Future Stars Awards 2026 Celebrate Rising Sporting Talent

Some of the most promising young student athletes in GAA, Hockey, Soccer, Rugby and Rowing were honoured at the 2026 Future Stars Awards.

The University’s annual Future Stars Awards, sponsored by McKeever Sports, provide an opportunity for Queen’s to recognise talented Year 11 and Year 12 student athletes across each of the University’s five priority sports.

On Wednesday 15 April, over 350 students, parents, coaches and staff attended a special gala event in Whitla Hall at Queen’s. The event celebrated school sport and provided an insight into the University’s Academy Programmes - a comprehensive support package that enables students to pursue sport alongside their academic studies.

The evening was hosted by BBC Sport’s Thomas Niblock.

Over 148 young athletes were recognised on the night, marking the largest Future Stars celebration to date and highlighting the continued growth of youth sporting talent.

Take a look through the photo gallery from the evening here:

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