Jalen Brunson, Messi, Shohei Ohtani Highlight 2026 ESPYs Nominations
94 athletes nominated for the 2026 ESPYs
ESPN announced the nominees for the 2026 ESPY Awards on Thursday, June 25, and the list features some of the best and most impactful athletes across men’s and women’s sports.
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is nominated in two categories this year, while Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani is nominated in three. Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson and soccer GOAT Lionel Messi are each nominated in two categories.
Other notable nominees are Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Cameron Boozer, Napheesa Collier, Fernando Mendoza, and Megan Grant.
Athletes were nominated in 22 categories, including Best Athlete, Men’s Sports; Best Athlete, Women’s Sports; Best Championship Performance; Best Play; Best Team; and Best Single-Game Performance. There are also several sport-specific awards.
New this year at the ESPYs are three social-only awards: Best Tunnel Fit, Best Celebration, and Best Sports Card. The nominees for those categories will be announced at a later date.
Check out the full list of ESPY nominees on ESPN’s website.
SNL star to host the awards show
Marcello Hernández is one of the stars of “Saturday Night Live.” His hilarious sketches include playing a dance instructor opposite Ariana Grande, a suave man named Domingo, and the clueless Movie Guy on Weekend Update. He made history by becoming the first Gen Z cast member of “SNL.”
“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 a statement. “It is an honor, and frankly feels crazy to be hosting the ESPYS this year in New York. I’m sure the energy is going to be great.”
The addition of Hernández as host signals a desire for ESPN to attract a younger audience to the ESPYs.
How to watch the 2026 ESPY Awards
The ESPYs will air live on ABC on Wednesday, July 15, at 8:00 p.m. ET. It’ll be available to stream on Disney+, Hulu, and the ESPN app the following day.
The show will be broadcast from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. This year marks the return to NYC for the ESPYs, which have been held in Los Angeles for more than 20 years.
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