England captain Harry Kane is now outright favourite with BOYLE Sports to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2026 after his historic Ballon d’Or success. The Bayern Munich striker is only the fifth Englishman in 70 years, and first since 2001, to win the award after being crowned the world’s best player at Monday’s ceremony in London .
Kane could now become the first male England footballer to win SPOTY since David Beckham 25 years ago, but the Three Lions’ all-time record goalscorer is not the only candidate to succeed 2025 winner Rory McIlroy . Here, we take a closer look at the leading contenders to win the prestigious BBC award later this year.
Betting Odds
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Betting Odds 2026
Name | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Harry Kane | 4/6 | 60% |
Amy Hunt | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Josh Kerr | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Matt Weston | 16/1 | 5.9% |
*Odds are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change.
Harry Kane is the 4/6 favourite to lift the trophy, with Amy Hunt 7/4 and Josh Kerr 6/1.
Harry Kane
Harry Kane @ 4/6
Jude Bellingham had been 9/2 to win SPOTY following his World Cup heroics this summer but the Real Madrid man has drifted out to 40/1, with his England team-mate Kane now odds-on favourite to land the top prize. The 33-year-old scored 73 goals in just 65 appearances for club and country last season, including six at the World Cup as England finished third. Kane also won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal with Bayern last season, as well as reaching the Champions League semi-finals. The former Tottenham striker is seeking to become only the fifth male England footballer to win SPOTY , after Bobby Moore (1966), Paul Gascoigne (1990), Michael Owen (1998) and Beckham (2001).
Amy Hunt
Amy Hunt @ 7/4
Kane may have taken over as SPOTY favourite but sprinter Hunt is still a strong contender to become the second female track ace to win the award in three years, following Keely Hodgkinson’s success in 2024. The Nottinghamshire-born Hunt has long looked destined for the top of her sport and the 24-year-old has catapulted herself into superstar status over the last few years, winning a host of Olympics , world , European and Commonwealth medals. Hunt made history in August after becoming the first athlete to win four golds at a single European Championships , and said after finishing second in September’s 100m Diamond League final in Brussels : "I am 24 and on the up and up and up."
Josh Kerr
Josh Kerr @ 6/1
The world of athletics has provided a record 19 SPOTY winners down the years - 11 more than any other sport - and Kerr has the chance to add his name to the likes of inaugural winner Chris Chataway , Seb Coe , Mo Farah and Paula Radcliffe . The 29-year-old Scot is among the frontrunners this year after reclaiming his 3,000m title at the World Indoor Championships in Poland and smashing the long-standing mile world record at July’s London Diamond League meet. Kerr , who hasn’t competed a great deal in 2026 after recovering from a grade-two calf tear, also won the 1,500m title at the inaugural World Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September.
Matt Weston
Matt Weston @ 16/1
Winter Olympians have only had limited SPOTY success and Weston may not be a household name like some others on this list, but the skeleton racer’s achievements stack up impressively against any of his rivals. The 29-year-old made history in Milan-Cortina in February by becoming the first Briton to win two gold medals at a single Winter Olympics . That was the latest in a string of notable triumphs for the multiple world , European and World Cup champion, who only took up the sport less than a decade ago.
Other contenders: Jude Bellingham (40/1), Luke Littler (50/1), Anthony Joshua (80/1)
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*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
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