The Federation of Irish Sport has extended the entry deadline the 2026 Irish Sport Industry Awards, with entries now closing next Wednesday, April 8th.
This year’s ceremony will take place in Dublin on Tuesday, May 19th and will be hosted once more by broadcaster and journalist Seán O’Rourke.
This is ninth year of the awards which celebrate the relationship between business and sport in Ireland and highlight the contribution the sector makes to the wider economy. According to the Federation, the sport industry in Ireland supports 64,000 jobs, stimulates €3.3 billion in household spending and generates €3.7 billion in gross value added to the Irish economy.
Two new categories have been introduced for 2026, reflecting growing areas of focus across the sector. The first, Best Initiative to Promote Disability in Sport and Physical Activity, will recognise organisations or enterprises that use sport to increase inclusion, engagement and participation for people with a disability.
The second new category, Best Initiative to Promote Sustainability in Sport and Physical Activity, will honour sporting bodies or businesses that demonstrate a comprehensive approach to sustainability and to reducing the environmental impact of their operations or the participation of their members.
They join the nine other public categories for which nominations are now being sought.
They are The Best Commercial Partnership in Sport, the Best use of Communications Platforms in Sport, the Best Initiative to Promote Women in Sport and Physical Activity, the Best Initiative to promote Diversity, Equality and Inclusivity in Sport and Physical Activity, The Governing Body of the Year, the Local Sports Partnership of the Year, the Best New Sports Business of the Year the Best Sports Business of the Year and the KPMG Women in Sport Award.
The recent roll call of winners at the Irish Sport Industry Awards highlights the breadth and depth of excellence across the sector, from grassroots participation to high-performance sport and commercial innovation.
In 2025, standout success included Athletics Ireland and 123.ie being recognised for Best Commercial Partnership in Sport, reflecting a collaboration that has delivered both participation growth and brand impact. Innovation in fan engagement was acknowledged through Irish Rugby Football Union and its Irish Rugby+ platform, while Basketball Ireland’s SOCIA-Ball initiative underlined the continued focus on increasing female participation.
Previous recent winners of the Best Commercial Partnership include the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Electric Ireland and Sky’s partnership with the Republic of Ireland Women’s Football Team.
Across inclusion and community sport, programmes led by Local Sports Partnerships and national governing bodies demonstrated the importance of accessibility and diversity, with Donegal Sports Partnership among those recognised. Mayo Sports Partnership claimed Local Sports Partnership of the Year, while Badminton Ireland’s strong governance and growth saw it named National Governing Body of the Year.
In the business categories, ClubSpot and Hexis were recognised for their contribution to sports tech and services, pointing to a vibrant and evolving sports business ecosystem. Individual honours, including awards for Neasa Russell and Hazel Nolan, further reinforced the importance of leadership and storytelling within the industry.
Looking back further, recent years have seen winners such as Olympic Federation of Ireland, Canoeing Ireland and STATSports reflect consistent innovation, partnership strength and a growing professionalism across Irish sport.
Further details on categories, event updates and submissions are available through the awards website at www.IrishSportIndustryAwards.ie.
Closer to the Awards, we will have a series of interviews with previous winners, from across the Sport for Business membership, on what the Award meant to them and how they have progressed since.
Image Credit: Sport for Business
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