Rory McIlroy won the award in 2025 after completing the career Grand Slam. A year on, the race for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2026 looks far more open. Athletics, football, darts, skeleton and boxing all have a strong case. Even Luke Littler is in the conversation after another big year. Beyond that, this guide runs through the contenders, the likely date and our predictions.
When Is BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2026?
The BBC hadn’t confirmed the exact date when this was written. Reports point to mid-December, with 15 December and 18 December both mentioned. Last year’s show took place on 18 December 2025 at the dock10 studios in Salford.
The show airs live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. As a result, fans should check the BBC’s own listings for the final date. In 2025, the six-name shortlist was revealed on BBC Breakfast a week before the ceremony. A similar timeline is likely this year, though that’s not confirmed.
How the Award Works
A panel of former athletes, broadcasters, journalists and BBC Sport staff picks the shortlist. After that, the public votes for the winner. The BBC doesn’t publish the public vote figures, so the result is always a surprise.
Past winners show the range. Beth Mead won in 2022, Mary Earps in 2023 and Keely Hodgkinson in 2024. In 2025, McIlroy took the award ahead of Ellie Kildunne in second and Lando Norris in third.
So the vote often rewards a story as much as a statistic. A big moment on a big night tends to win hearts.
The Contenders
The shortlist isn’t out yet. However, bookmakers and sports sites have already built a clear picture. At the same time, the names below are tipped contenders, not confirmed nominees. The odds quoted come from a 10 October 2026 round-up that used Sky Bet prices, so they may have moved since.
Amy Hunt
Hunt is the favourite at evens. The 24-year-old became the first athlete to win four golds at a single European Championships, in Birmingham. She took the 100m, the 200m, the 4x100m and the mixed 4x100m, and the last one came in a European record. She also won Commonwealth silver in Glasgow.
Josh Kerr
Kerr sits next at 9/4. Also, he broke Hicham El Guerrouj’s mile world record at the London Diamond League, running 3:42.66. That mark had stood since 1999. He also won the world indoor 3000m title and Commonwealth mile gold. Later, he won the 1500m at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
Harry Kane
Kane is third at 9/2. On top of that, he scored 61 goals for Bayern Munich and won the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal. He then added six goals at the World Cup, which made him England’s all-time leading scorer at that tournament, ahead of Gary Lineker. In fact, a Ballon d’Or win could boost his chances.
Matt Weston
Weston is priced at 10/1. He won men’s skeleton gold at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, then took mixed team gold with Tabitha Stoecker. That made him the first Briton to win two golds at a single Winter Games.
Luke Littler
Littler is 11/1. He retained his world title by beating Gian van Veen 7-1 in January. He also won the World Masters and the Premier League in 2026, plus the World Cup of Darts alongside Luke Humphries.
At the same time, his autumn was tougher, with early exits at the World Grand Prix and the European Championship. Still, the vote covers the 2026 calendar year, and his December defence at the PDC World Darts Championship 2027 starts only after the show.
Other Names to Watch
The field is deep, and several more names are tipped.
- Jude Bellingham: Scored a record seven goals at the World Cup for an England men’s player, as England finished third.
- Rory McIlroy: The defending winner took a second straight Masters.
- Keely Hodgkinson: Broke the indoor 800m world record and won World Indoor gold.
- Saffie Osborne: The first female jockey to win a British Classic, on Highwayman in the 250th St Leger.
- Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell: Each has Formula 1 wins this season.
- Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua: Their fight is scheduled for 11 December in Cardiff, which could swing the market just days before the show.
The Case For and Against Each Favourite
Every contender has a clear strength, and a clear weak spot. Here’s a quick look, with opinions framed as such.
Hunt has the big headline: four golds at one European Championships. However, a continental meet carries less weight than a global one. Kerr’s record is the sort of number that lasts for decades. Even so, athletics fans split their votes across several names this year.
Kane has the biggest stage, the World Cup, and the best goal tally. On the other hand, a World Cup run is a team story, and voters sometimes lean towards a single athlete. Weston has an Olympic double, yet winter sport rarely gets the same airtime.
Littler has a huge fan base. In contrast, his autumn form dipped, and a final defeat or an early exit could cool the buzz. Still, he’s the only darts name in the field, and that sets him apart.
Sports Behind the Names
The list shows how wide the year has been. Athletics supplies Hunt, Kerr and Hodgkinson, and that’s three strong names from one sport. Football brings Kane and Bellingham, both tied to England’s World Cup run.
Winter sport gets a rare spotlight through Weston. Formula 1 adds Norris, Hamilton and Russell, while golf has McIlroy and horse racing has Osborne. Boxing has Fury and Joshua, and darts has Littler.
Because of that spread, the vote could split. In fact, a crowded field in one sport can hurt every name in it. That’s why a standout single moment often decides the winner. Hunt’s four golds, Kerr’s world record and Kane’s goals all offer that kind of moment.
Events Still to Come
Several big dates could still move the market. The Grand Slam of Darts runs from 14 to 22 November, which gives Littler one more major before the show. The Fury and Joshua fight is scheduled for 11 December in Cardiff, and the World Darts Championship begins the same day.
Meanwhile, Premier League football and Formula 1 continue to produce headlines. Besides, a late surge by one name could change how the public sees the race. So even now, the order isn’t fixed.
How to Watch and Follow the Vote
The ceremony airs live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Once the BBC confirms the date, expect the shortlist to follow in the days before it. Voting then opens to the public, and the winner is announced on the night.
Keep one thing in mind. The award covers the 2026 sporting year, so results after the show don’t count. Check the BBC’s official pages for the final shortlist and voting rules, because those details can change.
Our Predictions
These are opinions, so treat them that way. Hunt looks the strongest pick. Four golds at a home-soil European Championships is the kind of story the public loves. Kerr is a close second, because a mile world record that stood for 27 years is a rare thing.
Kane is the wildcard. If he wins the Ballon d’Or, his odds will shorten fast. Weston has a quieter profile, though Olympic gold usually carries weight with voters.
As for Littler, a podium finish looks possible, but a win feels like a stretch. Darts fans are loyal, and the sport has never been bigger. Still, the other names have bigger one-off moments to point to.
Remember, though, that a boxing fight just before the show could change the picture. Fury or Joshua could surge with a big win.
Fans curious about the sport behind one of these names can use this darts checkout chart guide. Beyond that, it explains the finishes Littler hits every week.
Key Takeaways
- Date: Not confirmed yet, with 15 and 18 December both reported.
- Defending winner: Rory McIlroy, who won in 2025.
- Favourite: Amy Hunt, with four golds at the European Championships.
- Main challengers: Josh Kerr, Harry Kane, Matt Weston and Luke Littler.
- Wildcards: A Ballon d’Or win for Kane or the Fury and Joshua fight.
FAQs
Who won BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2025?
Rory McIlroy won in 2025, with Ellie Kildunne second and Lando Norris third.
Who is the favourite for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2026?
As of 10 October 2026, Amy Hunt was the favourite at evens.
Is Luke Littler a contender?
Yes, he was priced at 11/1 in the same round-up, among the tipped names.
How is the winner chosen?
A panel picks the shortlist and then the public votes for the winner.
When is the shortlist announced?
The date isn’t confirmed, though last year’s shortlist came out a week before the show.
Conclusion
The race for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2026 is wide open, and that’s good news for viewers. Hunt leads the market, Kerr and Kane are right behind, and Littler is a live outsider. Keep an eye on the BBC for the shortlist and the final date. Whoever wins, 2026 has given British sport plenty of moments worth voting for.
