BBC SPOTY adds Footballer of the Year awards

BBC Sports Personality of the Year has added two new awards for its 2026 edition. 

Men’s Footballer of the Year and BBC World Service Women’s Footballer of the Year will both be voted for by the public, with the latter determined by global vote, reflecting its heritage as a BBC World Service award that has run since 2015. 

Fans at home will also vote for the World Sport Star of the Year, Team of the Year and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award itself. 

The TV broadcast of the awards will take place on Sunday 13 December, live from Salford and hosted by Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott. It will air on BBC1 and iPlayer from 5:45pm until 7:15pm. 

Director of BBC Sport Alex Kay-Jelski said: “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.”