“The 2026 ESPYS Presented by Capital One” will be hosted by comedian, actor, writer and producer Marcello Hernández.
This year marks “The ESPYS” return to New York City, where the show will air live from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT on ABC. The show will also stream on ESPN+ on the ESPN App in pattern with ABC airings across time zones and be available to stream next day on Hulu, the ESPN App and ABC Video on Demand.
“I started doing comedy 10 years ago, in Cleveland, Ohio, and I would take the train 12 hours to New York to sell comedy tickets on the street in Greenwich Village in exchange for stage time,” said Hernández. “It is an honor, and frankly feels crazy to be hosting ‘The ESPYS’ this year in New York. I’m sure the energy is going to be great.”
“Marcello is one of the most electric, young comedians today. His genuine enthusiasm for sports and his ties to New York City make him a natural fit to host this year’s ‘ESPYS,’” said Craig Lazarus, ESPN vice president and “The ESPYS” executive producer. “We are excited to partner with him to celebrate the best moments in sports and look forward to the fresh take he’ll bring to the show.”
Hernández’s role as host of “The ESPYS” comes off the heels of his debut comedy special, “Marcello Hernández: American Boy,” which premiered in January 2026 and was a Top 10 Netflix global hit. In addition to his comedic success, Hernández is an avid sports fan, playing collegiate-level soccer at John Carroll University.
In 2025, Hernández was recognized by TIME as one of the year’s Latino Leaders, named to The Hollywood Reporter’s Latin Power List, and selected as one of Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood honorees in 2024. Hernández continues to grow his popularity on “Saturday Night Live,” where he recently closed out his fourth season and is known for fan-favorite sketches, such as “Protective Mom,” “Immigrant Dad Talk Show” and the “Domingo” series, along with his regular appearances on “Weekend Update.”
Hernández joins a strong lineup of sports and entertainment icons who have previously hosted the event. Past “ESPYS” hosts include Jimmy Kimmel, John Cena, LeBron James, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, Shane Gillis, Stephen Curry, Sue Bird, Tracy Morgan and more.
“The 2026 ESPYS” marks a historic homecoming for the awards show, returning to the city where the show first began after calling both Las Vegas and Los Angeles home throughout the 2000s. Originally launched at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in 1993 and calling Radio City Music Hall home throughout the late ’90s, this return to the heart of Manhattan brings the celebration of sports back to its roots for an unforgettable night at an iconic cultural landmark.
“The ESPYS” will celebrate major sports achievements, revisit unforgettable moments, and recognize the elite competitors who dominated this season of sports. The show is co-produced by ESPN, Full Day Productions, the live production arm of Words + Pictures, and Fanatics Studios, a Fanatics and OBB company. The show is executive produced by Connor Schell, Dave Chamberlin and Jennifer Aiello for Full Day and Michael D. Ratner, Kfir Goldberg and Camille Maratchi for Fanatics Studios.
