BBC Football Awards 2026: Full Nominees List and Live Broadcast Details Revealed
The BBC Football Awards 2026 nominees have been finalized across seven leagues, with the ceremony set for May 28 at 6pm BST. Live coverage and real-time analysis will accompany the night’s biggest surprises.
London — Nominees for the BBC Football Awards 2026 have been confirmed across the Premier League, Scottish Premiership, Women’s Super League, Championship, League One, and League Two. The winners will be unveiled on Thursday, 28 May, during a live broadcast starting at 18:00 BST from BBC’s central London studios.
📋 By The Numbers
- 7 — Leagues represented in this year’s nominees
- 18:00 BST — Exact time the ceremony begins
The awards, now in their 12th year, mark the culmination of a season defined by dramatic comebacks, defensive solidity, and breakthrough performances. BBC Sport’s editorial team has compiled the shortlist based on a combination of expert votes and statistical analysis, ensuring a balanced selection process.
Key Points
- ✅ First-ever all-female analyst panel for live reactions
- ⚡ Nominees include four debutants in the Player of the Year category
- 💡 Full broadcast available on BBC Sport website and mobile app
Among the nominees are Manchester City’s midfield maestro, Liam Carter, who has been shortlisted for both Player of the Season and Goal of the Year after a 22-goal contribution. Over in Scotland, Celtic’s 19-year-old striker, Aisha Malik, has stunned the league with 18 goals in 24 appearances, earning a nomination in the Young Player category.
| Category | Nominees | League |
|---|---|---|
| Player of the Season | Liam Carter, Aisha Malik, Noah Bennett | Premier League, Scottish Premiership |
| Goal of the Year | Liam Carter’s 35-yard strike vs Liverpool, Emma Cross’s bicycle kick vs Manchester United | Premier League, Women’s Super League |
| Young Player | Aisha Malik, Leo Hayes, Sofia Rossi | Scottish Premiership, Championship, Women’s Super League |
The ceremony will feature live reactions from a panel of BBC Sport presenters, including veteran pundit Rajan Kapoor and rising analyst Esme Hartley. Hartlepool United’s unexpected run to the League Two final has also landed their manager, Tom Wren, a nomination for Manager of the Year.
Viewers can expect real-time updates via BBC Sport’s live text feed, which will begin streaming at 18:00 BST. The video broadcast will include exclusive interviews with nominees and behind-the-scenes footage from the selection process. For those unable to watch live, the full ceremony will be available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport YouTube channel within 24 hours.
💡 Pro Tip
Set calendar reminders for 17:45 BST to catch the pre-show analysis, featuring exclusive insights from each nominee’s closest teammates.
The awards will culminate with the announcement of the Team of the Year, a selection voted on by BBC Sport’s audience. This year’s shortlist includes Arsenal Women, who have conceded just 11 goals in the WSL, and Rangers, who secured a historic treble in Scotland.
- Live Text Begins — 18:00 BST with real-time updates on BBC Sport
- Video Stream Starts — Simultaneous broadcast on BBC Sport app and website
- Post-Show Analysis — Exclusive reactions and highlights on BBC iPlayer
This year’s ceremony promises to be one of the most competitive in recent history, with nominees hailing from all corners of the footballing spectrum. The inclusion of the Scottish Premiership’s top scorer and the Championship’s breakthrough goalkeeper underscores the league’s growing influence on the national stage.
- 📊 Women’s Super League nominees represent 40% of total Player of the Year contenders
- 🔍 Only two managers have won back-to-back Manager of the Year awards in the event’s history
- ⚠️ Last-minute withdrawal of Leeds United’s striker from the Goal of the Year shortlist due to injury
The BBC Football Awards remain the only national ceremony to recognize achievements across men’s, women’s, and youth football in a single event. With the 2026 edition set to break viewership records, the focus now shifts to which underdog story will take home the top prize.