Celebrating the very best
of Leeds sport –
nominations are now
open for the
Leeds Sports Awards 2026.
AWARDS & CRITERIA
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: To be eligible, the nominee must have been born, live, train and/or compete for a club within Leeds City Council boundaries.
PERIOD OF QUALIFICATION: One year period running January 2025 – December 2025.
NOMINEES AGE: Unless stated the award is open to person(s) of all ages. Where an age is stipulated this is the person(s) age as of 31st December 2025.
Please consider which category (or categories) best suit your nominee. Nominees may be entered into more than one category.
ATHLETES OF THE CITY
Sportsperson of the Year
(18+) This award celebrates the best of Leeds’ sporting talent. The winner of this award will have achieved success at a national or international level. Athletes from all recognised sports aged over 18 years are eligible for this award.
Young Sportsperson of the Year
(U18 i.e. born before 31/12/2008) This award recognises the hard work and success achieved by the young sportsmen and women in disability sport. Nominees will have achieved significant success at city, county, regional, national or international level.
Disability Sportsperson of the Year
(18+) This This award celebrates the best of Leeds’ disability sporting talent. The winner of this award will have achieved success at a national or international level. Athletes from all recognised sports aged over 18 years are eligible for this award.
Young Disability Sportsperson of the Year
(U18 i.e. born before 31/12/2008) This award recognises the hard work and success achieved by the young sportsmen and women. Nominees will have achieved significant success at city, county, regional, national or international level.
BEACONS OF THE CITY
School Achievement of the Year
This award recognises schools, school clubs, school groups and/or an individual pupil, teacher or assistant who have made a significant contribution to school sport or physical education in Leeds, through activity programmes, significant achievement, or a one-off event.
Community Club of the Year
This award acknowledges and honours exceptional accomplishments by a community club that fosters a welcoming environment, promotes participation and embraces inclusivity both within the club and in competitive settings.
Outstanding Sports Volunteer
This accolade is awarded to an individual(s) who has demonstrated total commitment and dedication to their sport, or sport in general, over a considerable period of time. They should be an ambassador for sport at a recognised level.
Community Coach of the Year
This award honours the vital and inspiring contributions of coaches who support amateur clubs and athletes at the grassroots level in Leeds.
Student Sport Champion/s
This award recognises student sports clubs, teams or individual athletes who have achieved success at regional, national, international level and/or contributed significantly to their community through voluntary activities, such as fundraising and community coaching. Nominees must be in full time education and studying for a recognised qualification in Leeds.
CHAMPIONS OF THE CITY
Inspirational Community Champion/s
This award recognises and celebrates an individual, club or organisation that has created and developed an outstanding sporting environment in which diversity and inclusivity is at the heart of everything they do to motivate and support others to stay or become active in their neighbourhood or community.
Performance Team/Club of the Year
This award recognises and celebrates outstanding success of a Leeds based club or organisation performing in a recognised sport competing in a national or international context.
Sustainability Champion of the Year
This award honours a sporting club, organisation, individual, or project that acknowledges the significance of environmental sustainability and the challenges posed by climate change, actively working towards greater sustainability
Performance Coach of the Year
This award recognises the important and inspirational role of a coach. The winner of this award will be coaching at a performance level and/or coaching athletes or a team preparing for national and international sporting competition.
