Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman amongst those on New Year Honours list

England women's manager Sarina Wiegman has been given an honorary damehood in this year's New Year Honours list for her services to football.

It comes after she lead the Lionesses to back-to-back Euros victories over the summer.

Others who have been recognised include a number of the Lionesses squad who lifted the trophy, including captain Leah Williamson - as well as members of the Red Roses team, who won the women's rugby union World Cup in September.

The New Year Honours list highlights the incredible achievements made by people across the UK and Commonwealth realms, in a number of different sectors including sport, arts and media, education and science.

Keep reading to find out who else made this year's list and how the list works.

Sarina Wiegman receives the honorary title after guiding the Lionesses to their second Euros title in Switzerland this summer, becoming the first England football team to win a major trophy on foreign soil.

After the announcement was made, Wiegman said she wanted to express her "sincere gratitude" for the honour.

She added: "When I first arrived in England, I could never have imagined the respect and warmth I've experienced from the English people. I deeply thank the fans for their support."

Several members of the Lionesses squad are also recognised, including captain Leah Williamson who is appointed a CBE.

While Ella Toone, Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh all become MBEs.

Six members of the England women's World Cup-winning squad have also been included on the King's New Year honours list for 2026.

Head coach John Mitchell, captain Zoe Stratford and double Rugby World Cup winner Marlie Packer will all receive OBEs.

Vice captain Megan Jones, Sadia Kabeya and Ellie Kildunne have been appointed MBEs.

It's not just sports stars that have been recognised in the list.

Actor Idris Elba has been given a knighthood, while Wicked star and singer Cynthia Erivo receives an MBE, calling it "an honour I could never have thought would happen."

Other big names on the 2026 list include singer Ellie Goulding who is recognised with an MBE for her work as an environmental ambassador, and Match of the Day presenter Gabby Logan who has been given an OBE.

More than 1,100 people from fields including sport, entertainment and science have been recognised in this year's list.

The awards are handed out twice a year in the UK - once at New Year, and then again on the monarch's official birthday.

Anyone can be put forward for an honour, but all nominations have to go through a special procedure before the final list is approved and revealed.

The decision about who gets an honour - and the type of honour they get - is made by a special committee.

The committee's decisions go to the prime minister and then, finally, to the King to check it.

Not everyone wants an honour and people are allowed to turn down the award, which occasionally happens (for example, Roald Dahl turned down his award).

People can also have their honour taken away from them if they behave in a bad way.

The honours list consists of knights and dames, appointments to the Order of the British Empire and gallantry and bravery awards.

Different people receive different awards depending on what they have done. The main awards include:

Companion of honour

Knight or Dame

CBE

OBE

MBE

BEM

There are others, though, including the Royal Red Cross for those in the nursing services, and the King's Police Medal and Fire Service Medal for those working in these areas.