacy
- Kwn
- Namesbliss
- Nia Smith
- Sekou
- Skye Newman
- Yt
Video of the year in association with Vevo
- Pozer – shanghigh noon (Directed By Bas Haselager)
- Fka Twigs – eusexua (Directed By Jordan Hemingway)
- Jim Legxacy – father (Directed By Lauzza)
- Little Simz – flood feat Obongjayar & Moonchild Sanelly (Directed By Salomon Ligthelm)
- Raye – where is my husband! (Directed By The Reids) - WINNER
- Skepta & Fred Again – back 2 back (Directed By Domamanic And Skepta)
Best R&B/soul act
- Elmiene
- Flo - WINNER
- Kwn
- Odeal
- Olivia Dean
- Sasha Keable
Best alternative music act
- Alt Blk Era
- Blood Orange
- Hak Baker
- Michael Kiwanuka
- Nova Twins - WINNER
- Rachel Chinouriri
Best grime act supported by Trench
- Chip - WINNER
- Jayahadadream
- Kasst 8
- Ruff Sqwad
- Scorcher
- Wiley
Best hip hop act
- Aitch
- Asco
- Catch
- Central Cee - WINNER
- D-block Europe
- Kojey Radical
- Little Simz
- Loyle Carner
- Wretch 32
- Youngs Teflon
Best drill act
- 36
- Booter Bee
- Chy Cartier
- Esdeekid
- K-trap
- Leostaytrill
- Nemzzz
- Pozer
- Twin S - WINNER
- Wohdee
Best international act
- Ayra Starr - WINNER
- Cardi B
- Clipse
- Gunna
- Kehlani
- Leon Thomas
- Mariah The Scientist
- Moliy
- Tyla
- Vybz Kartel
- Bemi Orojuogun (Bus Aunty)
- Dj Ag
- In My Opinion
- Melissa Holdbrook-akposoe (Melissa’s Wardrobe)
- Nadia Jae
- Niko Omilana - WINNER
- Pk Humble
- Remi Burgz
- Uche Natori
- Winners Talking
- Aaron Pierre – Mufasa: The Lion King
- Ashley Thomas – Hostage
- Ashley Walters – Adolescence
- Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
- Damson Idris – F1
- Dayo Koleosho – EastEnders
- Lennie James – Mr Loverman
- Marianne Jean-Baptiste – Hard Truths
- Stephen Graham – Adolescence - WINNER
- Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Best African music act
- Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Davido (Nigeria)
- Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
- Moliy (Ghana)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Wizkid (Nigeria) - WINNER
Best Caribbean music act
- Ayetian
- Lila Iké
- Masicka
- Shenseea
- Vybz Kartel - WINNER
- Yung Bredda
Best jazz act
- Cktrl
- Ego Ella May
- Ezra Collective - WINNER
- Kokoroko
- Nubya Garcia
- Yazmin Lacey
Best electronic/dance act supported by Bema & Mixmag
- Fka Twigs
- Jazzy
- Kilimanjaro
- Pinkpantheress
- Salute
- Sherelle - WINNER
Best gospel act supported by Premier Gospel
- Annatoria
- Dc3 - WINNER
- Faith Child
- Imrhan
- Sondae
- Still Shadey
Best producer
- Inflo
- Jae
- Miles Clinton James
- P2j
- Sammy Soso
- Zach Nahome
Lifetime achievement
Global songwriter award
- Pharrell Williams - WINNER
