2026 ESPYs: Watch Live, See Nominees & the Shocking Moments You’ll Miss
The 2026 ESPY Awards: A Super Simple Guide for Everyone
The 2026 ESPY Awards are here! Think of the ESPYS like a big "gold star" party for sports. It’s a night where the best athletes and famous entertainers get together in New York City to celebrate the coolest sports moments from the past year.
On the night before the show, Stephen Curry (a famous basketball player for the Golden State Warriors) got a special award called the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award. He said winning it felt "super surreal" (that means it felt weird and amazing at the same time).
Curry told Good Morning America on Wednesday: "Me and my wife Ayesha and what our foundation has been able to do, we’re super proud of it. It’s a great encouragement to keep doing the work that we’re doing. We’re only seven years in and the impact that we’ve had in Oakland has been real."
He was talking about his family’s "Eat Learn Play" foundation that helps kids.
Here is everything you need to know, explained like you’re 5 years old!
When Are the ESPYS?
The show is like a planned birthday party — it happens on a set day and time.
- Date: Wednesday, July 15
- Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT (ET = East Coast time, CT = Central time in the U.S.)
Important: Set a reminder for July 15 at 8 p.m. ET so you don’t miss it!
How to Watch the 2026 ESPYS
You can watch the fun in two main ways: live or later.
Watch it live:
- On TV: ABC
- Online: ESPN+ (a streaming service) or the ESPN app (an app you put on your phone or tablet)
Watch it later (the next day):
- Hulu
- Disney+
- ESPN App
- ABC Video on Demand (means you pick the show and watch when you want)
Who Is Hosting the 2026 ESPYS?
The host is like the grown-up who leads the party games and keeps things moving.
- The host is Marcello Hernández, a comedian (a person who makes people laugh).
- This is his first time hosting the ESPYS!
- He said: "it is an honor, and frankly feels crazy" — meaning he is very happy and a little shocked to be chosen.
Where Are the 2026 ESPYS?
The ESPYS are like a traveling show — they change cities sometimes.
- This year they are back in New York City.
- The live show comes from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.
- Before this, the show was in Los Angeles at The Dolby Theatre.
- The last time the ESPYS were in New York was in 2021.
Who Is Nominated at This Year’s ESPYS?
"Nominated" means your name is in the hat for a prize. Here are the big names:
Top nominees include:
- Jalen Brunson
- Myles Garrett
- Alysa Liu
- Matthew Stafford
- Rory McIlroy
- Lionel Messi
- Shohei Ohtani
- Mikaela Shiffrin
- Victor Wembanyama
- A’ja Wilson
There are also several standouts and first-time nominees across many categories.
Spotlight on a Few Nominees
Jalen Brunson
- He plays for the New York Knicks (basketball).
- He was the NBA Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player — the best player in the final games).
- He led the Knicks to their first championship since 1973!
- He is nominated in 3 categories:
- Best Athlete – Men’s Sports
- Best Championship Performance
- Best NBA Player
- The Knicks team is also nominated for Best Team.
Best Team Nominees (9 teams total):
- New York Knicks (NBA)
- Las Vegas Aces (WNBA)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB – baseball)
- Indiana Hoosiers (NCAA Football)
- Carolina Hurricanes (NHL – hockey)
- Texas Longhorns (NCAA Softball)
- Seattle Seahawks (NFL – football)
- Team USA Men’s Hockey
- Team USA Women’s Hockey
Shohei Ohtani
- Plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Nominated in 3 categories:
- Best Athlete – Men’s Sports
- Best Single-Game Performance
- Best MLB Player
- He won Best MLB Player last year for the 5th time in a row! That beat Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols, who each won 4 times.
First-Time Nominees
These people are nominated for the first time ever:
- Bam Adebayo
- Lauren Betts
- Macklin Celebrini
- Hannah Hidalgo
- Drake Maye
- Fernando Mendoza
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba
A’ja Wilson & Mikaela Shiffrin
- Both want to win Best Athlete – Women’s Sports for the second time.
- Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) was the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP, and scoring title in one season (2025).
- Shiffrin (skier) was the first athlete ever to get 100 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup wins.
Myles Garrett
- Plays for the Los Angeles Rams (football).
- Nominated for Best NFL Player and Best Record-Breaking Performance.
- He set a record with 23 sacks in 2025 (a "sack" is tackling the other team’s thrower).
- If he wins, he’d be the only defensive player to ever win Best NFL Player.
Texas Softball (Longhorns)
- Won their second straight Women’s College World Series in June.
- Beat Texas Tech two years in a row.
- Only the second program ever to win their first two titles back-to-back.
- Now they want their first team ESPY win.
Full List: Click here for all nominees and categories.
Note: The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ESPN and ABC News.
Summary
The 2026 ESPY Awards are a big sports celebration on July 15 at 8 p.m. ET in New York City. You can watch live on ABC or ESPN+, or later on Hulu, Disney+, and more. Funny man Marcello Hernández hosts for the first time. Stars like Brunson, Ohtani, and Wilson are nominated, and you can see the full list online. It’s a night to cheer for the best in sports!
FAQ
1. What does ESPY stand for?
ESPY means "Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly" — it’s just the name of the sports awards show.
2. Can I watch the ESPYS for free?
You can watch on regular TV with ABC using an antenna, or through the ESPN app if you already pay for a TV/internet plan that includes it. Some services like Hulu need a subscription.
3. Why did Stephen Curry get an award before the show?
He received the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for helping people through his family’s "Eat Learn Play" foundation, not for playing basketball that night.
4. What is a "sack" in football?
It’s when a defensive player tackles the opposing team’s passer (like the quarterback) behind the line of scrimmage before they can throw the ball.
5. Is this the first time the ESPYS are in New York?
No! They were last in New York in 2021, but this year they returned after being in Los Angeles.
