Manchester’s A Lovely Weekend Comedy Festival Unveils 2026 Lineup
The MOBO Awards will stage their 2026 ceremony at Manchester’s Co-op Live. It marks the ceremony’s first visit to the city. The show celebrates Music of Black Origin and began in 1996 under founder Kanya King. The 2026 event will coincide with the MOBOs’ 30th anniversary and takes place at the 23,500-capacity indoor arena.
When and how to watch
Tickets remain available for general admission and hospitality packages. The organisers report still having allocations for both categories.
The main show will not appear on traditional TV. Instead, it will stream live via Amazon Music UK’s Twitch channel. The broadcast is scheduled for Thursday 26 March, starting at 8pm and concluding by 10:30pm.
BBC One will air an Access All Areas programme the following day. DJ Target will present that Friday 27 March recap and red carpet coverage.
Nominations and hosts
Hosts for the night are Eve and Eddie Kadi. The nominees reflect established and emerging talent across genres.
- Olivia Dean
- PinkPantheress
- Little Simz
- Central Cee
- Skepta
- Kojey Radical
- Raye
- Myles Smith
- FKA twigs
Performers and special moments
The programme features a diverse live line-up at Co-op Live. Olivia Dean is scheduled to perform, with expectations of several show-stopping moments.
International names include Tiwa Savage and Shenseea. Tiwa Savage’s album This One Is Personal and her work with Skepta were noted in the event build-up. Shenseea brings recent international collaborations and solo material to the stage.
Acts such as FLO, Aitch, Myles Smith, Slick Rick and Estelle will appear. A grime medley curated by DJ Target will feature Wiley, Chip, Nolay, Scorcher and D Double E.
MOBO Fringe programme
A series of fringe events will run around the awards in Manchester. Independent venues across the city will host showcases and panels.
- Fri 20 March – Shimrise Selects – The Deaf Institute
- Sat 21 March – Mobørigins – Renae
- Sat 21 March – Habitat x MOBO Fringe – Cupra City Garage
- Sun 22 March – Manchester Made: Roots, Rhyme & The Future – Niamos Centre
- Sun 22 March – Aarchive House – Side Street
- Sun 22 March – Crib Sessions with Faro – Side Street
- Tue 24 March – MOBO Summit – Aviva Studios
- Tue 24 March – MOBO Fringe Talent Showcase – Aviva Studios
Travel and access to Co-op Live
Co-op Live sits beside Manchester’s Etihad campus and its Metrolink stop. Take the light blue or orange tram lines to Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne for a short walk.
Services on the Ashton-Eccles line run roughly every six minutes. Trams operate until about 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The nearby bus route 53 stops a two-minute walk from the arena. Valid event tickets often grant free local Bee Network travel.
Parking at the venue is limited and must be pre-booked. The venue postcode is M11 3DU. Organisers advise extra road time before events due to congestion.
Road delays and park-and-ride
Event-day guidance recommends adding time to journeys. Plan an extra 20 minutes via Alan Turing Way. Expect 15 extra minutes eastbound on Hyde Road and 10 minutes westbound on Mancunian Way.
- Ashton Moss park-and-ride – 183 spaces, 12 disabled spaces
- Ashton West park-and-ride – 184 spaces, 11 disabled spaces
- Ladywell park-and-ride – 332 spaces, 22 disabled spaces
Note that Velopark and Holt Town stops may close after the event to manage crowds.
Walking and cycling
Co-op Live is about a 30-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly. The canal route offers a scenic approach to the venue.
Beryl bike hire operates in Greater Manchester. Hire points sit near the Etihad’s south-west corner on Ashton New Road.
For continuing coverage and practical updates, follow Filmogaz.com. Search tags for this report include Manchester, A Lovely Weekend, Comedy Festival, Unveils, 2026 Lineup.
