The longlist for the 2026 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award has been revealed, highlighting a celebrated literary prize recognized for its impact on sports writing. Last year’s recipient, the memoir "The Escape: The Tour, the Cyclist and Me," authored by Scottish cyclist Pippa York and journalist David Walsh, exemplifies the award’s prestigious history, joining an impressive roster of previous winners such as Nick Hornby, Duncan Hamilton, Michael Holding, and Lauren Fleshman. Since its inception in 1989, this award has consistently celebrated exceptional sports literature.
The judging panel for 2026 will include Adrian Durham, Elis James, Mark Lawson, Christine Ohuruogu, and Michelle Walder. They will replace William Hill’s reading panel, which meticulously reviewed a broad array of submissions before narrowing it down to the 12 longlisted titles. The panel will announce the final shortlist on Thursday, 29th October.
This year’s longlist encompasses a spectrum of themes from the realm of sports—covering football, cricket, and cycling, along with deeper issues such as fandom and addiction. The selected titles highlight the unifying and inspiring role of sports in society.
The 2026 longlisted titles are:
1. "F1 Racing: Drive" by Rachel Brookes
2. "This Is Not About Running" by Mary Cain
3. "Ball of the Century" by Brendan Cooper
4. "HH: Helenio Herrera – Football’s Original Master of the Dark Arts" by Richard Fitzpatrick
5. "For A Yellow Jersey" by Paul Maunder
6. "Tadej Pogačar: Unstoppable" by Andy McGrath
7. "Till I Die: Why Football Means Everything (even when it shouldn’t)" by Damien Pearse
8. "The Power Within" by Sophie Power
9. "The Impossible Job" by William Ralston
10. "Rory" by Alan Shipnuck
11. "The Fall and Rise of the Mölkky Bar Kids: A Sporting Underdog Story" by Neil Squires
12. "The Chain" by Sir Bradley Wiggins
Neil Foggin, Media Manager at William Hill and a member of the reading panel, commented on the longlist announcement, expressing excitement over the originality and perspectives presented in this year’s entries. The reading panel undertook diligent discussions to select the 12 books, which showcase some of the finest sports writing today. Foggin reflected on last year’s victor, noting the memorable win for York and Walsh’s account of the Tour de France, and remained optimistic about this year’s contenders.
The awards will culminate in an official ceremony on 24th November, where the winner will be unveiled. The award-winning author will receive the coveted William Hill Sports Book of the Year trophy along with £25,000 in cash, while the remaining shortlisted authors will be awarded a leather-bound edition of their work and £2,500 each.
Among the authors recognized this year, Andy McGrath stands out as a former winner, honored in 2017 for "Tom Simpson: Bird on the Wire," a tribute to a prominent figure in British cycling. Duncan Hamilton holds the record for the most wins in this award’s history, having claimed three titles.
