Max SteventonKanya King CBE, founder of the MOBO Organisation, received the National Arenas Association (NAA) Award at the MOBO Awards ceremony held at Co-op Live in Manchester on 26 March.
The 2026 ceremony marked the 30th anniversary of the MOBO Awards, which were established in 1996. Over the years, the awards have highlighted the work of British artists including Stormzy, Ms Dynamite, Krept & Konan, and Central Cee.
The NAA Award, established in 2009, is presented annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the live music and live entertainment industries. Previous recipients include Geoff Eliis (2024), Barrie Marshall (2023), Greg Parmley (2022), Chris York (2021) and Lucy Noble (2020).
The NAA, established in 1991, brings together arena venues across the UK and Ireland with a minimum seated capacity of 5,000. The association promotes best practice and knowledge sharing among its members.
The UK arena sector remains a significant contributor to the economy. Research commissioned by the NAA found that in 2024, 14.5 million people attended 2,159 arena events. Arena venues generated £1.85 billion in economic activity, with £648 million spent outside the venues in local economies.
OVO Arena Wembley general manager and deputy chair of the NAA John Drury said, “As the MOBO Organisation reach their 30th year, Kanya’s influence on the business has grown year on year. The MOBO Awards in particular have become an essential and culturally significant part of the live music calendar in our member venues.”