Full Breakdown
ESPY Awards Return to New York, Celebrating Top Athletes on July 15, 2026
7/17/2026, 6:15:03 AM
Return to New York: ESPYs 2026 Overview
The 34th annual ESPY Awards were held on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the David H. Koch Theater in New York’s Lincoln Center. After more than two decades in Los Angeles, the ceremony moved back to New York, marking a notable venue shift for the sports-media event. Comedian Marcello Hernández served as host, becoming the first Latino to lead the show in 25 years.
Notable Winners and Speeches
The New York Knicks received the Best Team award, with center-forward Karl-Anthony Towns praising “the love of each other and this team” and guard Jose Alvarado adding, “We’ve got the best fans in the world.” Jalen Brunson captured both Best Athlete – Men’s Sports and Best Championship Performance, describing the season as “a hell of a run.” Teammate OG Anunoby earned Best Play for his decisive tip-in in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Figure-skating Olympian Alysa Liu was named Best Breakthrough Athlete, reflecting her rapid rise after winning Olympic gold. Simone Biles presented the Best Team award to the Knicks, and Robin Roberts delivered the Arthur Ashe Courage Award on behalf of the late Jason Collins, with his brother Jarron Collins accepting.
Official Context and Host Milestone
ESPN’s announcement highlighted the strategic return to New York as a “celebration of sport in the city where the awards were founded.” The network also noted Hernández’s hosting role as a historic moment for Latino representation on a major sports-award stage.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I hope this trophy, especially here in New York, getting this trophy shows the word love. The love of each other and this team is what got us through the humps in December when we were not playing our best basketball. The love of the fans is what got us back [when we were] down 29 at home,” — Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks center-forward
- “I'm at a loss of words. It has been a hell of a run to say the least,” — Jalen Brunson, Knicks guard
- “I mean I grew up watching this award show, so full circle, crazy to be here.” — OG Anunoby, Knicks forward
- “The past six months have been really crazy, but I've been enjoying it,” — Alysa Liu, figure-skating gold medalist
- “It really does make all the difference in the world. Representation matters,” — Jarron Collins, accepting the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
