Belfast Sports Awards 2026: Nominate Your North Belfast Sporting Heroes!

Are you ready to shine a spotlight on the incredible sporting talent and dedication right here in North Belfast? Nominations are officially open for the GolfNow Belfast Sports Awards 2026, and the search is on for our city's most inspiring athletes, dedicated coaches, and tireless volunteers. Whether it's an elite athlete making waves on the global stage or a grassroots coach nurturing the next generation, we want to hear about them!

Make sure to get your nominations in by 12pm on Monday 2 March. This year's awards are extra special, forming a key part of Belfast's exciting European City of Sport 2026 programme. Working alongside leisure partners GLL and ACES, the awards promise to be a fantastic celebration.

There are a total of 16 awards across seven categories to be won, plus new inductees will be added to Belfast's prestigious Sporting Hall of Fame. They'll join previous local football heroes like Marissa Callaghan and Michael Halliday, recognised last year for their immense contributions. Mark your calendars – all the deserving winners will be crowned at a special ceremony in City Hall on Friday 17 April. This will be a wonderful opportunity to bring together clubs, athletes, coaches, and volunteers from across Belfast to recognise their vital contribution to grassroots sport throughout our communities.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, highlighted the significance of the awards returning for their 17th year, especially as part of our City of Sport programme. She spoke passionately about celebrating everyone who makes sport possible – from the dedicated volunteers giving their time, to the coaches who inspire and guide, and the teams and athletes striving for excellence. Councillor Kelly emphasised that these awards truly reflect the passion, dedication, and commitment that earned Belfast its City of Sport title for 2026. She encouraged everyone involved in or benefiting from sport to submit their nominations, ensuring those who make a real difference and create sporting opportunities across our city get the recognition they deserve.

GolfNow continues its proud sponsorship of the awards. Sara-Louise Bowman, Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives at GolfNow, expressed their excitement, noting how special it is to partner with the awards during Belfast's European City of Sport 2026 year. She highlighted that GolfNow for Business, which started right here in Belfast, is committed to supporting the local community and promoting participation in sport, especially golf. The awards, she added, are a fantastic way to shine a light on the athletes, teams, coaches, and volunteers who inspire us daily, celebrating values like teamwork, resilience, wellbeing, and community pride that make sport in Belfast truly exceptional.

Ready to nominate? You can submit your selections online by visiting /sportsawards. Please remember that nominees must either live within the area or represent a club or organisation located within the city boundary.