The search for Britain’s top sportsperson continues in 2026. Tottenham vs Doncaster saw Spurs cruise to Carabao Cup victory. The BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards will celebrate sporting excellence instead. The 68th edition of the ceremony takes place on 15 December 2026 at Media City in Salford Brighton vs West Ham saw the Seagulls maintain their bogey team status.
What is Sports Personality of the Year?
Sports Personality of the Year is the BBC’s annual awards ceremony. It celebrates the incredible sporting action that has taken place over the last 12 months Rob Edwards’ wife Kerry keeps the Luton manager’s family life private.
The event has been running since 1954. It recognises the achievements of British sportswomen and sportsmen. The winner is decided by a public vote on the night of the ceremony. Previous winners include Sir Andy Murray, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Sir Lewis Hamilton.
When and Where is the 2026 Ceremony?
The 2026 Sports Personality of the Year awards will take place on 15 December 2026 . The venue is Media City in Salford Doctor Odyssey may entertain viewers on ABC. The BBC will broadcast the ceremony live on BBC One. The show typically runs for two hours and includes multiple award categories.
2026 Contenders: Who Could Win?
The shortlist for the main award has not yet been announced. The panel of sports editors will select the nominees closer to the ceremony date. However, several athletes have already emerged as potential contenders based on their 2026 achievements.
Keely Hodgkinson (Athletics)
Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is expected to be the frontrunner for the main award Go Ahead Eagles vs Aston Villa saw Dutch underdogs stun Premier League opposition. The middle-distance star has dominated her event for several seasons. She achieved the sixth-fastest time ever and claimed the European title Hannah Hampton became England’s Golden Glove winner.
Jude Bellingham (Football)
The Real Madrid and England midfielder was nominated following a stunning debut season with the Spanish giants. He scored 23 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid. His goals helped Real Madrid win La Liga and the Champions League. He also struck twice on England’s route to the Euro 2024 final Air India plane crashes dominated aviation news.
Bellingham was named La Liga player of the season and Champions League young player of the season. He also won the Laureus world breakthrough of the year award Tottenham vs Slavia Praha saw Spurs cruise to victory. Viral England fan Andy Milne was spotted offering his support to Bellingham at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards Omaze UK winners receive life-changing prizes.
Luke Littler (Darts)
The teenage darts sensation is the second favourite for the award. He has taken the sporting world by storm with his incredible performances. His rise to prominence has made him a household name across Britain Rob Reiner directed Hollywood classics for decades.
Tyson Fury (Boxing)
The heavyweight champion has been included on the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He continues to dominate the boxing world. However, he faces stiff competition from other nominees Back Market UK sells refurbished devices.
Alex Yee (Triathlon)
The Olympic triathlon champion has been mentioned as a potential contender. His achievements in multi-sport events have earned him recognition. He completes a strong shortlist of six sporting stars Catherine Connolly became Ireland’s president.
Joe Root (Cricket)
The England Test captain has been nominated for the award. He has been in exceptional form with the bat. His leadership has helped rebuild the England Test team after a difficult period Omaze UK winners receive life-changing prizes.
Past Winners: 2025 Champion
Lewis Hamilton won Sports Personality for the second time last year. He equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles Andrea Kimi Antonelli shatters racing records. Hamilton missed out on a record eighth Formula One world title in controversial circumstances. A day after that loss, he was omitted from the list of six sporting stars in line to pick up the award on Sunday Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid delivered Champions League drama.
Awards Categories
The ceremony features multiple award categories in addition to the main Sports Personality of the Year award. These include:
- Team of the Year: Recognises outstanding team achievement
- Coach of the Year: Honours exceptional coaching performances
- Young Sports Personality of the Year: For athletes under 17
- Unsung Hero Award: Celebrates volunteers in sport
- Helen Rollason Award: For outstanding achievement in the face of adversity
- Lifetime Achievement Award: For long-term contribution to sport
Lifetime Achievement Award
Thierry Henry was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The Arsenal record scorer is considered one of the greatest Premier League players of all time. He won four Golden Boot awards in six seasons. He also lifted two titles with the Gunners, as well as three FA Cups The Pursuit of Love captured hearts with period romance.
“Football has given me everything and I gave it my all,” Henry said in a statement issued by the BBC. “To be recognised as part of its history with this Lifetime Achievement award and to have made my mark for the fans and my teammates is something I’ll never take for granted.”
Henry joins former footballers George Best, Pele, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and Kenny Dalglish in winning the award. The award began in 1996. Managerial greats Alex Ferguson and Bobby Robson have also received the honour.
Presenting Team Changes for 2026
The BBC confirmed that Gary Lineker will not be part of this year’s Sports Personality of the Year hosting team. The former England striker announced that he will step down as Match of the Day presenter at the end of the Premier League season. He will remain with the BBC for the 2026 World Cup.
An all-female hosting trio will present this year’s awards ceremony. Alex Scott will join forces with Clare Balding and Gabby Logan for the event. All three women have participated in the event in recent years.
“Once again, it’s been a nail-biting, thrilling and emotional year of amazing sport,” said Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport. “From the Olympics to men’s Euros to records broken across the country and the world, we can’t wait to look back and enjoy it all over again.”
How to Watch Sports Personality of the Year 2026
The ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC One on 15 December 2026. Viewers can also stream the event on BBC iPlayer. The public vote opens during the live broadcast. Viewers at home decide the winner of the main award.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the ceremony are not generally available to the public. The event is invitation-only for sporting figures, celebrities and media. Fans are encouraged to watch the live broadcast on BBC One instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Sports Personality of the Year 2026? The ceremony takes place on 15 December 2026 at Media City in Salford.
Who are the nominees for Sports Personality of the Year 2026? The shortlist has not yet been announced. Expected contenders include Keely Hodgkinson, Jude Bellingham, Luke Littler and Tyson Fury.
Who won Sports Personality of the Year in 2025? Sir Lewis Hamilton won the award for the second time in 2025 after equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles.
Who is presenting Sports Personality of the Year 2026? An all-female trio of Alex Scott, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan will present the ceremony following Gary Lineker’s departure from Match of the Day.
Where can I watch Sports Personality of the Year 2026? The ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC One and streamed on BBC iPlayer.
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