Sport and leisure businesses play a vital role in helping people build confidence, improve wellbeing, develop skills, recover from setbacks, and enjoy memorable experiences with others. The 2026 Sports and Leisure Awards celebrate organisations across the UK that are creating safe, supportive, and engaging spaces for participation, performance, development, and community connection.

Our 2026 Sports and Leisure Awards Winners show just how varied this sector can be, from fitness studios and martial arts clubs to dance academies, rehabilitation clinics, leisure attractions, golf facilities, and community football programmes.

Our 2026 Sports and Leisure Awards Winners

Building a strong facility in a short period takes clarity, service quality, and consistency, which is why Progression Golf Academy receives Sports and Leisure Facility of the Year. In just 12 months, the academy has grown a client base of more than 200 students while earning over 50 five-star reviews. Its focus on golf coaching and custom fitting across London and Kent reflects a facility built around accessible expertise, customer trust, and a clear commitment to helping players improve.

A gym environment can shape far more than physical progress, and Storm Bodybuilding earns Gym of the Year for creating a disciplined, family-run training space rooted in respect, safety, and accountability. Specialising in bodybuilding, strength training, and physique development, the gym has built a culture where beginners, experienced lifters, and people rebuilding confidence after challenges can train without intimidation. Its emphasis on consistency, care, member respect, and structured support makes this a gym with a clear identity and a strong sense of purpose.

Realistic support and relatable coaching sit at the heart of The Average Joe Group, winner of Personal Trainer of the Year. Led by Joe Andrews, the group brings together personal training, martial arts, sumo, and a fitness studio designed for people who may not feel comfortable in busy commercial gym environments. Its strength lies in offering practical goals for everyday people, backed by strong client feedback, local recognition, and a fitness approach that feels accessible rather than overwhelming.

Rehabilitation requires trust, technical skill, and the ability to support people through uncertainty, all of which define George Gore Sports Therapy, winner of Best Sports Physiotherapist. The clinic has built a strong reputation in the Farnborough area through patient-focused care, detailed assessments, tailored rehabilitation plans, and a collaborative team approach. By combining physiotherapy, sports therapy, rehabilitation, strength work, and long-term movement education, the clinic helps clients recover with confidence while continuing to invest in more advanced rehab and performance services.

Community impact is often built through sustained commitment rather than quick wins, and Ferdinand Collective Devon receives the Community Impact Award for its work in youth football and personal development. Since relocating to North Devon, the organisation has grown from four children to more than 500 players attending sessions each week. Its work goes beyond football performance, creating inclusive pathways, developing young coaches, supporting players aged 16–19 through the FC Rise Programme, and encouraging young people to find purpose, confidence, and direction within and beyond the game.

Traditional martial arts can offer discipline, confidence, and community when taught with care, which is why Kyoto Shotokan Karate Dojo, Bristol is named Best Martial Arts Club. Now in its 30th consecutive year, the club provides structured Shotokan karate training for members ranging from pre-teens to pensioners. With strong technical coaching, national and international competition pathways, a supportive family culture, and an inclusive approach to different learning and physical needs, the club demonstrates the lasting value of martial arts as both a sport and a personal development practice.

Combining performance training with education, inclusion, and opportunity, CENTRE STAGE THEATRE ACADEMY earns Best Dance Studio. Established in 2015, the academy takes an evidence-based approach to dance and performance, helping young students understand safe movement, technique, voice, and body awareness. Its 100% exam pass rate, full-scale productions, regional dance festival involvement, inclusive teaching, and national recognition all point to a studio that balances ambition with care, giving children a supportive space to grow in confidence and skill.

Family leisure is at its best when excitement is balanced with safety, accessibility, and a welcoming atmosphere, and Crazy Karting Ltd receives Best Family Day Out for delivering just that. Its karting experience is built around clear safety briefings, well-maintained equipment, friendly customer support, and sessions adapted to different confidence levels. By offering packages for families, parties, corporate groups, and community organisations, Crazy Karting has created an experience that brings people together while keeping the focus on fun, professionalism, and memorable moments.

2026 Sports and Leisure Awards Finalists

• One Mind Martial Arts Academy – Sports and Leisure Facility of the Year
• Core The Gym – Gym of the Year
• Turner Training – Personal Trainer of the Year
• Jamie Lloyd Limited – Best Sports Physiotherapist
• National Boys Dance Day – Community Impact Award
• Valour Jiu-Jitsu Academy HQ – Best Martial Arts Club
• Freedom Dance Studios – Best Dance Studio
• DB’s Gym – Best Family Day Out

A Celebration of Participation, Progress and Purpose

The Sports and Leisure Awards reflect the many ways sport and leisure can improve lives. Across this year’s Winners and Finalists, we see businesses and organisations helping people move better, train safely, build confidence, find community, and enjoy experiences that stay with them.

What stands out this year is the balance between performance and people. Many of our Winners are delivering technical excellence, strong facilities, or high-quality coaching, but they are also creating environments where individuals feel supported, understood, and encouraged to keep going. That matters whether someone is recovering from injury, stepping into a gym for the first time, joining a club as a child, or looking for a family experience that feels exciting but safe.

From all of us at Business Awards UK, congratulations to our Sports and Leisure Awards Winners and Finalists. Your work shows the value of consistency, care, and community across a sector that continues to support wellbeing, development, and enjoyment in practical and meaningful ways.