For the second consecutive year, pop sensation Ayra Starr has secured the ‘Best International Act’ title at the 2026 Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards.
This victory follows her landmark 2025 win, establishing her as the first African artiste to claim this prestigious international category back-to-back. The feat brings the 23-year-old singer’s career MOBO tally to three.
The 2026 ceremony, marking the awards’ 30th anniversary, was held on 26 March at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, the first time the city has hosted the event. The night celebrated the breadth of Black culture, spanning Afrobeats, R&B, hip-hop, and grime.
In the International category, the Mavin star triumphed over a formidable global lineup including Cardi B, Tyla, Gunna, Kehlani, Vybz Kartel, Mariah the Scientist, Clipse, Leon Thomas, and Moliy. Notably, Starr was the sole Nigerian representative in this category this year.
While she was also nominated for Best African Music Act, she lost the title to fellow Nigerian heavyweight Wizkid, who emerged victorious against a shortlist featuring Davido, Rema, Tiwa Savage, and Adekunle Gold. Other major winners included Olivia Dean, who dominated the night with Best Female Act, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.
Vybz Kartel took home Best Caribbean Music Act, while Pharrell Williams was honoured as Global Songwriter. The ceremony was hosted by Eve and Eddie Kadi, featuring show-stopping performances from Wizkid and Tiwa Savage.
This latest accolade builds on Starr’s historic 2025 run, where she became the first African woman to win Best International Act and the first woman in 16 years to claim Best African Music Act in a single night.
Her ascent to this elite tier is largely attributed to the sustained global impact of her 2022 hit Rush, which became the most-watched music video by a Nigerian female artiste and earned a Grammy nomination.
The significance of her back-to-back win is further highlighted by the evolution of the MOBOs. The ‘Best International Act’ category, which previously focused heavily on the US, has moved toward a unified global format.
By defending her title, Starr has proven she can consistently compete against the entire global diaspora. This international trajectory has been bolstered by the strategic partnership between Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, providing the infrastructure for her to stand alongside A-list talent on the world stage.