The Federation of Irish Sport has launched the 2026 Irish Sport Industry Awards, with this year’s ceremony set to take place in Dublin on Tuesday, May 19th and hosted by broadcaster and journalist Seán O’Rourke.
Now in its ninth year, the awards 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.
Entries for this year’s awards are now open, with the closing date set for April 2nd, 2026.
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.
Launching the awards, Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor said the event continues to play an important role in recognising the work being done across Irish sport.
“The Irish Sport Industry Awards are an important platform for recognising our member National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships valuable contribution to sport through their initiatives, collaborations and commercial activations,” said Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport. “While also spotlighting new and emerging sports tech enterprise innovations, many of whom have gone on to excel in international markets.”
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.
If, like the Federation of Irish Sport, you would like to be part of the Sport for Business community and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the conversation happening every day around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today and let’s see what is possible.
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