Voting is open for the 2026 ESPYS presented by Capital One, with the awards show set to air live on ABC on July 15 at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT. The ceremony returns to New York City and will be held at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, with comedian Marcello Hernández serving as host, according to ESPN.
NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson is a three-time nominee this year, appearing in Best Athlete — Men’s Sports, Best Championship Performance and Best NBA Player, according to ESPN. Brunson’s New York Knicks are also among the nine teams up for Best Team after rallying in Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs to capture the franchise’s first championship in 53 years.
The Best Team category also includes the United States men’s and women’s hockey teams, which earned Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games, according to ESPN. Both teams’ overtime, game-winning goals against Canada have been nominated for Best Play.
Several individual nominations highlight Olympic and professional success. Hilary Knight is listed for Best Athlete — Women’s Sports, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is nominated in the Best Championship Performance category, according to ESPN.
A’ja Wilson is seeking a second Best Athlete — Women’s Sports honor after winning the category in 2024 and also taking Best WNBA Player that year; ESPN notes Wilson became the first player in WNBA or NBA history in 2025 to combine regular-season and Finals MVP awards with Defensive Player of the Year and the scoring title in a single season. ESPN also lists Shohei Ohtani among the nominees, and the network reports that NFL player Collins will receive a posthumous ESPYS Ashe award.
