The Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards 2026 Shortlist Revealed

Now in their 24th year, the Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards are widely regarded as the leading celebration of sports writing, championing the best books, authors and storytelling in sport each year. The awards bring together athletes, writers, publishers and media to celebrate the narratives that define the sporting world.

The shortlists for the Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards 2026 were announced this morning, with 13 categories celebrating sporting achievement alongside the very best in sports writing, from compelling narratives to bold, original voices. Shortlisted authors include: Susie Wolff, Duncan Ferguson, Paul Gascoigne, Freddie Flintoff, Eve Muirhead, Joe Cole, George North, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Jodie Ounsley, Ella Toone, Matt Oldfield & Maggie Alphonsi, Gareth Southgate, Guillem Balagué, Felix White, Mark Hodgkinson, Björn Borg, Boris Becker, Mary Earps, Ned Boulting, Martin O’Neill, Phil Tufnell, James Montague, Pippa York & David Walsh, Baroness Sue Campbell and Andy Farrell.

Paul Gascoigne reflected on the shortlisting of his book Eight in the Autobiography of the Year category, in association with The Sunday Times:

"For the first time, I felt ready to write all about the sort of life I've had, so people get to know the real me, not the Gazza in the papers…and it became a Sunday Times bestseller!

I’m very thankful to Katie Davies, my agent and friend, Victoria Williams who wrote the book with me, and the team at Reach Sport for their dedication in publishing my book. Finally, to my sister for standing by me, no matter what.”

New categories for 2026

The 2026 awards introduce three new categories: Motorsports Book of the Year, Sports Audiobook of the Year, and Sports Podcast of the Year, in association with Sport Social Podcast Network, reflecting the evolving landscape of sports storytelling.

The motorsports category recognises the surge in publishing around the sport, driven by growing global interest and a new generation of fans. The audiobook award highlights the rising importance of audio, offering a more accessible and immersive way to experience sports writing.

The Sports Podcast of the Year award celebrates the best in sports podcasting, from insightful analysis and investigative interviews to entertaining, personality-driven shows. Together, these additions recognise formats that shape conversation, connect with audiences, and showcase creativity and storytelling.

Susie Wolff has achieved a rare triple shortlisting at the Sports Book Awards 2026 for her autobiography Driven, marking the first time in the awards’ history that a single title has been shortlisted across three categories. The book is recognised in Sports Audiobook of the Year, Charles Tyrwhitt Autobiography of the Year, and Motorsports Book of the Year, reflecting both the strength of her personal story and its resonance across multiple formats of sports storytelling.

Bestselling Autobiography Big Dunc heads a stellar set of contenders, with Duncan Ferguson reflecting on an incredible list:

“It’s wonderful to be nominated in a brilliant category alongside fellow Scots, Susie Wolff and Eve Muirhead, plus my former teammate Paul Gascoigne, with Andrew Flintoff, Bradley Wiggins, George North and Joe Cole. Many congratulations to my fellow nominees and my team who have made “Big Dunc” a major success.”

The public vote is now open

The public vote is now open for two categories - Charles Tyrwhitt Autobiography of the Year in association with The Sunday Times and Sports Entertainment Book of the Year in association with LoveReading - with readers invited to cast their vote at sportsbookawards.com/vote. All other categories are decided by expert judging panels, bringing together voices from across sport and media, including Mark Chapman, Miles Jupp, Georgie Heath, Shebahn Aherne, Amy Williams, Iona Stephen, David Fulton, Emma Paton, Lisa O’Keefe, Christine Ohuruogu, Jill Douglas, Sir Tim Rice, Rory Kinnear, Jacqui Oatley, Lawrence Dallaglio, Darren Gough, Jo Pavey, Alistair Brownlee, David Croft, Sarah-Jane Mee, Sam Matterface, Jo Tongue and Eilidh Barbour, among others.

The winners will be announced at the Kia Oval on 21st May, with the awards ceremony hosted for the fourth time by sports broadcaster Mark Pougatch.

The 2026 Shortlist

The 2026 Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards feature a broad and diverse range of categories celebrating excellence across sports writing, storytelling and media. The Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards 2026 shortlists in full: