Vybz Kartel wins Best Caribbean Music Act at MOBO Awards for First Time

Dancehall kingpin Vybz Kartel secured his first MOBO Award in this category, after receiving the MOBO Impact Award last year

Vybz Kartel wins Best Caribbean music act

Dancehall giant Vybz Kartel has won the ‘Best Caribbean Music Act’ at the MOBO Awards for the first time in his career. The ceremony took place at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena on March 26, 2026, marking the first time the event was held at the venue as part of the MOBOs’ historic 30th anniversary celebrations. This year, Kartel also received a nomination in the highly competitive Best International Act category.

Kartel was previously nominated in the ‘Best Reggae Act’ category in 2004, 2009, and 2010, making this a long-awaited milestone.

The deejay secured the win ahead of a competitive field that included 2025 winner Shenseea, fellow dancehall heavyweight Masicka, reggae singer Lila Iké, rising talent Ayetian, and Trinidadian artiste Yung Bredda.

Kartel during last year MOBO Awards ceremony

At the 2025 staging of the MOBO Awards, Kartel was honoured with the MOBO Impact Award, recognising his lasting influence on the genre. He also attended the event, where he thrilled fans with a snippet from his catalogue, including a performance of “Fever.” Spice also graced the stage with a dynamic performance during the show.

Meanwhile, Shenseea is among the performers at tonight’s ceremony, alongside British pop star Olivia Dean, who took home multiple awards, including Best Female Act and Song of the Year for “Man I Need.”