ESPY Awards

ESPY Awards
Current: 2026 ESPY Awards
Awarded forExcellence in sports performance and achievements
CountryUnited States
First award1993
Websitewww.espn.com/espys/
Television/radio coverage
Networks
ESPN (1993–2014; 2020)
ABC (2015–2019; 2021–present)

The ESPY Awards (short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, and often referred to as the ESPYs) is an annual American awards show produced by ESPN since 1993, recognizing individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony. From 2015 to 2019, and since 2021, the ceremony has aired live on sister broadcast television network ABC, while ESPN continues to air simulcasts of the awards and reruns. Because of the ceremony's rescheduling prior to the 2002 event, awards presented in 2002 were for achievement and performances during the seventeen previous months. As the similarly styled Grammy (for music), Emmy (for television), Academy Awards (for film), and Tony Awards (for theater), the ESPYs are hosted by a contemporary celebrity; the style is lighter, more relaxed and self-referential than several other awards shows, with comedic sketches usually included.

Charitable role

A portion of the proceeds from sales of tickets to the event goes to the V Foundation, a charity established by collegiate basketball coach and television commentator Jim Valvano to promote cancer research. Valvano announced the creation of the charitable foundation during his acceptance of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award during the inaugural ESPY telecast on March 3, 1993, 55 days before Valvano's death from metastatic adenocarcinoma.

Design

The ESPY Award statuette was designed and created by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan. The statuette consists of a silver sphere, with the word "ESPY" engraved on it, mounted on a silver pedestal.[citation needed]

Ceremonies

Timing

Between 1993 and 2001, the ceremony was held each year in either February or March and was broadcast recorded on ESPN.

Between 2002 and 2019, from 2022 to 2023, and since 2025, the ceremony has been held on the second or third Wednesday of July, one day after the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game, as it marks the only day of the year on which none of the major North American professional leagues nor college sports programs have games scheduled. The National Basketball Association, National Football League, and National Hockey League are not in-season, although the NBA's post-draft training camp NBA Summer League occurs and NFL teams prepare for training camp, colleges are on summer vacation, and MLB does not contest games on the day following its all-star game. Therefore, major sports figures except for those in the WNBA, which is in-season; cycling, which has the Tour de France; minor league baseball; and golf, where The Open Championship usually starts that evening, are available to attend. The show historically aired on the subsequent Sunday four days later, although the results were reported publicly by ESPN.com. In 2024, the ceremony was held on the second Thursday of July.

In 2010, the ceremony was aired live by ESPN for the first time since 2003. In 2015, the ESPY Awards moved to network television, airing on ESPN's corporate sister network ABC.

Location

The first seven editions of the ESPYs were held in New York City, in 1993 and 1994 at Madison Square Garden and from 1995 through 1999, at Radio City Music Hall. The awards relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, for two years beginning in 2000, and in 2002, moved to the Kodak Theater (now the Dolby Theatre) in Hollywood, California. In 2006, it was announced that the awards would move in 2008 to the Nokia Theatre (now the Peacock Theater), to be situated as the West Coast headquarters of ESPN at L.A. Live, adjacent to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The awards returned to Dolby Theatre in 2022.

In January 2026, it was reported that the ESPYs would return to New York City in order to coincide with Fanatics Fest, as part of a partnership with Michael Ratner's newly launched Fanatics Studios to produce the ceremony.

Hosts

The ceremonies have been hosted by comedians, television and film actors, and athletes. American actor Samuel L. Jackson has hosted the ceremony four times (in 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2009). Comedian Dennis Miller, actor and singer Jamie Foxx, and talk show host and comedian Seth Meyers have hosted the show twice.

