40 brilliant photos of 2026 Leeds Sports Awards stars including Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos men

A wide range of stars were honoured at the 2026 Leeds Sports Awards from Leeds United to Olympians to thriving local clubs and schools.

Hosted by Tanya Arnold and ex-Leeds Rhinos star Jamie Jones-Buchanan, awards in 16 categories were presented at Thursday night's 23rd annual event at the city's Carriageworks Theatre where Leeds United took the Sporting Pride of Leeds award.

A former Whites star and now club ambassador was in attendance to pick up the award in a room stacked with sporting talent across a very wide spectrum.

Other big winners on the night included thriving ice hockey champions Leeds Knights who took the performance team/club of the year award.

Leeds Rhinos ace Jake Connor, Olympic gymnast Luke Whitehouse and Great Britain lifesaving swimming star Samuel Lawman shared the sportsperson of the year award, while swimmer Gabe Shepherd took the young sportsperson of the year accolade, fresh from his selection for the Commonwealth Games.

Two sporting stars now very busy as young mums were also saluted, Hannah Cockroft named disability sportsperson of the year following her incredible success at the World Para Athletics Championships after which she discovered she was pregnant and retired former world champion and Olympic medallist cyclist Lizzie Deignan taking a Special Recognition Award, of which there was also one for ex-rugby union ace Danny Care.

The YEP was in attendance and, here, via YEP photographer Gerard Binks, are 40 brilliant photos of the event’s winners and those that were highly commended including Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos men, a 2024 Paris Olympian and a girls takeover from the Leeds Gymnastics Club team.