BBC has announced the return of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2026 awards ceremony, with a major modification to the format: the public will vote directly for five of the nine available categories. [1]
The year 2026 was marked by remarkable sporting successes for Great Britain, including the most successful Winter Olympic Games in the history of Team GB, England's participation in the FIFA World Cup, and historic performances at the European Athletics Championships and at the tennis tournament at Wimbledon, where Arthur Fery reached the semi-finals. [1]
The event holds a central position in the British sporting calendar, bringing together the most significant figures in sport to celebrate the achievements of the previous year. [1]
The ceremony in Salford will feature two exclusive football awards: 'Footballer of the Year' (Men’s Footballer of the Year), a new category decided by the British public vote, and 'BBC World Service Footballer of the Year' (BBC World Service Women’s Footballer of the Year), which returns for the first time as part of the main show after being awarded independently since 2015. [1]
Voting for the BBC World Service Women’s Footballer of the Year award will be open to the global public starting November 10, while the selection of the male British footballer will be conducted by the home audience. The presentation of awards for both sectors will take place during the main ceremony. [1]
In addition to the sections dedicated to football, the electorate will directly influence the results of the rankings for 'World Sport Star of the Year', 'Team of the Year', and the most prestigious title of the series: the 'BBC Sports Personality of the Year' award. [1]
The BBC said the voting arrangements for the two football awards differ, with an international vote for the women’s award and a UK vote for the men’s award. [1]
The competition for trophies takes place across nine distinct distinctions, the main list being expanded by the two aforementioned football awards, which join the traditional categories of sporting excellence. [1]
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, highlighted the unifying nature of the ceremony, emphasizing its role in consolidating sporting moments that generated massive public conversation, from goals and medals to broken records and emotional stories, thereby shaping the image of sport in popular culture. [1]
The BBC will publish the shortlists and further details of the awards in due course. [1]
Viewers will be able to watch the ceremony on BBC One or BBC iPlayer. [1]
This year's gala will take place on Sunday, December 13, in Salford, hosted by the strengthened team of Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, and Alex Scott. The live broadcast will be available on BBC One and the streaming platform BBC iPlayer, between 5:45 PM and 7:15 PM. [1]
- Categories:
- Entertainment
- Entities:
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- BBC
- England
- Fifa World Cup
- Alex Kay-Jelski
- Salford
- Arthur Fery
- BBC World Service
- Gabby Logan
- BBC One
- Alex Scott
- European Athletics Championships
- Wimbledon
- Team GB
- BBC Sports Personality Of The Year 2026
- Men’S Footballer Of The Year
- BBC World Service Women’S Footballer Of The Year
- World Sport Star Of The Year
- Team Of The Year
- Clare Balding