Year-by-year

Date Edition Venue Host(s)
July 15, 2026 34th David H. Koch Theater, New York Marcello Hernández
July 16, 2025 33rd Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles Shane Gillis
July 11, 2024 32nd Serena Williams
July 12, 2023 31st N/a
July 20, 2022 30th Stephen Curry
July 10, 2021 29th The Rooftop at Pier 17, New York Anthony Mackie
June 21, 2020 28th Virtual show Russell Wilson, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird
July 10, 2019 27th Nokia Theatre / Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles Tracy Morgan
July 18, 2018 26th Danica Patrick
July 12, 2017 25th Peyton Manning
July 13, 2016 24th John Cena
July 15, 2015 23rd Joel McHale
July 16, 2014 22nd Drake
July 17, 2013 21st Jon Hamm
July 11, 2012 20th Rob Riggle
July 13, 2011 19th Seth Meyers
July 14, 2010 18th
July 19, 2009 17th Samuel L. Jackson
July 20, 2008 16th Justin Timberlake
July 15, 2007 15th Kodak Theater, Los Angeles LeBron James and Jimmy Kimmel
July 16, 2006 14th Lance Armstrong
July 17, 2005 13th Matthew Perry
July 18, 2004 12th Jamie Foxx
July 16, 2003 11th
July 10, 2002 10th Samuel L. Jackson
February 12, 2001 9th MGM Grand, Las Vegas
February 14, 2000 8th Jimmy Smits
February 15, 1999 7th Radio City Music Hall, New York Samuel L. Jackson
February 9, 1998 6th Norm Macdonald
February 10, 1997 5th Jeff Foxworthy
February 12, 1996 4th Tony Danza
February 13, 1995 3rd John Goodman
February 14, 1994 2nd Madison Square Garden, New York Dennis Miller
March 4, 1993 1st

Awards

American professional golfer Tiger Woods is the most-awarded individual at the ESPYs, having received 21 awards.

Extant

Cross-cutter categories

Cross-cutter awards are those for which the eligibility is not confined to those athletes participating in, or those events occurring in, any single or specific sport.

  • Arthur Ashe Courage Award, presented to the sports-related person or team, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have made the most significant or compelling humanitarian contribution in transcendence of sports in a given year (presented since 1993)
  • Best Female Athlete ESPY Award, presented to the female athlete, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding over a given year (1993)
  • Best Male Athlete ESPY Award, presented to the male athlete, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding in a given year (1993)
  • Best International Athlete ESPY Award, presented since 2006 to the professional athlete born outside the United States adjudged to be the best in a given year
  • Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award, presented to the athlete, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have made the best or most significant breakthrough in their sport in a given year (1993)
  • Best Championship Performance ESPY Award, presented to the athlete, irrespective of gender, nationality, or sport contested, adjudged to have made the best or most significant performance in a championship match, series, or tournament in their sport
  • Best Coach/Manager ESPY Award, presented to the coach or manager, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding in a given year (1993)
  • Best College Athlete, Men's Sports, presented to the male athlete, irrespective of sport played, adjudged to be the best in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, in a given year (2002)
  • Best College Athlete, Women's Sports, presented to the female athlete, irrespective of sport played, adjudged to be the best in the National Collegiate Athletic Association in a given year (2002)
  • Best Comeback Athlete ESPY Award, presented to the athlete, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have most notably returned to their sport after an illness, injury, hardship, or retirement (1993)
  • Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award, presented to the female athlete with a disability, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best in a given year (2005)
  • Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award, presented to the male athlete with a disability, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best in a given year (2005)
  • Best Game ESPY Award, presented to the single game in a North American professional or collegiate league, irrespective of sport, adjudged to be the best in a given year (2002)
  • Best Upset ESPY Award, presented to the athlete or team, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have completed the best, most impressive, or most significant upset in a given year (2004)
  • Best Moment ESPY Award, presented to the moment or series of moments occurring in a sporting event or season, irrespective of sport contested or gender of participating athlete, adjudged to the most remarkable, compelling, or entertaining in a given year (2002)
  • Best Play ESPY Award, presented to the single play or performance, irrespective of sport contested or gender of participating athlete, adjudged to be the most remarkable, significant, or impressive in a given year (2002)
  • Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY Award, presented to the record-breaking single-play, game or season performance, irrespective of sport contested or gender of participating athlete, adjudged to be the most remarkable, significant, or impressive in a given year (2001)
  • Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance (2007)
  • Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, presented to "an athlete whose continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a measured positive impact on their community through sports" (2015)
  • Best Team ESPY Award, presented to the collegiate, professional, or national team, irrespective of sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding in a given year (1993)

Individual categories

Individual awards are those for which eligibility is limited to those partaking of a single individual or team sport or specific sport category.

Sponsored awards are those otherwise constituted as cross-cutter awards the titles and eligibility criteria of which reflect corporate sponsorship.

  • GMC Professional Grade Play ESPY Award, presented to the single play in a professional or collegiate North American sport adjudged to be the most impressive, remarkable, or notable in a given year, and to the athlete involved in (presented since 2006)

Discontinued, irregular, or superseded

Cross-cutter categories

Cross-cutter awards were those the eligibility for which is not confined to those athletes participating in, or those events occurring in, any single or specific sport.

