The MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin, also known as the MOBOs) are an annual British music award presentation honouring achievements in "music of Black origin", including hip-hop, grime, UK Drill, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel, and Bantu music.
The MOBO Awards were founded by Kanya King and Andy Ruffell. The first ever award was presented to Baby D, in the Best Dance Act category. The inaugural awards were broadcast by Carlton Television from London's Connaught Rooms.
In 2009, the ceremony was held for the first time in Glasgow. Prior to that, it had been held in London. In 2011, the ceremony returned for a second time to Scotland. The awards then moved to Leeds for the first time in 2015 and returned there in 2017 before going on hiatus the following year. In 2020 it was confirmed it would be returning later that year, however for the first time ever it would be live streamed on YouTube. For the first time, Sheffield hosted in 2024 with Newcastle announced as the 2025 host city. In September 2025, Manchester was announced as next year's host city.
Across its history, the MOBOs have been broadcast on Channel 4, BBC Television (BBC One and later BBC Three), ITV2, Channel 5 and BET before returning to the BBC in 2020.
Ceremonies The ceremony was first broadcast regionally on Carlton Television from 1996 to 1997, before airing nationwide on Channel 4 from 1998 until 2003. From 2004 to 2013, they were aired by the BBC; beginning in 2006, the show aired live on BBC Three, and highlights aired on BBC One.
In 2014, the BBC dropped the MOBO Awards, and the ceremony moved to ITV under a three-year deal, airing on ITV2 with same-night highlights on ITV.
In 2017, the ceremony moved to Channel 5 and BET.
In 2018, the MOBO Organisation announced that the ceremony would take a one-year hiatus in order to plan a "bigger, revamped show" in 2019. However, the show was delayed, with organisers planning to hold the ceremony on 12 November 2020 instead; Kanya King stated that there would be "positive changes" to the show, and that they would be "returning with even more determination and energy to support and boost our culture wherever we can."
Amazon Music was announced as Official Digital Music Streaming Partner for the 2026 ceremony in March, revealing that the ceremony would be livestreamed on the Amazon Music UK Twitch channel.
Table summary No. Date First broadcast Best Album Best Single Honorary awards Broadcaster Host(s) Venue 1 18 November 1996 21 November 1996 Timeless – Goldie "Give Me a Little More Time" – Gabrielle Lionel RichieJazzie BCarlton Television (ITV) New Connaught Rooms, London 2 10 November 1997 13 November 1997 Travelling Without Moving – Jamiroquai "I Wanna Be the Only One" – Eternal ft. BeBe Winans Bootsy CollinsMick Hucknall Lisa I'Anson 3 14 October 1998 15 October 1998 Colours – Adam F "Freak Me" – Another Level B. B. KingSean CombsChannel 4 Mel B and Bill BellamyRoyal Albert Hall 4 6 October 1999 7 October 1999 Prodigal Sista – Beverley Knight "My Love" – Kele Le Roc Tina TurnerErskine Thompson Mel B and Wyclef Jean 5 4 October 2000 5 October 2000 Rise – Gabrielle "Fill Me In" – Craig David LA ReidAswad Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes and Trevor Nelson Alexandra Palace 6 4 October 2001 6 October 2001 8701 – Usher "Independent Women Part 1" – Destiny's Child Luther VandrossR Kelly Trevor Nelson and KelisLondon Arena 7 1 October 2002 3 October 2002 Songs in A Minor – Alicia Keys "It Takes More" – Ms Dynamite Alesha Dixon and LL Cool J 8 25 September 2003 4 October 2003 Get Rich Or Die Tryin' – 50 Cent "In Da Club" – 50 Cent Lil' Kim and Blu CantrellRoyal Albert Hall 9 30 September 2004 6 October 2004 The College Dropout – Kanye West "Thank You" – Jamelia Anita BakerJanet JacksonBBC One Mos Def 10 22 September 2005 23 September 2005 Time To Grow – Lemar "Pow! (Forward)" – Lethal B Public EnemyBob Marley