MOBO Amplified 2026 awardees announced

Help Musicians, in partnership with MOBO Organisation and MOBO Trust, is pleased to announce the 14 musicians selected for the 2026 cohort of MOBO Amplified, a 12-month career development programme supporting UK-based musicians creating music of Black origin.

Following a highly competitive application process, this year’s awardees will receive a holistic package of support designed to help them overcome barriers to career progression and build sustainable careers in music. 

Meet the 2026 MOBO Amplified awardees

• Precious Pepala
• Hang Linton
• Dirty Freud
• Superlative
• Hope
• Amaris
• Nadeem Din-Gabisi
• Riddle
• Big Joanie
• Lord Apex
• Dominique Simone
• Akolá Tambó
• Yemi Bolatiwa
• Andrew Barney 

Musicians creating music of Black origin in the UK face persistent barriers to building sustainable careers, including unequal access to funding, industry networks, knowledge and professional development opportunities. Research from the Musicians’ Census shows that musicians from the Global Majority are less likely to earn a sustainable income from music and can face additional barriers to career progression.

MOBO Amplified has been designed to directly address these barriers. The programme goes beyond one-off financial support, providing artists with the tools, knowledge, confidence and connections they need to progress their careers sustainably. 

Over the next 12 months, each awardee will receive up to £3,000 in financial support, alongside: 

• Tailored business advice to help build the skills needed to sustain and grow their career
• One-to-one mentoring from experienced music industry professionals
• Industry masterclasses offering practical insight into areas including branding, distribution and income generation
• Industry access to help artists build meaningful connections and access spaces where opportunities are created
• Peer networking to build community and create opportunities for collaboration
• Wellbeing support as part of the programme’s holistic approach to career development 

The programme recognises that financial support is just one part of what musicians need to build sustainable careers. By combining funding with professional development, industry access, mentoring and peer support, MOBO Amplified is designed to help artists invest in their careers and overcome barriers that can otherwise limit their progression.

The 2026 cohort is the second group of musicians to take part in MOBO Amplified, following the inaugural programme in 2025.

The programme is part of a wider partnership between Help Musicians and MOBO, working together to support musicians and address barriers to career progression within the music industry.

As MOBO celebrates its 30th anniversary, this year’s cohort marks another chapter in the partnership’s work supporting musicians creating music of Black origin and helping them build sustainable careers.

Find out more about MOBO Amplified and the support available from Help Musicians.