ESPYS 2026 Aired on ABC Channel, Stream, and Full Guide

The 2026 ESPYS Presented by Capital One aired live on Wednesday, July 15, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on ABC, from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. Comedian and Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernández hosted. Jalen Brunson won Best NBA Player after leading the New York Knicks to their first championship in 53 years. Stephen Curry accepted the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award the night before at Gotham Hall.

What Channel Are the ESPYS On?

The main ceremony broadcast on ABC not ESPN, which carried the pre-show only. That distinction matters viewers who landed on ESPN looking for the full show found red carpet and preview programming, while the awards themselves ran exclusively on ABC.

The live stream ran through ESPN+ on the ESPN App, in sync with ABC's broadcast across time zones. ABC's official event page has the full broadcast details. The show became available the following day on Disney+, Hulu, the ESPN App, and ABC Video on Demand. The ESPN Press Room confirms all replay platforms.

Live-TV streaming services including YouTube TV, DIRECTV, Fubo, and Sling carry ABC in most major markets, though local-channel availability varies by ZIP code and plan. Prices change frequently as of July 2026, DirecTV's Entertainment package was available with a five-day free trial for eligible new customers, and Hulu + Live TV bundles ABC with Disney+ and ESPN+ starting at $89.99 per month. Check each service's current plan page directly for the latest pricing before subscribing.

When the Pre-Show Started

Coverage began well before 8 p.m. Kevin Negandhi and Christine Williamson hosted SportsCenter live from the red carpet on ESPN from 6 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPYS Preview Show Presented by Capital One on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET. The ESPYS Red Carpet Show Presented by TJ Maxx, hosted by Samantha Rivera, Harry Lyles Jr., Monica McNutt, and Kimberley Martin, streamed simultaneously at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN's YouTube channel, ESPN's Facebook page, and the ESPN App all free to access without a subscription.

Who Hosted the 2026 ESPYS?

Marcello Hernández took the stage as host. The ESPN Press Room announcement describes him as a comedian, actor, writer, and producer who recently closed his fourth season on Saturday Night Live. His debut Netflix special, Marcello Hernández: American Boy, was a global top-10 hit when it premiered in January 2026.

"I started doing comedy 10 years ago, in Cleveland, Ohio, and I would take the train 12 hours to New York to sell comedy tickets on the street in Greenwich Village in exchange for stage time," Hernández said in his announcement statement. "It is an honor, and frankly feels crazy to be hosting the ESPYS this year in New York."

Craig Lazarus, ESPN Vice President and the show's executive producer, called Hernández a natural fit given his genuine enthusiasm for sports and personal ties to New York City. Hernández played soccer at the collegiate level at John Carroll University in Ohio.

Where the 2026 ESPYS Were Held

The ceremony took place at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City a return to the city where the show began. The ESPYS launched at Madison Square Garden in 1993, moved to Radio City Music Hall from 1995 through 1999, and had been held largely in Los Angeles for the years that followed. The Walt Disney Company confirmed the 2026 production marked the first full-scale New York ESPYS since 1999.

Top Nominees and What Was at Stake

ESPN announced the 2026 nominees on June 23, opening fan voting that ran through the night of the ceremony.

Jalen Brunson entered the show with three nominations Best Athlete in Men's Sports, Best Championship Performance, and Best NBA Player after leading the New York Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973. He scored 45 points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, becoming only the second player in NBA history after Michael Jordan to score that many points on the road in a championship-clinching game. Brunson won the Best NBA Player ESPY on the night.

Shohei Ohtani carried three nominations of his own: Best Athlete in Men's Sports, Best Single-Game Performance, and Best MLB Player a category he has dominated for five consecutive years. A'ja Wilson and Mikaela Shiffrin each sought a second win in Best Athlete, Women's Sports the nominee release confirmed both would become only the seventh athlete ever to win the award multiple times if successful.

Myles Garrett earned a nomination for Best Record-Breaking Performance after setting an NFL single-season sack record with 23 in 2025. Seven athletes including Bam Adebayo, Lauren Betts, Macklin Celebrini, Hannah Hidalgo, Drake Maye, Fernando Mendoza, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba appeared as ESPYS nominees for the first time.

The Best Team field featured nine nominees: Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Dodgers, Indiana Hoosiers, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Knicks, Texas Longhorns, Seattle Seahawks, Team USA Men's Hockey, and Team USA Women's Hockey.

Presenters, Performances, and Special Appearances

The official presenter lineup included Simone Biles, Allyson Felix, Eileen Gu, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, DJ Khaled, Chloe Kim, Billie Jean King, Ilona Maher, Pat McAfee, French Montana, Tracy Morgan, Kevin Negandhi, Jake Paul, Oz Pearlman, Robin Roberts, Jayson Tatum, Mike Tyson, and Lindsey Vonn. Actor Will Ferrell made a special appearance.

Musical performances came from the hip-hop group De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Slick Rick, and the Savannah Bananas, who opened the show before being joined on stage by DJ Khaled.

Special Honorees

Three pillar awards were confirmed ahead of the show. Jason Collins was posthumously honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for his impact on LGBTQ+ visibility in professional athletics. Jim Abbott received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, and Scott Ruskan was named the Pat Tillman Award for Service recipient.

The night before the main ceremony, on July 14, the 2026 Sports Humanitarian Awards took place at Gotham Hall in New York City. Stephen Curry received the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for his work through the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, which he co-founded with Ayesha Curry in 2019. The foundation serves 35,000 students daily across the Oakland Unified School District through nutrition, literacy, and physical activity programs. Accepting the award from Lonnie Ali, Curry said: "Oakland gave us so much love, support and energy, and this is how we are able to continue to give back to the community that has wrapped its arms around us from the very beginning."

The Baltimore Ravens were named Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for their youth development platform. The Philadelphia Eagles' Jeffrey Lurie received the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award after donating more than $100 million toward autism advocacy.

About the ESPYS

The ESPYS were founded by ESPN in 1993, at the same ceremony where ESPN and the late basketball coach Jim Valvano launched the V Foundation for Cancer Research. ESPN has helped raise more than $292 million for the V Foundation over the past 30-plus years. The 2026 show was produced by ESPN, Full Day Productions, and Fanatics Studios, with proceeds from both the Sports Humanitarian Awards and the ESPYS benefiting the V Foundation.

For the full WWE Night of Champions 2026 card, time, and picks, see our guide at globalexpresstime.com.