The BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards are set to return in 2026 with a fresh format that gives the public a greater voice than ever before. The ceremony, scheduled for Sunday, 13 December, will be broadcast live from Salford on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app from 17:45 GMT.
Star-Studded Hosting Lineup
Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, and Alex Scott will once again take the helm as hosts, bringing their extensive sports broadcasting experience to the prestigious event. The trio will guide viewers through a night celebrating the most memorable sporting achievements of the year.
Public Decides Five of Nine Awards
In a significant shift, five of the nine awards presented on the night will be determined by public vote. This includes the flagship Sports Personality of the Year award, as well as Team of the Year and World Sport Star of the Year. Fans will also have a say in two new categories: Men's Footballer of the Year and BBC World Service Women's Footballer of the Year.
The latter, previously a standalone BBC World Service award since 2015, will now be integrated into the main ceremony for the first time. Voting for this global award opens on Tuesday, 10 November, allowing audiences worldwide to participate.
Celebrating a Remarkable Year in Sport
The show will reflect on a year filled with extraordinary sporting moments. Among the highlights are Team GB's most successful Winter Olympics to date, England's best finish at a men's FIFA World Cup since 1966, and record-breaking performances at the European Athletics Championships.
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, shared his enthusiasm: "What I love about BBC Sports Personality of the Year is that it brings together all those moments that stopped us in our tracks. The goals, the medals, the upsets, the records, the stories that had us talking at work, in the pub and around the dinner table. And what a year we've had. This year's shortlists will be packed with athletes and teams who have achieved extraordinary things, but what's especially exciting is that audiences will have a bigger say than ever before in who takes home the trophies."
How the Winners Are Chosen
An independent panel of industry experts, sports broadcasters, journalists, and former athletes will determine the shortlists for the main awards. The panel will also select the winners of Young Sports Personality of the Year and Coach of the Year. For the football categories, separate panels of football experts will provide the shortlists.
Full voting details, including dates and terms and conditions, will be announced in due course. With the public set to play a decisive role in five categories, the 2026 Sports Personality of the Year promises to be one of the most inclusive and engaging yet.
