The 2026 ESPYS returned to New York City at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center, hosted by comedian Marcello Hernández. The ceremony featured music from DJ Premier and performances by hip‑hop legends Ghostface Killah, Slick Rick and De La Soul, plus an opening by the Savannah Bananas.

Honorees included the late former NBA player Jason Collins receiving the posthumous Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott honored with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, and U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan awarded the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

Before the awards, stars made fashionable statements on the red carpet. Arrivals included Simone Biles, Alysa Liu, Stephen and Ayesha Curry, Myles Garrett and Chloe Kim, Karl‑Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods, Jalen and Ali Brunson, Jayson Tatum, Russell Wilson, Damar Hamlin, Dwight Howard, Terence Crawford, Jake Paul, Kevin Hart, Cam Jordan, the CFP champion Indiana football team, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, Knicks guard Tyler Kolek, Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey and WWE star The Miz.

Athletes shared Super Bowl halftime predictions: Towns backed Vince Staples, while Bey put his money on Lil Wayne. Hamlin noted he was in upstate New York and wished he could have attended the Knicks' championship game.