Sport for Business is once again inviting nominations for our annual list of 50 Women of Influence in Irish Sport, with AIG returning as Official Partner for 2026.
This will be the 14th edition of a list that has become an important annual recognition of the women who are defining the present and future of sport across Ireland.
When we began this journey in 2013, we were challenged to identify 20 women who were making a difference in Irish sport.
That became 30, then 40, and eventually 50. Even at that number, it has never been easy to do justice to the extraordinary breadth of talent, leadership, determination, and influence across our sporting landscape.
Last year, we received more than 150 nominations from Sport for Business members and readers, showing both the depth of achievement and the appetite to recognise those making a difference.
Now we are asking for your help again.
Influence Takes Many Forms
The 50 Women of Influence in Irish Sport is not simply a list of the most senior executives, the most successful athletes or the most recognisable personalities.
It recognises and celebrates those whose work, leadership, ideas, and actions are changing sport for the better.
From the boardroom to the playing field, from the broadcast studio to the grassroots club, and from commercial partnerships to public policy, influence takes many forms.
It might be the CEO shaping a sporting organisation’s future, the commercial leader securing new investment, or the administrator working to make sport increasingly inclusive.
It might be the coach developing the next generation, the journalist challenging accepted thinking, or the advocate ensuring important voices are heard.
What matters is the impact they are making.
Recognising Established Leaders and New Voices
Each year, we challenge ourselves to ensure at least 40 per cent of the list comprises new entrants.
That means recognising at least 20 women who haven’t featured in the previous two years, while still acknowledging established leaders whose influence remains significant.
It is never an easy balance. Many fully deserve continued recognition, but making space for new names is central to the initiative’s purpose.
Influence is not static. It evolves as new opportunities emerge, new challenges are addressed, and new leaders step forward.
We want the 2026 list to reflect that evolution.
Progress, but More Work to Do
Irish sport has changed enormously since our first list in 2013.
Women’s sporting achievements command greater attention. Female leadership is more visible. Investment, audiences and opportunities have grown, and the conversation around equality has moved from the margins towards the centre of sporting decision-making.
But we cannot take progress for granted.
Significant gaps remain in leadership, media coverage, commercial investment, and opportunities across many areas of sport.
Recognising the women helping close those gaps is one way we can encourage further progress.
Their achievements deserve to be seen, celebrated and, where possible, replicated.
We are delighted that AIG continues as our Official Partner, supporting the recognition of women making an important difference across Irish sport.
Who Should Be on the List for 2026?
We are opening nominations to our members, readers and the wider Irish sporting community.
We want to hear about women who have demonstrated leadership, created opportunities, influenced decisions, challenged conventions, or made a lasting contribution to sport’s development.
They may be established names, emerging leaders, or people whose work hasn’t yet received the attention it deserves.
To nominate someone, tell us:
* Her name, role and organisation.
* Her contribution to Irish sport, particularly during 2026.
* Why you believe she deserves recognition as one of our 50 Women of Influence.
We will develop and publish our list over the coming weeks, aiming to recognise the breadth and diversity of those contributing to Irish sport.
The initiative will also sit alongside our annual Sport for Business Women in Sport Conference, taking place on Tuesday, December 1st, in partnership with Lidl Ireland.
Remarkable women are making an impact on Irish sport.
As ever, the challenge is choosing only 50.
So, who do you think should be among our 50 Women of Influence in Irish Sport for 2026?
Nominations are now open.
Sport for Business 50 Women of Influence in Irish Sport 2026 — in partnership with AIG.
AIG and Lidl Ireland are among the many organisations that see the value of a Sport for Business membership. If you would like to join them and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the daily conversation around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today to see what is possible, or sign up straight away using the link below.
Image Credit: Sport for Business
ABOUT SPORT FOR BUSINESS
Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies, and public institutions through high-quality content, events, and insights.
Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, and how your story can be part of ours.
Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practices, and make better-informed decisions. It positions sport not just as entertainment but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.
Find out more about becoming a member today.
Or sign up for our Daily Sport for Business Snapshot email bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.
Sign up for our News Bulletins here.
