ESPY Awards 2026: Brunson, Curry and Ohtani among winners at Capital One-broadcast ceremony

The 2026 ESPY Awards, presented by Capital One, were broadcast on ABC and ESPN+ on 16 July 2026. The annual ceremony honoured outstanding achievements in sports, recognising winners across various disciplines including basketball, baseball, American football, and figure skating. The event continues the tradition of celebrating elite athletic performance and humanitarian contributions within the sports community.

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks received the Best Championship Performance award. In the same category of high-level achievement, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers was recognised for Best Single-Game Performance, while Myles Garrett of the Los Angeles Rams won for Best Record-Breaking Performance.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors received the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, highlighting the intersection of athletic success and social contribution. Other humanitarian recognitions included the Pat Tillman Award for Service, which went to Scott Ruskan, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer, and the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, awarded to Jim Abbott.

College athletics were also prominently featured in the night’s honours. Fernando Mendoza of Indiana football won Best College Athlete - Men's Sports, and Lauren Betts of UCLA women's basketball took the Best College Athlete - Women's Sports title.

The ceremony also acknowledged emerging talent and youth leadership. Alysa Liu of U.S. Figure Skating won Best Breakthrough Athlete, while Maddie Dimaria and Grady Emerson were named Gatorade Players of the Year. Kelis Armstrong, Julia Howe, and Samuel Phillips received the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award. A'ja Wilson was recognised among the winners, though the specific award category for her recognition was not detailed in the source text.