80 Global Changemakers Shortlisted for Sport Positive Awards 2026
24 July, London, UK: 80 organizations and individuals leading the charge on creating a more sustainable, resilient, equitable, and climate-conscious future for sport have been shortlisted for Sport Positive Awards 2026.
Sports clubs, teams, leagues, venues, federations, non-profits, athletes and academics from around the world, from Hong Kong to Australia, Canada to Brazil, UK to UAE and USA, have been shortlisted across twelve categories, including Purpose-Led Partnership, Campaign of the Year, and Inspired Innovation.
Sport Positive Awards 2026 is a global industry awards that celebrates, uplifts, inspires and raises awareness of the people and organizations working in and around sport that are enabling game-changing activities that are ensuring sustainable business, climate action, biodiversity and environmental justice.
The Awards celebrate individuals and organizations across every level of the sports ecosystem who are driving a more positive future, from the world’s biggest sports franchises to grassroots community initiatives. Recognition is also given to individuals, from long-time changemakers honoured through the Leadership Award, to rising stars making an impact in the Next Generation Trailblazer category.
Read more about those shortlisted here: https://awards.sportpositivesummit.com/shortlist-2026
“This shortlist shows how sports organisations and individuals continue to drive critical progress on sustainability, resilience and climate action,” shared founder of Sport Positive, Claire Poole at the Sport Positive Awards 2026 shortlist announcement. “It has never made more sense, and it has never been more urgent, to take bold steps to protect the future of sport – through the ecosystems, organisations and communities that support and sustain it. We are honoured to platform the people and programmes at the heart of that effort.”
An independent faculty of global judges will decide who will lift the trophy for each category, and winners will be revealed during this year’s fully virtual Sport Positive Summit on 6 October 2026. As we celebrate these pioneers and leaders of sport x sustainability, we look to be one of them – moving to an in-person event every second year, to vastly reduce the environmental impact of our convening. Additional benefits of a global virtual event are that colleagues from all over the world can join the Summit during their workday, and access content in 10 languages, making it the most accessible, truly global convening of our sector ever.
About Sport Positive Awards 2026
Sport Positive Awards are part of the Sport Positive output, which includes our award-winning annual Summit, podcast, weekly intelligence bulletins, leagues, reports, community, media, research and more, supporting the global sports community towards a more sustainable and resilient future: www.sportpositive.org
The Awards take place during Sport Positive Summit in collaboration with UNFCCC and International Olympic Committee, a globally-leading, award-winning Summit that convenes 600+ global sport leaders (this year fully virtually, hurray no travel or carbon budget needed) to advance sustainable and resilient sport business and catalyse collective action on climate, sustainability, biodiversity and environmental justice. Taking place on 6-7 October 2026: www.sportpositivesummit.com
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