Full Breakdown
2026 ESPYs Nominees Unveiled: Fan Voting Opens for ESPN’s Premier Sports Awards
6/26/2026, 12:02:25 PM
Nominee Announcement and Ceremony Overview
ESPN released the full slate of nominees for the 2026 ESPYs Presented by Capital One, with fan voting now open through July 15. The ceremony will be hosted by Marcello Hernández and broadcast live from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) on ABC. The event will also stream on the ESPN App and will be available the following day on Disney+, Hulu, the ESPN App, and ABC Video on Demand.
Key Nominees and New Award Categories
Top contenders for Best Athlete – Men’s Sports include New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, soccer star Lionel Messi, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani, and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Ohtani appears in three categories—Best Athlete, Best Single-Game Performance, and Best MLB Player—after securing a fifth straight Best MLB Player award. Brunson also vies for Best Championship Performance, while the Knicks are nominated for Best Team. In Best Athlete – Women’s Sports, Hilary Knight, golfer Nelly Korda, skier Mikaela Shiffrin, and A’ja Wilson compete; Wilson seeks a second win after a historic 2025 season that earned her the regular-season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP, and scoring title. Myles Garrett is nominated for Best NFL Player and Best Record-Breaking Performance after breaking the NFL single-season sack record with 23 sacks in 2025. First-time nominees include Bam Adebayo, Lauren Betts, Macklin Celebrini, Hannah Hidalgo, Drake Maye, Fernando Mendoza, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. ESPN also introduced three social-exclusive categories—Best Tunnel Fit, Best Celebration, and Best Sports Card—whose nominees will be announced in the coming weeks.
Official Statements and Pillar Awards
ESPN described the 2026 ESPYs as a “star-studded ceremony” that will “celebrate major sports achievements, unforgettable moments, and elite competitors.” The network announced the addition of the three new social categories to “celebrate sports culture both on and off the field.” The three pillar awards will honor Jason Collins (posthumously, Arthur Ashe Award for Courage), Jim Abbott (Jimmy V Award for Perseverance), and Scott Ruskan (Pat Tillman Award for Service). ESPN reaffirmed its partnership with The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a collaboration that began in 1993.
Fan Voting Mechanics and Timeline
Fans may cast one vote per day for each award by visiting ESPYS.com on a computer, tablet, or mobile device. Voting opened Thursday, June 25 at 12 p.m. ET. Most sources list the overall deadline as July 15 at 12 p.m. ET, but a separate schedule indicates that voting for Best NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB Player categories closes on July 12 at 11 p.m. ET. Votes are accepted worldwide, and winners will be announced during the live broadcast, with some categories revealed earlier.
Significance of the Return to New York and Expanded Engagement
The 2026 ESPYs mark the first New York-based ceremony in more than 25 years, moving the event from its recent venues in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The relocation highlights ESPN’s aim to spotlight the city’s historic sports culture while leveraging expanded digital voting and the new social categories to deepen fan participation and reflect contemporary sports-media trends.
Broadcast Schedule and Post-Event Availability
The live ceremony begins at 8 p.m. ET on July 15 on ABC and the ESPN App. After the broadcast, the program will be available the next day on Disney+, Hulu, the ESPN App, and ABC Video on Demand, giving viewers the opportunity to rewatch award presentations and highlighted performances.
