A lineup of 46 renowned sports personalities has been announced in the New Year’s Honours List for 2026, with notable exceptions including rugby league icon Kevin Sinfield. Sinfield gained recognition for his charitable efforts in raising funds for motor neurone disease (MND) organizations, sparking calls for his knighthood.
Despite his impressive fundraising of over £11 million and previous accolades including an MBE in 2014, an OBE in 2021, and a CBE in 2024, Sinfield was not included in the recent honours list. Suggestions indicate that his most recent CBE might have delayed his eligibility for a knighthood, as honours typically cannot be upgraded within three years of receiving a previous honour.
Among the honored sports figures are presenter Gabby Logan, commentator Clive Tyldesley, and former long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe. Additionally, five members of the England Lionesses football team have been recognized for their contributions to the sport, including manager Sarina Wiegman, captain Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, and Keira Walsh.
The list also includes individuals like Olympic gold medallists Christopher Dean and Jayne Torvill, former Tottenham executive chairman Daniel Levy, and various other distinguished figures from the sports world, acknowledging their significant services and achievements in their respective fields.