The 2026 ESPY Awards held at Lincoln Center celebrated major sports achievements with the New York Knicks and Jalen Brunson taking center stage following the franchise's first NBA championship in 53 years. The event attracted top athletes like Steph Curry, Simone Biles, Lindsey Vonn, and Jayson Tatum, alongside key ESPN executives including new Disney chairman Josh D’Amaro in his first ESPYs appearance. The Knicks earned five awards, with Brunson winning Best NBA Player, Best Championship Performance, and Best Athlete in Men’s Sports, while OG Anunoby secured Best Play.

A prominent theme backstage was ESPN’s desire to regain broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup, a tournament for which it had been the leading U.S. broadcaster from 1994 to 2014. Former ESPN president John Skipper openly expressed frustration at having to watch the tournament on Fox and maintained that ESPN's prior coverage was superior. With FIFA yet to initiate negotiations for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, bids for these extensive media rights could reach upwards of $1 billion for 2030 alone or $3 billion if bundled with Spanish-language rights for both events.

Marcello Hernandez, a comedian from Saturday Night Live, delivered a widely praised hosting performance, solidifying ESPN’s trend of selecting professional comedians over athletes as hosts to enhance the show’s entertainment value. Shane Gillis, last year’s host, is still regarded as the funniest, but Hernandez’s opening monologue and sharp humor, including jokes about Tiger Woods and Bill Belichick, won over the crowd. Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, played a crucial role in onboarding Hernandez by personally contacting his agent.

The show also highlighted the rising popularity of personality McAfee, who connected with many high-profile attendees and presented the Pat Tillman Award for Service to U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskan. Returning to New York City for the first time in 27 years helped capitalize on the Knicks’ playoff buzz and the nearby FIFA World Cup final, creating an ideal backdrop. However, some elements like the repeated appearance of the Savannah Bananas and a gaffe from Mike Tyson regarding Shohei Ohtani drew mixed reactions. Overall, the ESPYs balanced celebratory moments with a sharp focus on sports business and broadcast dynamics.