Vybz Kartel Wins ‘Best Caribbean Music Act’ At 2026 MOBO Awards

Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel has won ‘Best Caribbean Music Act’ at the 2026 MOBO Awards, securing his first competitive win at the UK-based ceremony a year after receiving its Impact Award.

He was also nominated for ‘Best International Act’ this year, but that prize went to Nigerian Ayra Starr.

The Fever deejay beat out a largely Jamaican shortlist in the Caribbean category: Masicka, Shenseea, Lila Iké, Ayetian, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Yung Bredda.

His win came from an eligibility period spanning September 1, 2024 to October 1, 2025, which captured his August 2025 album Heart & Soul and a run of hit singles and videos released during that stretch.

Kartel previously earned nods for ‘Best Reggae Act’ in 2004, 2009 and 2010. That category was later scrapped and replaced in 2022 by Best Caribbean Music Act, a move MOBO said was meant to reflect a broader range of Caribbean genres and artists.

Shenseea also performed during the ceremony this year. She previously won ‘Best Reggae Act’ in 2021, becoming the first woman to take that title, then returned to win ‘Best Caribbean Music Act’ in 2025.

Valiant took the prize at the 2024 ceremony, while Skillibeng won in 2022, the first year under the new name. Buju Banton won Best Reggae Act in 2020.

Elsewhere on Thursday night, Olivia Dean emerged as one of the ceremony’s biggest winners, taking Best Female Act, Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, and Song of the Year for Man I Need. Her showing made her one of the standout names of the 2026 ceremony as MOBO marked its 30th anniversary year.

Jim Legxacy picked up Best Male Act, while Central Cee won Best Hip Hop Act, keeping his name among the major winners even without sweeping the headline fields. FLO also added to the night’s top haul by winning Best R&B/Soul Act, and Nova Twins took Best Alternative Music Act.

Ayra Starr, who beat Kartel in the Best International Act race, was another big winner, while Wizkid took Best African Music Act.

DC3 won Best Newcomer, Chip took Best Grime Act, Twin S won Best Drill Act, and Raye was awarded Video of the Year for Where Is My Husband!. Pharrell Williams and Slick Rick were also among the evening’s honorees, receiving the Global Songwriter Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, respectively.

Founded in 1996 by Kanya King, the MOBO Awards were created to honor music of Black origin in Britain and beyond. This year’s event marked 30 years since the awards were launched.