Newcastle to host MOBO Awards in 2025
The MOBO Awards have announced that their 2025 ceremony will be held in Newcastle for the first time in its history on February 18th, 2025. The awards are a celebration of Black music, such as hip-hop, and culture in the United Kingdom..
Newcastle is a city renowned for many things, including a thriving music scene, charm, and a good spirit. Subsequently, it’s surprising that in over 25 years, the MOBO Awards has never been held in the city. This is all set to change in 2025, as the Award ceremony, which is designed to celebrate black music and culture, will finally be taking place in the North East.
Ahead of the ceremony, Newcastle City Council will launch MOBO Fringe Festival to get people excited about the festival and celebrate the collaboration. This will include a series of events that celebrate Black culture and music throughout the city. This is a new, exciting part of the festival that cities have begun getting involved in.
This year, when the awards were hosted in Sheffield, a three-day programme was put together that showcased talent and held talks giving people who were interested insight into working in the music industry. It’s proving to be an interesting aspect of the ceremony that not only extends the celebration but also helps young people who are excited by the prospect of working in an industry that can often feel inaccessible.
Kanya King, the founder of the MOBO Awards, said that she was excited about hosting the event in Newcastle because it has “history, culture and a dynamic sense of community alongside an electric nightlife.” She said they “will be engaging with the local community to create an inspiring and impactful programme highlighting the significant cultural influence of Black music. Newcastle, get ready for a time to remember!”
The Mayor of the North East, Kim McGuiness, shared in King’s excitement. “I’m thrilled to welcome the MOBO Awards to a new home in our region – just the latest major event putting North East England on the international map for culture,” she said, “I know the Awards and the MOBO Fringe Festival across venues in Newcastle and Gateshead will be a huge inspiration for a new generation of young and emerging musicians working here in the North East.”
The MOBO Awards has become a staple for Black culture and music. Since its inception in 1996, it has become iconic, celebrating the likes of Stormzy, Little Simz, RAYE, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Rihanna.