ESPYS 2026 Winners: See the Complete List (Live Updates)

The biggest night in sports has finally kicked off.

Athletes from across college and professional leagues traded in their uniforms and equipment for high heels and bowties as they arrived at the 2026 ESPY Awards July 15 in New York City.

Indeed, the annual ceremony—hosted by Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernández at Lincoln Center—shines a light on the best and brightest in sports. 

Take, for instance, the Best Athlete in Men’s Sports nominees: soccer legend Lionel Messi, NBA Championship-winning New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford.

And the women’s category is just as stacked, with PWHL Detroit’s Hilary Knight, Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson, skier Mikaela Shiffrin and golfer Nelly Korda competing for the award.

It’s sure to be a game-winning event since matches from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games are eligible, which means the Team USA men’s and women’s hockey teams are up for Best Play or Best Team for their respective gold-medal performances.