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Rory McIlory, Luke Littler and Chloe Kelly are on the SPOTY shortlist
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When 2026 rolls on in and forces you to take stock of 2025, which sporting moments will you hold dearest? For sheer depth of feeling, it's tough to top Team Europe's triumph over mindless, white-hot hate at the pressure cooker that was the Ryder Cup, but the Lionesses' Women's Euro 2025 victory and the Red Roses' Women's Rugby World Cup win come close. Perhaps it was the slow burn of Lando Norris' maiden F1 championship instead. Or the absurd feats of a certain darts prodigy.
You can watch Sports Personality of the Year 2025 online from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for free.
Swipe to scroll horizontallyPremiere: Thu, Dec 18 at 7pm GMT
Watch free: BBC iPlayer (UK)
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England and Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, England and Arsenal forward Chloe Kelly, England and Harlequins centre Ellie Kildunne, darts No.1 Luke Littler, grand slam champion golfer Rory McIlroy, and McLaren driver Lando Norris are the six nominees to have been shortlisted by a 12-person panel.
However, the shocking omission of Scott McTominay, who's transformed himself from a figure of derision at Man Utd to the Serie A Player of the Year, a Scudetto winner, the driving force behind Scotland's first World Cup qualification since 1998 and one of the standout footballers on the planet, has left rather a lot of egg on faces.
Littler, who finished second behind Keely Hodgkinson last year but won the Young Sports Personality of the Year award – which he's up for again – is the frontrunner. Still just 18, he started the year by becoming the youngest darts world champion in history, before then completing the PDC Triple Crown and becoming the youngest world No.1 of all time.
McIlroy makes a compelling case too. Not only did the Northern Irishman end an agonising 10-year drought to become the first European player to achieve the modern career grand slam, before absorbing the lion's share of a disgusting three-day barrage of abuse from American spectators to set Team Europe on their way to a first victory on US soil since 2012, but he did so while being hounded relentlessly by the press, having raised his head above the parapet to speak out against LIV.
Read on as we explain how to watch Sports Personality of the Year from anywhere. Scroll down for the full list of nominees, voting instructions and more.
Can I watch Sports Personality of the Year 2025 for free?
Yes. Viewers in the UK can watch Sports Personality of the Year 2025 FREE of charge on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Outside the UK this festive season? Use NordVPN to unlock your free streams.
How to watch Sports Personality of the Year 2025 from anywhere
If you're keen to watch Sports Personality of the Year but you're away from home and access to the show is geo-blocked, you can always use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.
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View DealCan I watch Sports Personality of the Year 2025 in the US?
Sports Personality of the Year doesn't have a home in the US.
If you're a Brit across the pond, however, a VPN will help you tune in for free. NordVPN is our recommended provider, and you can find out why with our in-depth NordVPN review.
Can I watch Sports Personality of the Year 2025 in Canada?
Sports Personality of the Year only airs in the UK, so you won't find it in your TV listings or on streaming services if you're overseas.
However, UK nationals currently traveling in Canada can use a VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer and watch it from anywhere in the world. We recommend NordVPN.
How to watch Sports Personality of the Year 2025 in the UK
Sports fans in the UK can watch the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year for FREE on BBC One and via the BBC iPlayer streaming service.
The two-hour ceremony airs at 7pm GMT on Thursday, December 18.
All you need is an account, a TV license and a UK postcode (e.g.HA9 0WS). Sign up here!
Outside the UK? Use a VPN to gain access to all the content you'd normally stream at home.
Can I watch Sports Personality of the Year 2025 in Australia?
Sports Personality of the Year 2025 won't be airing in Australia either.
If you're a Brit traveling Down Under, a VPN will help you tune in. NordVPN is our recommended provider.
Sports Personality of the Year 2025 – Need to Know
Who are the Sports Personality of the Year 2025 nominees?
Hannah Hampton – footballer
Chloe Kelly – footballer
Ellie Kildunne – rugby union player
Luke Littler – darts player
Rory McIlroy – golfer
Lando Norris – F1 driver
Have any 2025 SPOTY contenders ever won before?
None of the 2025 nominees have won the Sports Personality of the Yesar award before, but McIlroy finished sixth in 2023, second to Lewis Hamilton in 2014, 10th in 2012 and eighth in 2011.
Littler came second to Keely Hodgkinson in 2024, but took home the Young Sports Personality of the Year prize.
Who are the Young Sports Personality of the Year 2025 nominees?
Michelle Agyemang – footballer
Luke Littler – darts player
Davina Perrin – cricketer
Who are the World Sport Star of the Year 2025 nominees?
Mariona Caldentey – footballer
Terence Crawford – boxer
Armand Duplantis – athlete
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – athlete
Shohei Ohtani – baseball player
Mohamed Salah – footballer
Who are the Team of the Year 2025 nominees?
England women’s football team
England women’s rugby union team
European Ryder Cup team
Who is on the SPOTY panel?
The 12-person panel that determined the SPOTY shortlist comprises Alex Kay-Jelski, Philip Bernie, Marc Vesty, Kelly Cates, Josh Denzel, Riath Al-Samarrai, Molly Hudson, Maggie Alphonsi, Anita Asante, Libby Clegg, Carl Frampton and Ebony Rainford-Brent.
How does SPOTY voting work?
Sports Personality of the Year award voting will open and close during the ceremony. You can cast your vote on the Sports Personality of the Year website.
World Sport Star award voting will close before the ceremony, while Team of the Year voting will open ahead of the ceremony but close during the ceremony.
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Aatif SulleymanSocial Links NavigationAatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.
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