Jim White, Reshmin Chowdhury, Bela Shah and Joel Beya confirmed as host presenters for this year’s SJA British Sports Journalism Awards gala; event being held on the night of Monday, April 27, at the London Palladium; book tickets now…
The Sports Journalists’ Association (SJA) is thrilled to announce four fabulous hosts for this year’s British Sports Journalism Awards, sponsored by Canon.
The annual event, considered to be the ‘Oscars’ of the UK’s sports media industry, will take place at the London Palladium on the night of Monday, April 27, 2026.
It’s the first time the SJA Awards have been held at the iconic Soho venue.
Opening the ceremony will be two familiar faces in Jim White and Reshmin Chowdhury.
The pair are returning to the stage together, having hosted last year’s gala night.
Joining them to complete the line-up are talented presenters Bela Shah and Joel Beya.
The category shortlists for the Awards were revealed in late March, with the winners and podium places in the SJA Upcoming Talent section announced last week.
- Photography: Champagne, ski jumping and Salah selfie among Picture shortlist contenders
- Writing and Open Media: England managers in Scoop mix
- Broadcast: Trophy holders take on new talent
⬇️ Access the full list of Categories here…
Open Media – Content Agency; Cricket Journalist; Data Journalist; Football Journalist; Rugby Journalist; Specialist Correspondent; Sport for Change Journalism; Sports Publisher; Sports Scoop; Sports Summariser; Women’s Football Journalist
Writing – Columnist; Feature Writer Long-Form; Feature Writer Short-Form; News Reporter; Regional Journalist; Specialist Sports Publisher; Newspaper of the Year
Photography (sponsored by Canon) – Canon Portfolio; Football Portfolio; News Picture; Picture; Specialist Portfolio
Broadcast – Audio Documentary; Audio Live Event Coverage; Audio Podcast ‘Always On’; Audio Podcast Limited Series; Audio Show; Broadcast Journalist; Commentator; Content Creator; Content Creator Exclusive; Presenter; Pundit; TV Documentary; TV Live Event Coverage; TV Show; YouTube Channel; YouTube Newcomer; YouTube Show
SJA Upcoming Talent – Canon Young Photographer; Ones to Watch Writing; Ones to Watch Broadcast On Air; Ones to Watch Broadcast Off Air; SJA Academy Award (in association with talkSPORT)
The SJA Sports Journalist of the Year and the Canon SJA Sports Photographer of the Year winners will be decided by expert panels of judges, choosing from shortlisted entrants in the relevant sections.
Meet the Hosts
Jim White is one of the most recognisable voices in British sports media. Co-host of the mid-morning ‘White & Jordan’ show on talkSPORT, he is a four-time winner of the Audio Show category at the SJA Awards, and was a key member of the Sky Sports’ Transfer Deadline Day crew that previously claimed the Production Team category.
Reshmin Chowdhury is an award-winning broadcaster who works for TNT Sports on UEFA Champions League coverage, and for talkSPORT on the Premier League. She has hosted numerous high-profile global events, including the FIFA World Cup draws.
Bela Shah is a lead presenter for Sky Sports News. A former lawyer turned journalist, she has become a mainstay of live sports broadcasting and is highly respected for her versatile reporting and studio presenting.
Joel Beya is the founder and host of the hugely popular YouTube channel CheekySport, where he has interviewed some of the world’s biggest football stars. Known for his engaging personality and creative content, Joel represents the new era of digital sports journalism.
New Venue, New Era
This year marks a major change for the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards.
With the ceremony transferring to the London Palladium, the event is also moving away from a traditional sit-down dinner to a theatre-style gala.
In a message to industry colleagues, SJA President Darren Lewis says the new format is designed to be more inclusive, making it easier for freelancers, students, and digital creators to attend and celebrate.
Dress code – Smart.
The Awards presentations section will be shorter and sharper, lasting approximately 90 minutes, with a focus on pace, energy and celebrating achievements across all categories.
Just like at the Oscars, the ‘Winners Room’ will be the place for interviews and reflections, after the honorees have been applauded onto the main stage and handed their trophies.
After the presentations, the Palladium bar will remain open until midnight (last orders at 11:30pm).
From renowned newspaper reporters to innovative social media storytellers, the night promises to be a special celebration of the UK’s vibrant sports media landscape.
Don’t miss the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards at the London Palladium on Monday, April 27, 2026! Doors open at 7pm for an 8pm start – book your tickets now.
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