The 2026 ESPYS celebrated the biggest moments from the past year in sports for the event's return to New York City.
Hosted by comedian and actor Marcello Hernández, this year's ceremony took place at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. Along with the Savannah Bananas opening the show, the 2026 ESPYS featured music from DJ Premier and performances by New York hip-hop legends Ghostface Killah, Slick Rick and De La Soul as athletes and celebrities gathered to celebrate the year's biggest moments in sports.
Honorees for the 2026 ESPYS included former NBA player Jason Collins with the posthumous Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance and U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan with the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
But before the first award was handed out, stars made their statements on the red carpet.
Here are some of the night's highlights, including the most fashionable arrivals.
The ESPYS top moments
Fat Joe puts a bow on the ESPYS
.@FatJoe closes out The ESPYS with "All The Way Up" 🤩 pic.twitter.com/eXszd1n6GI
— ESPN (@espn) July 16, 2026
De La Soul puts on a show
.@WeAreDeLaSoul performs at The 2026 ESPYS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/82X8vVafEq
— ESPN (@espn) July 16, 2026
Garrett receives his award from Kim
OG makes the microphone work
A special message from Jim Abbott
"To here to be included, to be in this room means the world to me. To be included." 🥹
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 16, 2026
Jim Abbott accepts the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance 💙
➡️ https://t.co/t5yq9pzh8X pic.twitter.com/XkfGoNA603
Ghostface Killah gets the crowd going
Ghostface Killah performed "Cherchez LaGhost" at the ESPYS Awards: pic.twitter.com/oYAb21OCIT
— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) July 16, 2026
Slick Rick takes the ESPYS stage
.@therulernyc takes the stage at The ESPYS 🤩 pic.twitter.com/oJofj3OIwL
— ESPN (@espn) July 16, 2026
A lesson on flopping
Flopping 101 with @marcellohdz 😂 pic.twitter.com/yEAt4KnMQl
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 16, 2026
Savannah Bananas open the show
The Savannah Bananas open up The 2026 ESPYS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WDRh2g7e0L
— ESPN (@espn) July 16, 2026
Fits on the red carpet
Simone Biles
Alysa Liu
Stephen and Ayesha Curry
Myles Garrett and Chloe Kim
Suni Lee
Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods
Karl-Anthony Towns has great taste in music, but his common sense is even greater. Vince Staples was the headliner for the block party on the L.A.-based show "Insecure." Towns believes that reality will come to life for the Super Bowl halftime show. -- Kalan Hooks
Jalen and Ali Brunson
Jayson Tatum
Celtics star Jayson Tatum arrived to the red carpet in a green outfit pic.twitter.com/nEplJYidCV
— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) July 15, 2026
Bam Adebayo shares Super Bowl performer pick
Bam Adebayo's mind was swirling when it came to music. But for the Super Bowl halftime show, only one answer came to mind: Hov. He also said he wishes he could've been at all three nights of Jay-Z's recent Yankee Stadium tour. -- Kalan Hooks
Russell Wilson
Damar Hamlin
Damar Hamlin is in upstate New York. Not New York City exactly, but he knows the city has been booming. He said he wishes he could've gone to the Knicks' championship-clinching game. -- Kalan Hooks
Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard is here at the ESPYS👀 pic.twitter.com/qEsf1Ofi2o
— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) July 15, 2026
Terence Crawford
Terence Crawford popped out at the ESPYS: pic.twitter.com/v27dhN8ueN
— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) July 15, 2026
Jake Paul
Kevin Hart
Jack Hughes
What is hockey star Jack Hughes listening to before a big game? His brother Quinn said Jack controls the aux in the locker room. His go-to? The Goo Goo Dolls. Clearly this is why they won Olympic gold. -- Tory Cabrera
Cam Jordan
Cam Jordan has that stuff on tonight👀 pic.twitter.com/ALgtSr8Md9
— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) July 15, 2026
Indiana football
Fernando Mendoza was the top pick of the 2026 NFL draft, but he's also a hoops fan. Out of everything that popped off in New York City this summer, the Knicks' championship run is what spoke to him most. -- Kalan Hooks
The CFP national champions are here👀 pic.twitter.com/ZsA26XAzL6
— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) July 15, 2026
Jimmy Pitaro
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro has arrived at the #ESPYS pic.twitter.com/DuB4SICcw8
— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) July 15, 2026
Kristin Juszczyk on her dream athlete to dress and more
Kristin Juszczyk's dream athlete to dress? LeBron James (actually, the whole James family) and Paige Bueckers.
If you're looking for a good hang, Mac Jones is your guy. Juszczyk said he's the most fun on the 49ers. "He's the vibe king. Yes, he is laughing 24/7. ... He doesn't stop moving. He just is so wiggly. You know those things that are outside of the car dealerships? It's a little like that." -- Tory Cabrera
Peloton's Robin Arzon on the ESPYS being in New York
Peloton instructor Robin Arzon, a lifelong Knicks fan, had to teach a class during the Knicks championship parade. But she did get to attend Night 3 of Jay-Z's tour at Yankee Stadium. "Honestly, it was the summer of outside, and the vibes are so good, and it feels appropriate that the ESPYS are in New York this year." -- Tory Cabrera
Tyler Kolek
New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek has arrived to the red carpet at the ESPYS: pic.twitter.com/plqnLqN2E4
— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) July 15, 2026
Saddiq Bey
New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey is keeping it realistic for the upcoming Super Bowl. He called out Lil Wayne as a rapper who hasn't yet performed at the halftime show. He has his money on Weezy. -- Kalan Hooks
The Miz
The Miz is giving the cameras what they want pic.twitter.com/eDCp3wQUnH
— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) July 15, 2026
