Smarter Sports Awards 2027: Final Deadline 30 November
Smarter Sports Awards 2027 entries close on 30 November 2026. Check the 29 October regular deadline, project eligibility and business categories before entering.

Last checked against official sources: 27 October 2026
* Dates and timings are subject to change, please check directly with the awards organisers.
The Smarter Sports Awards, formerly The Sports Technology Awards, have a 30 November 2026 final entry deadline for the 2027 edition. The organiser's timeline also lists 29 October 2026 as the regular entry deadline. If you are preparing a submission, ask the team about the applicable price before that earlier cutoff rather than treating the final deadline as your only planning date.
Match Your Business Innovation to the Category
The programme recognises organisations improving how sport performs, operates, engages audiences and grows. Entrants can include technology and data businesses, brands, engineering and manufacturing businesses, agencies, consultancies, investors and sports organisations. You do not need to call yourself a sports technology company, but your work must demonstrate innovative thinking and tech-led innovation.
The 2027 categories include Sports Innovation Advisory, Partnership of the Year and Start-Up of the Year, alongside categories covering performance, media, products, venues and sustainability. Each entry is assessed against its chosen category's criteria by an independent international judging panel. More than one category is permitted where the relevant criteria are met: adapt the evidence to each category rather than submitting the same generic story.
Check the Eligibility Window
Entries should relate to work launched, delivered or significantly developed between 1 January 2025 and 30 November 2026. Work that began earlier may qualify where substantial progress, impact or innovation took place within that window. Establish what changed during the qualifying period and gather evidence of its practical value.
The Start-Up of the Year criteria require revenue generation and majority ownership retained by the founders. Eligible funding stages run from seed through to six months after completing a Series A round. Check those conditions against your business before choosing the discounted start-up entry route.
Confirm Costs Before Committing
The organiser says prices vary by entry period and number of entries, with discounted rates for Start-Up of the Year entries. Ask the team for the current price and payment conditions. The timeline does not specify a closing time or timezone for either deadline: confirm these before scheduling a last-day submission.
The ceremony is planned for London in spring 2027, with the exact date and full details still to be announced. Use the official entry portal to begin your submission and allow time for a colleague to review it. Crafting Winning Awards Entries can help you turn technical achievements into a clear account of the problem, solution and results.
Sources
- Official 2027 categories and criteria: category names, judging, multiple entries and start-up eligibility.
- Official 2027 awards page: programme rename, entrant types, deadlines, eligibility period, pricing approach and ceremony plans.
- Official entry portal: registration route linked by the organiser.