The 2026 ESPY Awards: Best dressed, top moments as ESPN celebrates past year in sports

ESPN is once again commemorating a year in sports with The ESPYS, an awards show that annually celebrates achievements, athletes and moments. The 2026 ESPYS take place on Wednesday night at New York City’s David H. Koch Theater.

Among those in attendance will be a slew of gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey players, some of whom weren’t initially invited. With the help of American rapper Flavor Flav, the squad will now be well represented in Lincoln Center, where Team USA is up for the award of “Best Team” after it took down Canada in overtime of the gold medal game, thanks to a game-tying goal from Hilary Knight and a game-winning strike from Megan Keller.

Flav, a Public Enemy legend, tapped into his network to provide additional members of the team access to this year’s ESPYS, plus helped set them up with travel, lodging and hair and makeup.

That story, in the lead-up to a night full of them, is heartwarming in itself.

There’s a lot more to come at an event that raises awareness and money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, a charity founded in 1993 by ESPN and national title-winning North Carolina State head men’s basketball coach Jim Valvano.

How to watch the ESPYS?

The 2026 ESPYS begin at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can tune in on ABC, in the ESPN App and in the ESPYS streaming hub.

Who’s hosting the ESPYS?

Comedian Marcello Hernández will host this year’s ESPYS. Hernández played soccer at John Carroll University, but many recognize him from "Saturday Night Live,” on which he recently wrapped his fourth season.

This post will be updated.