The 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year was a sporting awards show which took place on 18 December 2025. Broadcast live from MediaCity in Salford on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, it was presented by Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott.
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award was won by Rory McIlroy, with Ellie Kildunne in second place and Lando Norris in third.
For the first time since 2003, the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award was not awarded.
The nominees for the main award, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, were announced on 11 December 2025 on BBC Breakfast.
The judging panel included athletes Maggie Alphonsi, Anita Asante, Libby Clegg, Carl Frampton and Ebony Rainford-Brent, broadcasters Josh Denzel and Kelly Cates, Riath Al-Samarrai from the Daily Mail, Molly Hudson from The Times and Alex Kay-Jelski, Philip Bernie and Marc Vesty from BBC Sport.
In a first for the awards, the voting was paused half way through the show, with the six nominees whittled down to three. Voting then reopened before the winner was announced at the end of the show.
Rory McIlroy won the award, becoming only the third golfer to win after Dai Rees in 1957 and Sir Nick Faldo in 1989. McIlroy himself had been runner-up in 2014, the last time a golfer had finished in the top three. McIlroy also became the fourth winner from Northern Ireland after Lady Mary Peters in 1972, Barry McGuigan in 1985 and Sir Tony McCoy in 2010. Jonathan Rea was the last person from Northern Ireland to finish in the top three when he was a runner-up in 2017.
Ellie Kildunne was the runner-up, becoming the first rugby union player to finish in the top three since Leigh Halfpenny was the runner-up in 2013. Kildunne is the first female rugby player to be nominated for the award.
Lando Norris finished in third position. The last Formula One driver to finish in the top three was Sir Lewis Hamilton when he won in 2020.
The reigning holder of the award, Keely Hodgkinson and winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award winner Thierry Henry presented the award.
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award was awarded to Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe, two of the fathers of the three girls who died in the 2024 Southport stabbings: Alice da Silva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King. Following the attack, they ran the 2025 London Marathon together, raising money for young people in the local community. John Bishop and Robbie Fowler presented them with the award.
The winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Thierry Henry, which was announced on 17 December 2025. This was awarded to Henry for his contributions to sport on and off the football pitch. His footballing career saw him become the record goalscorer for both Arsenal and France and lift the 1998 FIFA World Cup and 2000 European Championships. He "redefined the striker role with his blend of prolific goalscoring, pace and flair, inspiring generations of players and fans." Henry has also continued in football as a coach, pundit and ambassador, as well as mentoring young talent, advocating for diversity in sport and championing social causes.
Henry was awarded the trophy on the night, presented with it by his children: Tea, Tatiana, Tia and Gabriel.
On 9 December 2025, the nominees were announced for the BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year, with the public vote opening on the same day.
Duplantis won the award and recorded a video message, which was shown on the night.
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award was awarded to Sarina Wiegman by Tommy Fleetwood and Dame Denise Lewis. The nominees were revealed in the show.
On 2 December 2025, the nominees for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year were announced on Greg James' Radio 1 Breakfast show.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, who won this award in 2005, and Lucy Bronze presented the award.
For the first time the public could vote for the BBC Sports Team of the Year Award, with the nominations announced 15 December 2025.
Sir Tony McCoy and Hannah Cockroft presented the award to Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, the members of the team who were present on the night.
Accompanying the tributes to sports stars who had died across the past year was the Bantam of the Opera choir, a choir of Bradford City fans to mark the fortieth anniversary of the Bradford fire and to celebrate Bradford's year as the UK City of Culture.