England
Ladbrokes explores the latest odds for the 2026 Sports Personality of the Year Award
Jude Bellingham priced as the new favourite, with the England star reaching new heights in 2026
Harry Kane and Rory McIlroy also among the favourites, with impressive performances becoming the norm

As we enter the second half of the year, Ladbrokes shares the latest odds for the 2026 Sports Personality of the Year Award, with Jude Bellingham the new favourite.
The prestigious annual prize recognises the very best of British sport, honouring the athlete judged to have delivered the most outstanding sporting achievement of the year, and with so many names in the running already, this year's battle is likely to be one of the tightest in recent memory.
Below, Ladbrokes dives into a few of the favourites, with names from a number of sports reaching incredible heights in 2026.
England star Jude Bellingham currently leads the market to win the 2026 Sports Personality of the Year Award, after a number of eye-catching performances at the World Cup - including back-to-back braces against Mexico and Norway as England booked their spot in the semi-finals. The Real Madrid man has everything you need to be named Sports Personality of the Year, and is sure to remain firmly in the conversation for SPOTY as the year progresses - with so much still to achieve.
Behind him is his captain, Harry Kane, who continues to impress on and off the pitch. The 32-year-old became just the second man in football history to score 70 goals in a single season for club and country, and has continued his fine goalscoring form into the 2026 World Cup, breaking into the top five World Cup goalscorers of all time - and he's tipped not only to win SPOTY, but also to potentially be knighted as well!
Last year's winner Rory McIlroy is next in line according to the bookies, with the golf legend following up his 2025 Masters victory with another in 2026, and he continues to set the standard within the sport.
Formula One star George Rusell, who is hunting a maiden World Championship victory, leads a chasing pack of some huge names, with skeleton racer Matt Weston - Great Britain's most decorated athlete in Winter Olympic history - hot on his heels.
F1 legend Lewis Hamilton, athletics favourite Keely Hodgkinson, England keeper Jordan Pickford, and darts sensation Luke Littler are the other names tipped as real contenders by Ladbrokes, as the race for Sports Personality of the Year starts to really heat up.
Of course, plenty of exciting sporting moments will happen between now and the end of the year, which will impact the latest SPOTY odds, with England's World Cup run a potentially defining moment in the race to win this highly acclaimed prize.
Tom Johnston of Ladbrokes said:
It could be a memorable treble for Harry Kane as he's in the running for Sports Personality of the Year, the Ballon D'Or and World Cup, although if England do bring it home Jude Bellingham would be a strong challenger for the SPOTY crown. Rory McIlroy can't be ruled out either if he adds another Major to his ever-growing tally.
View the latest Sports Personality odds.
All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.