and the Wailers Gina Yashere and Akon 11 20 September 2006 22 September 2006 rowspan=2 "Déjà Vu" – Beyoncé Sam MooreAnti-Slavery InternationalBBC One (highlights)BBC Three (live coverage) Gina Yashere and Coolio 1219 September 2007 "Because of You" – NeYo Jamelia and Shaggy The O2 Arena 1315 October 2008 Spirit – Leona Lewis "American Boy" – Estelle Mary Wilson Mel B and Rev. Run Wembley Arena 1430 September 2009 Uncle B – N-Dubz "Beat Again" – JLS Michael Jackson Reggie Yates and Keri Hilson SEC Centre 1520 October 2010 JLS – JLS "Playing With Fire" – N-Dubz ft. Mr Hudson Billy Ocean Alesha Dixon and Reggie Yates Echo Arena Liverpool 165 October 2011 Who You Are – Jessie J "Do It Like A Dude" – Jessie J Boyz II Men Alesha Dixon and Jason Derulo SEC Centre 173 November 2012 Our Version of Events – Emeli Sandé "Earthquake" – Labrinth ft. Tinie Tempah Dionne WarwickTLC Miquita Oliver and Adam Deacon Echo Arena Liverpool 1819 October 2013 Home – Rudimental "La La La" – Naughty Boy Stephen Lawrence Trust Trevor Nelson and Sarah-Jane Crawford SSE Hydro 1922 October 2014 In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith "Stay with Me" – Sam Smith Idris Elba (Inspiration)ITV2 (live coverage)ITV (deferred) Mel B and Sarah-Jane Crawford Wembley Arena 204 November 2015 The Long Way Home – Krept and Konan "Shutdown" – Skepta Lenny HenryCeeLo Green Sarah-Jane Crawford First Direct Arena 214 November 2016 Made in the Manor – Kano "Robbery (remix)" – Abra Cadabra ft. Krept & Konan Nicola AdamsMs. Dynamite Rickie Haywood-Williams and Melvin Odoom SSE Hydro 2229 November 2017 Gang Signs & Prayer – Stormzy "Did You See" – J Hus Idris Elba (Paving The Way) Channel 5 (deferred)BET (highlights) Maya Jama and Marvin Humes First Direct Arena 239 December 2020 Crabs in a Bucket – Nines "Don't Rush" – Young T & Bugsey feat. Headie One Steve McQueenYouTube (live coverage)BBC One (highlights) Maya Jama and Chunkz Virtual 24 5 December 2021 8 December 2021 We're All Alone in This Together – Dave "Body" – Russ Millions and Tion Wayne Frank Bruno (Inspiration) Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Munya Chawawa and Eddie Kadi CBS Arena, Coventry 25 30 November 2022 7 December 2022 Alpha Place – Knucks and Sometimes I Might Be Introvert – Little Simz "Own Brand (Baddie)" – Dreya Mac, Felixthe1st and Finch Fetti Chunkz and Yung Filly Wembley Arena 26 7 February 2024 9 February 2024 Real Back in Style – Potter Payper "Sprinter" – Central Cee and Dave Indiyah Polack and Babatunde Aléshé Sheffield Arena 27 18 February 2025 21 February 2025 Being Poor Is Expensive – Bashy "Favourite Girl" – Darkoo feat. Dess Dior Vybz Kartel (Impact)Denise Lewis (Paving The Way) Indiyah Polack and Eddie Kadi Newcastle Arena 28 26 March 2026 27 March 2026 The Art of Loving – Olivia Dean "Man I Need" – Olivia Dean Pharrell Williams (Global Songwriter)Slick Rick (Lifetime Achievement) Twitch (live coverage)BBC One (highlights) Eve and Eddie Kadi Co-op Live
History Kanya King launched the MOBO awards in 1996 with business partner Andy Ruffell, aiming to establish a platform for music that, according to King, encompasses urban, hip-hop, R&B and reggae.
1990s 1996 Best Album: Goldie – Timeless Best Single: Gabrielle – "Give Me a Little More Time" Best Newcomer: Peace by Piece Best Video: Tupac Shakur featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman – "California Love" Best Hip-Hop Act: Blak Twang Best R&B Act: Mark Morrison Best Reggae Act: Peter Hunnigale Best Gospel Act: New Colours Best Jazz Act: Courtney Pine Best Dance Act: Baby D Best Jungle Act: Goldie Best DJ: Trevor Nelson Best International Act: Fugees Best International Single: Fugees – "Killing Me Softly" Outstanding Contribution to Black Music: Jazzie B Lifetime Achievement Award: Lionel Richie
1997 The 1997 award ceremony was held at London's New Connaught Rooms on 10 November. The gala included performances by Mary J. Blige and Eternal.
