EastEnders fan-favourite nominated beside Adolescence and Sinners stars at MOBO Awards 2026

The nominees for the 2026 MOBO Awards have been announced, with EastEnders’ Dayo Koleosho among the TV and film stars up for an award.

The awards ceremony marks the biggest celebration of Black music and culture in the UK and beyond, and also recognises outstanding cultural contributions across TV and film.

Koleosho, who plays Kojo Asare in the BBC soap, is shortlisted in the Best Performance in a TV Show/Film category.

His nomination will see him going up against the likes of Sinners’ Wunmi Mosaku as well as Adolescence’s Stephen Graham and Ashley Walters.

Meanwhile, the music side is led by established stars Little Simz and Olivia Dean, alongside rising stars such as Kwn and Jim Legxacy.

Little Simz is up for Album of the Year (Lotus), Best Female Act, Best Hip Hop Act and Video of the Year for Flood.

Dean, meanwhile, is up for Album Of The Year for The Art Of Loving, as well as Best Female Act, Best R&B/Soul Act, and the Song of the Year for Man I Need.

For the full list of nominations, see below.

Best Male Act in Association with Prostate Cancer UK

• Central Cee
• Elmiene
• Jim Legxacy
• Nemzzz
• Odeal
• Skepta

Best Female Act in Association with Got2b

• Flo
• Kwn
• Little Simz
• Olivia Dean
• Pinkpantheress
• Sasha Keable

Album of the Year in Association with Amazon Music

• 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

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
• Pinkpantheress – illegal
• Raye – where is my husband!
• Tim Duzit – kat slater

Best Newcomer

• Dc3
• 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)
• Skepta & Fred Again – back 2 back (Directed By Domamanic And Skepta)

Best R&b/soul Act

• Elmiene
• Flo
• Kwn
• Odeal
• Olivia Dean
• Sasha Keable

Best Alternative Music Act

• Alt Blk Era
• Blood Orange
• Hak Baker
• Michael Kiwanuka
• Nova Twins
• Rachel Chinouriri
• Olivia Dean live at Glastonbury

Best Grime Act Supported by Trench

• Chip
• Jayahadadream
• Kasst 8
• Ruff Sqwad
• Scorcher
• Wiley

Best Hip Hop Act

• Aitch
• Asco
• Catch
• Central Cee
• 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
• Wohdee

Best International Act

• Ayra Starr
• Cardi B
• Clipse
• Gunna
• Kehlani
• Leon Thomas
• Mariah The Scientist
• Moliy
• Tyla
• Vybz Kartel

Best Media Personality

• Bemi Orojuogun (Bus Aunty)
• Dj Ag
• In My Opinion
• Melissa Holdbrook-akposoe (Melissa’s Wardrobe)
• Nadia Jae
• Niko Omilana
• Pk Humble
• Remi Burgz
• Uche Natori
• Winners Talking

Best Performance in a TV Show/Film

• 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 – Adolesence
• 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)

Best Caribbean Music Act

• Ayetian
• Lila Iké
• Masicka
• Shenseea
• Vybz Kartel
• Yung Bredda

Best Jazz Act

• Cktrl
• Ego Ella May
• Ezra Collective
• Kokoroko
• Nubya Garcia
• Yazmin Lacey

Best Electronic/dance Act Supported by Bema & Mixmag

• Fka Twigs
• Jazzy
• Kilimanjaro
• Pinkpantheress
• Salute
• Sherelle

Best Gospel Act Supported by Premier Gospel

• Annatoria
• Dc3
• Faith Child
• Imrhan
• Sondae
• Still Shadey

Best Producer

• Inflo
• Jae
• Miles Clinton James
• P2j
• Sammy Soso
• Zach Nahome

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