The ESPY Awards return to the East Coast this Wednesday, July 15, for their 24th edition, setting up shop in New York City's Upper West Side after a stint at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. ESPN's annual celebration of sports, pop culture, and entertainment brings together a diverse mix of athletes, musicians, and actors—and this year, Latino talent takes a prominent role both onstage and behind the mic.
Marcello Hernández Takes the Hosting Reins
Saturday Night Live cast member Marcello Hernández, a Cuban-American comedian who has quickly become a fan favorite for his sharp impressions and warm stage presence, will lead the evening's programming. Hernández will guide viewers through 22 competitive categories, ten of which will be featured during the prime-time broadcast. His bilingual, bicultural sensibility makes him a natural fit for an audience that spans the Americas and the diaspora.
The musical lineup is equally eclectic: foundational hip-hop groups De La Soul and Slick Rick, alongside rapper Ghostface Killah and the Savannah Bananas—a barnstorming baseball entertainment troupe—will keep the energy high between awards. It's a mix that reflects the ESPYs' signature blend of athletic achievement and showmanship.
Presenters: A Cross-Section of Icons and Rising Stars
The presenter roster is stacked with heavy hitters from multiple worlds. Boxing legend Mike Tyson, NBA champion Jayson Tatum, tennis pioneer Billie Jean King, and producer DJ Khaled will hand out trophies. But for our audience, the standout name is Puerto Rican artist Rauw Alejandro, who brings his global reggaetón and Latin pop influence to the stage. He joins actors Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart in what promises to be a lively, unpredictable ceremony.
This year's nominees reflect the growing presence of Latino athletes in major U.S. sports. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, whose father Rick Brunson played in the NBA, is up for multiple honors after a breakout season. Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson and Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani round out the marquee nominees, but the fan-voted format ensures that every category reflects real-time audience engagement.
For context on how Latino artists are faring in other major award shows this year, check out our coverage of the BET Awards 2026, where only two Latinas took home trophies despite Latin music's global dominance.
Who's Walking the Red Carpet
The corporate red carpet—a phrase that undersells the sheer wattage of star power—will feature an unprecedented volume of top-tier athletes. Gymnast Simone Biles, basketball icons Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Karl-Anthony Towns, boxing champion Terence Crawford, and NFL stars Myles Garrett and Shedeur Sanders are all expected to attend. The presence of so many Latino and Afro-Latino athletes, from Towns (Dominican descent) to Crawford (who has Mexican heritage), underscores the ESPYs' role as a platform where the Americas' athletic excellence is on full display.
For a deeper look at how Latin American athletes are reshaping global sports, read our profile on Gilberto Mora, the Mexican defensive prodigy drawing attention from European scouts.
How to Watch the 2026 ESPY Awards
The ceremony airs live on Wednesday, July 15, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. For cord-cutters, the ESPN app will stream the broadcast in real time. If you miss the live show, on-demand replays will be available the following morning on Hulu and Disney+. That means you can catch all the highlights—including Rauw Alejandro's presentation and Hernández's hosting bits—on your own schedule.
This year's ESPYs feel particularly significant for Latino viewers. With a Cuban-American host, a Puerto Rican pop star presenter, and nominees like Jalen Brunson representing the growing influence of Latino athletes in the NBA, the ceremony reflects a broader cultural shift. It's not just about sports anymore—it's about how sports, music, and identity intersect in a country that's increasingly bilingual and bicultural.
For more on how Latin music is reshaping American award shows, see our analysis of the American Music Awards 2026, which featured Maluma and KATSEYE in Las Vegas.
Whether you're tuning in for the athletic achievements, the musical performances, or the cultural moments, the 2026 ESPY Awards promise to be a celebration that feels both global and deeply personal for Latino audiences across the hemisphere.
