The most popular sports in the UK
Football, Running, Formula 1 and Swimming continue to dominate as the UK’s most popular sports, according to the latest EY-Parthenon Sports Engagement Index.
The EY survey, polling over 4,000 adults in the UK, uses comparative data to gauge engagement levels in various sports. The survey’s measure of engagement includes either participation in the sport, followership of the sport (on television or digitally), or event attendance.
The 2025 index confirmed Football as the UK’s number one sport for overall engagement, retaining its position from last year, followed by Formula 1, Swimmin,g and Tennis. Hiking climbed two places to fifth, overtaking Running.
However, in 2025, there have been some surprise comebacks from more traditional sports –Cricket is up six places (14th to 8th), Rugby Union is up three (13th to 10th) and Golf is up four (15th to 11th). While Cricket and Rugby have attracted casual fans, Golf has also grown in popularity with more avid engagers who are engaging with the sport on a weekly basis.
The standout growth story for the latest Index is Basketball, which jumped seven places to 13th, driven by younger fans engaging with the sport through social content and live events.
1 – Football
2 – Formula 1
3 – Swimming
4 – Tennis
5 – Hiking
6 – Running
7 – Athletics
8 – Cricket
9 – Boxing
10 – Rugby Union
11.- Golf
12 – Snooker
13 – Basketball
14 – Yoga
15 – Darts
The survey reveals that overall engagement with sports remains strong, dipping slightly from 90% in 2024 to 88% in 2025 – this is likely due to the absence of the Olympics which increased engagement in 2024. Gender differences persist, however.
Among 18–24-year-olds, 92% of men engaged with sport often or very often, compared to 77% of women. Across all ages, the gap narrows, suggesting higher engagement from men may stem from stronger grassroots programmes and greater TV coverage of men’s sports. Engagement declines with age for both genders, more sharply for women (81% for women over 55 compared to 89% for men).
“The 2025 EY Sports Engagement Index highlights a dynamic and evolving UK sports landscape. While Football, Formula 1 and Swimming remain dominant, the rise of Hiking and the resurgence of sports like Cricket, Rugby and Golf signal a broadening definition of engagement. The rapid growth of Basketball among Gen-Z, driven by digital content and live experiences, underlines the importance of innovation in fan connection,” Simon Mantell, Sports Industry Sector Lead, UK&I at EY
“These shifts show that sports organisations must embrace diversity in participation and engagement, invest in wellbeing-focused activities, and adapt to changing fan behaviours. Those that fail to respond risk losing relevance in an increasingly competitive and inclusive sporting environment.”