Best Dance Act: The Prodigy Best R&B Act: Shola Ama Best Hip Hop: Funky DL Best International Hip Hop: Coolio Best Reggae Act: Finley Quaye Best Jungle Act: Roni Size and Reprazent Best Single: Eternal Best Video: Will Smith Best International Act: Blackstreet Best Album: Jamiroquai Best Newcomer: Shola Ama Best Unsigned Act: Fola Sade Best International Reggae Act: Beenie Man Best Producer: Sean Puffy Combs Best Radio DJ: David Rodigan Best Club DJ: Metalheadz Best Jazz Act: Sunship Best Gospel Act: Beehive Best International Single: Rosie Gaines "Closer Than Close" Outstanding Achievement: Mick Hucknall Lifetime Achievement: Bootsy Collins
1998 The Malibu MOBO Awards show was held at The Royal Albert Hall and hosted by Mel B and Bill Bellamy. It was broadcast nationally by Channel 4. Performers and presenters included footballer Sol Campbell, girl band All Saints, DJ Trevor Nelson, boxers Lennox Lewis and Chris Eubank, Puff Daddy, Chaka Khan, Goldie, Another Level, and Martine McCutcheon. Contribution to Black Music went to Carl McIntosh and B. B. King won the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Best Dance Act: Stardust Best Reggae Act: Glamma Kid Best Drum and Bass: 4 Hero Best Hip Hop Act: Pheobe 1 Best Unsigned Act: Allyson Brown Best Newcomer: Lynden David Hall Best R&B Act: Beverley Knight Best International Reggae: Beenie Man Contribution to Music: Carl McIntosh Best Video: All Saints Best International Act: Puff Daddy and the Family Best International Single: Pras feat ODB / Mýa Best Single: Another Level Best Album: Adam F Outstanding Achievement: Sean Combs Lifetime Achievement: B. B. King
1999 The 1999 Malibu MOBO Awards award ceremony was held at The Royal Albert Hall, sponsored by Malibu and hosted by Mel B and Wyclef Jean. International Hip-Hop Act Award went to Jay-Z, Best Album was awarded to Beverley Knight, International Act to Lauryn Hill and Lifetime Achievement Award to Tina Turner. Performers and presenters included Des'ree, Dru Hill, Method Man & Redman, Tim Westwood, Lionel Richie, Lulu, Victoria Beckham, Chris Eubank, Another Level, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Destiny's Child, and girl band Eternal.
Best International R&B Act: Destiny's Child Best Newcomer: Kele Le Roc Best International Act: Lauryn Hill Best Hip Hop Act: Roots Manuva Best International Hip Hop Act: Jay-Z Best Dance Act: Shanks & Bigfoot Best Video: TLC – "No Scrubs" Best Album: Beverley Knight – Prodigal Sista Best DJ: Trevor Nelson Best Single: Kele Le Roc Best Unsigned Act: Amoyé Best International Single: Eminem – "My Name Is" Best Reggae Act: Mr Vegas Contribution to Music: Erskine Thompson Best R&B Act: Beverley Knight Lifetime Achievement Award: Tina Turner
2000s 2000 The MOBO Awards 2000 ceremony took place at Alexandra Palace, hosted by Trevor Nelson and Lisa Left Eye Lopes and sponsored by Mastercard. There show opened with a performance of Money by Jamelia featuring Beenie Man. Craig David performed an acoustic medley of Fill Me In, 7 Days and Nice & Slow by Usher, Sade exclusively performed By Your Side, Gabrielle performed Rise, MJ Cole performed Crazy Love featuring Elizabeth Troy, Donell Jones performed U Know What's Up featuring ceremony host, Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. The show closed with a performance of Who Let The Dogs Out by Baha Men.
In addition to their performances, Craig David, Jamelia, Beenie Man, MJ Cole and Gabrielle also won awards. With Craig David receiving three awards in total.
Award presenters included MOBO Award founder, Kanya King, Honeyz, Melanie Sykes amongst others.
Best Newcomer: Craig David Best Video: Jamelia – Money Best Hip Hop Act: Eminem Best Reggae Act: Beenie Man Best Gospel Act: Mary Mary Best Jazz Act: Ronny Jordan Best World Music Act: Carlos Santana Best UK Garage Act: DJ Luck & MC Neat Best Producer: MJ Cole Best UK Radio DJ: Tim Westwood Best UK Club: Steve Sutherland MOBO Unsigned Award: Cherise Outstanding Contribution to Music: Aswad Outstanding Achievement: L.A. Reid Best UK Single: "Fill Me In" by Craig David Best UK Album: Rise by Gabrielle
2001
2002 Best R&B Act: Ashanti
2003