Big‑Name Sports Stars Shine at 2026 ESPYs

The 2026 ESPYs will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at the David H. Koch Theater in New York’s Lincoln Center and will be broadcast live on ABC while also streaming on ESPN+. The event is scheduled for 8 p. m. Eastern time, which translates to 5 p. m. Pacific. Comedian and “Saturday Night Live” performer Marcello Hernandez will take the stage as host, bringing a mix of humor and energy to the ceremony. His presence is expected to set a lively tone for the night. Athletes from across the sports spectrum are slated to attend. In football, the Rams’ edge rusher Myles Garrett, the Browns’ quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and the Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza will be there before heading back to their teams for training camp. Basketball fans can look forward to the Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, and Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, who recently helped his team win a championship after more than half a century. Gymnast Simone Biles, track star Allyson Felix, and skier Lindsey Vonn—who suffered a serious injury at the Winter Olympics—will also be in attendance, adding an Olympic flavor to the event.

The ceremony will honor former NBA player Jason Collins with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Collins, who broke ground as the first openly gay active player in America’s major sports leagues, passed away last year at age 47 after battling brain cancer. His legacy will be celebrated posthumously. Musical performances are set to keep the crowd engaged, featuring rappers Ghostface Killah and Slick Rick, hip‑hop group De La Soul, and the quirky Savannah Bananas. These acts promise a blend of classic hip‑hop vibes and unique entertainment.

Actions