The Best Gospel Act category at the 2026 MOBO Awards continues to reflect the steady growth and rich variety of Gospel music within the UK space. This year’s nominations represent a wide range of sounds and expressions of faith, all contributing to how Gospel music holds its place on a major national platform.
What stands out is how closely key UK Gospel platforms align with what later appears at the MOBOs. What may seem like coincidence is better understood as influence from platforms such as AStepFWD and Premier Gospel that consistently champion UK Gospel music with an understanding of its impact on wider culture. Grounded in insight, context, and consistency rather than noise or passing trends, these spaces lay the groundwork for wider industry attention for homegrown Gospel talent.
Looking back, the pattern is clear. Sondae and Annatoria both appear on the 2026 MOBO Awards Best Gospel Act nomination list, following consistent recognition across the wider gospel ecosystem. Sondae was recognised as New Artist of the Year at the previous StepFWD Awards, while Annatoria received the Best Female Artist award in the same year. Both artists also featured prominently within Premier Gospel Awards conversations, with Sondae nominated for Best Newcomer, and Annatoria appearing in Best Female Artist and Best Album categories. These moments reflected steady growth and contribution rather than hype.
The same can be said for DC3, winner of the most recent New Artist of the Year Award at the StepFWD Awards, whose trajectory has been affirmed across platforms. DC3 also won Best Newcomer at the Premier Gospel Awards and now appears on the 2026 MOBO Awards nomination list for both Best Gospel Act and Best Newcomer. His rise reflects how talent is identified early rather than after the fact.
IMRHAN, who won Best Male Artist at StepFWD Awards, also received Best Album recognition at the Premier Gospel Awards and now features among the MOBO Best Gospel Act nominees for the second year running. His progression further reinforces the alignment between these platforms.
Appearing for the third time on the MOBO Gospel nominees list is former MOBO winner Faith Child. His recent accolades from UK Gospel platforms include winner of Best Video for Holy Place at the Premier Gospel Awards and Song of the Year nominee at StepFWD Awards, not to mention hosting the event highlighting his multiple talents as an entertainer and artist. Another artist that stands out with his stellar consistency is Still Shadey, previously nominated for Best Male Artist at the StepFWD Awards, adding to the range of sound and expression represented within the category.
In conclusion, this moment reflects different platforms carrying responsibility well within the same ecosystem. AStepFWD has become known for thoughtful editorial work and for running the UK Christian and Gospel Music Chart, helping to give structure and visibility to what is happening within the scene. That role has recently expanded through a partnership with Official Charts, leading to the launch of the Official UK Christian and Gospel Singles Chart in 2026 and placing Gospel music more firmly within a national framework.
Premier Gospel, the official partner supporting the Best Gospel Act of the MOBOs, continues to play a central role creating engagement through its national radio platform and dedicated annual Gospel Awards event. Premier Gospel has long been a pioneer of UK Gospel music taking it beyond its traditional sphere into everyday listening spaces.
Because of this grounding, the synchronicity seen in the MOBO Awards Gospel nominations and AStepFWD UK Christian & Gospel music charts, annual StepFWD Awards and Premier Gospel Awards feels natural rather than forced. When platforms that understand the space document it carefully and amplify it responsibly, trends tend to follow. What we are seeing is the result of steady work shaping a stronger and more confident presence for UK Gospel music on national stages.
