The voting on the Saber Talk Awards for this year has drawn to a close, so it is with great pleasure I can share with you this year’s 6 Categories!

Alongside the staple event, Fighter of the Year, we here at Saber Talk allowed you, the Saber Tour fighters to nominate and vote for your pick of the awards!

So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to the Award Categories…

#6: Most Sporting

A returning category from last year, the Most Sporting award (claimed by Alexis Leperlier in the 2025/26 Season) celebrates the fighters who go above and beyond to ensure a fair match for their opponent in the arena.

Whether this is giving advice, conceding hits that the referees didn’t spot or anything else to improve the match for their adversary, we respect it all in our candidates for Most Sporting.

#5: Best Coach

A new category for this year, the Best Coach award is here to shed some light on the best in the business when it comes to helping fighters pursue their goals in the arena.

We’re willing to accept nominations for coaches who have an amazing track record of helping fighters make it to the podium, who throw out all the stops to help fighters from other clubs improve their performance, or simply for those coaches who have revolutionised your journey, and built you into the fighter you are today.

#4: Best Referee

Another new face!

Best Referee is aimed to celebrate those who go to great lengths to ensure fights are fair for both sides, and who have an elite eye for spotting what went on in each and every exchange. It can also be awarded to the referees who have the best approach to their role, and make the decisions and reasoning clearest to the fighters.

Essentially the referees would want to adjudicate you if you got the choice!

#3: Best Mask Design

A third new category, and one of the ones I personally am most excited for, we have Best Mask Design.

This one does exactly what it says on the tin, your nominations will be for the painted masks you most admire or are awestruck by, to the point where you almost don’t want to spoil the paint by hitting in!

#2: Best Outfit

I think we all know this one! Last year’s trophy went to the incredible suit of François Ducrohet and I know a lot of fighters who are hunting for this award this year!

This goes to the fighter with the coolest looking attire throughout the Season.

#1: Rising Star

The most voted award of this season, Rising Star is one I’m immensely excited for!

It celebrates the fighter who has the most astounding rise in ability or performance, or who has simply shown the most potential to become a huge player in the coming season!

So there we have it folks! The 6 categories for the Saber Talk Awards 2026/27 Season, as with last year nominations will open after the UK Open in November, with the winner of each category being crowned just before the Saber Tour Finals.

In the meantime, you can join the official Saber Talk discord server for live tournament updates, conversations and announcements of the release of every post.