  • Under Armour Undeniable Performance ESPY Award, presented to the single performance in a game or series in a professional or collegiate North American sports league to be the most impressive or significant in a given year, and to the athletes involved with (only awarded in 2006)
  • Alternative Athlete of the Year (presented in 2000 to Tony Hawk)
  • Best U.S. Olympic Athlete (presented in 2002 to Sarah Hughes)
  • Female USA Olympic Athlete (presented in 2001 to Marion Jones, 2005 to Team USA Softball, and 2009 to Shawn Johnson)
  • Male USA Olympic Athlete (presented in 2001 to Rulon Gardner and in 2005 and 2009 to Michael Phelps)
  • Come-from-behind Performance (presented in 2001 to Tiger Woods)
  • Game of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 1996 and 1998, not to be confused with the Best Game ESPY Award)
  • Dramatic Individual Performance of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 1997 and 1999)
  • Humanitarian of the Year (presented in 1999 to Sammy Sosa)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award (presented in 2001 to Jack Nicklaus)
  • Memorable Performance of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 2000 and 2001)
  • Most Spectacular Play (presented in 2001 to Antonio Freeman)
  • Outstanding Performance by an Athlete in Entertainment (presented between 1994 and 1996, to Charles Barkley, John Kruk, George Seifert)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Sports Personality in a Commercial (presented in 1993 to Larry Johnson)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Sports Personality in an Attempt to Break into Show Business (presented in 1993 to Shaquille O'Neal)
  • Outstanding Performance Under Pressure ESPY Award (presented between 1993 and 1999)
  • Outrageous Play of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 1993 and 1998)
  • Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 1993 and 1999)
  • NBA Play of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 1993 and 1998)

Individual categories

Individual awards were those for which eligibility is limited to those partaking of a single individual or team sport or specific sport category.

Sponsored awards were those otherwise constituted as cross-cutter awards the titles and eligibility criteria in which reflect corporate sponsorship.[original research?]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 ABC aired a rebroadcast of ESPN's coverage in 2020.

References

  1. ↑ "Sculptor commissioned to complete Joe Frazier statue has died". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. August 2, 2013. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  2. ↑ Ourand, John (January 16, 2026). "The ESPYs White Party". Puck. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  3. ↑ "The ESPYS Media Kit". ESPN Press Room. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 The Best Female and Best Male College Basketball and Best College Football Player ESPY Awards, awarded between 1993 and 2001, were merged in 2002, into the Best Female and Best Male College Athlete ESPY Awards. After the 2017 awards, the men's and women's awards were replaced by a single ESPY for Best College Athlete; starting with the 2021 awards, separate awards for men's and women's sports were reinstated, with both categories renamed.
  5. 1 2 3 Between 2002 and 2004, a single award for best athlete with a disability was presented; in 2005, the award was separated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Female and Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Awards.
  6. ↑ "Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award". ESPN.com. June 23, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  7. ↑ In 2001, the Outstanding Team ESPY Award was separated and two awards, titled the Pro Team of the Year ESPY Award and College Team of the Year ESPY Award, were presented; the two remerged in 2002.
  8. 1 2 3 In 2002 and 2003, a single award, originally known as the Best Action Athlete of the Year ESPY Award, for best action sports athletes was presented; in 2004, the award was separated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Male and Best Female Action Sports Athlete ESPY Awards.
  9. 1 2 3 Between 2007 and 2018, the award for best fighter, known as the Best Fighter ESPY Award, encompassed both boxers and mixed martial arts fighters; the Best MMA Fighter ESPY Award was established in 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 Between 1993 and 2004, and since 2009, the award for best professional golfer has been separated by gender.
  11. 1 2 3 Between 1993 and 2006, with the exception of 2005, separate ESPYs for the best male and female track athletes were presented. These were combined into a single award in 2007.
  12. ↑ "ESPN.com - ESPY 2000 - Complete list of 2000 ESPY winners". www.espn.com. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  15. 1 2 "ESPYs Moments: A Classic Look Back". ESPN.com. July 13, 2011. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
  16. ↑ "All-Time ESPY Winners". ESPN Press Room U.S. June 24, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 Both males and females were eligible for the 2000 and 2001 ceremonies, which was awarded by gender and reconstituted as the Best Female and Best Male Soccer Player ESPY Awards in 2002; the awards were merged into a single award in 2005 and 2006.
  18. ↑ Amongst those eligible for the Best Outdoor Sportsman ESPY Award were bass sport fishermen; such athletes are eligible for the Best Angler ESPY Award, which partially replaced it and was first presented in 2006.