The MOBO Organisation has shared details of its Fringe programme which runs ahead of the MOBO Awards on March 26.
MOBO Fringe 2026 is the organisation’s biggest ever edition of events, workshops and cultural activations and more, happening between Thursday, March 19 and Tuesday, March 24 across Manchester.
As with the recent BRIT Awards, it’s the first time the MOBOs are being held in Manchester and at the Co-op Live; a special move to celebrate the awards' landmark 30th anniversary.
The city-wide celebration of Black music, culture and creativity is a free programme that brings together live performances, industry conversations, workshops, public installations and talent development initiatives, all designed to build engagement and excitement ahead of this year’s ceremony.
The MOBO Fringe 2026 is delivered with support from Manchester City Council in partnership with Manchester Music City, and has been developed in collaboration with more than 50 community leaders, creatives, grassroots platforms and industry representatives.
Since 2009, the MOBO Awards has taken in cities across the UK to highlight Black music and culture while championing local talent and communities. Previous host cities have included London, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Coventry and Sheffield.
What makes MOBO Fringe special is that it is built with the city and by working with local creatives, organisations and community leaders, we are creating something that reflects Manchester’s voice while opening doors for the next generation
Kanya King CBE
This year’s Fringe follows a successful programme in Newcastle last year, which drew thousands of attendees and delivered an estimated £1 million-plus in combined economic and social impact for the city and wider North East region.
Kanya King CBE, founder and CEO, MOBO Awards, said: “Bringing the MOBO Awards to Manchester in our 30th anniversary year is incredibly meaningful for us. Manchester is a city with a proud history of shaping music, culture and movements, and MOBO Fringe allows us to celebrate that energy in a way that goes far beyond one night.
“Over the course of a week, the city will become a platform for artists, creatives and communities, from grassroots talent to industry leaders, all coming together to share ideas, create opportunities and celebrate the power of Black music and culture.
“What makes MOBO Fringe special is that it is built with the city and by working with local creatives, organisations and community leaders, we are creating something that reflects Manchester’s voice while opening doors for the next generation.”
Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, added: "As a proudly diverse city known around the world for our music, creativity and talent, we're thrilled to be hosting both the MOBO Awards and this year's MOBO Fringe here in Manchester as they mark an incredible 30 years of celebrating Black music and culture.
“Supporting emerging talent and our grassroots music scene in Manchester is really important to us and the MOBO Fringe is set to provide some amazing opportunities that do just that in the run-up to the awards for our schools, young musicians, and others, alongside an unmissable wider programme of free activities across the city for our local communities and visitors to get involved in.”
A major event at this year’s Fringe is the MOBO Summit in association with Amazon Music, which takes place on Tuesday, March 24 at Aviva Studios, the home of Factory International. Artists, executives and emerging creatives will gather for a day of panels, workshops and networking focused on the future of music, culture and creative careers.
Other programme highlights include: The Black Sound Gala on March 19; SHIMRISE Selects on March 20; MOBØRIGINS on March 21; Habitat x MOBO Fringe on March 21; Manchester Made: Roots, Rhymes & The Future on March 21; Aarchive House & Crib Sessions with Faro on March 22.
Leading Manchester-based platforms and organisations working across the city’s music and creative sectors are involved in the 2026 Fringe, including: Studio 88, Aaspire Records, SHIMRISE Selects, Habitat, FARO Presents, Melophile, 54 Agency, Black Creative Trailblazers and journalist Amelia Fearon.
See the full list of MOBO Fringe 2026 events here including details of how to attend.
PHOTO: Members of recording studio, production and management team, Studio 88
