Saturday Night Live comedian Marcello Hernández will host the 2026 ESPY Awards ceremony [1].
The selection of Hernández marks a high-profile crossover between comedy and sports entertainment. The event's return to New York City signals a strategic shift in venue for the annual honors.
The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026 [4], with the broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT [5]. The event will take place at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City [6].
This location choice is significant because the ESPYs are returning to New York City after more than 25 years [8]. The awards honor the most outstanding achievements in sports throughout the year.
Hernández joins a long list of entertainers who have led the broadcast. The move to the David H. Koch Theater brings the ceremony back to a primary cultural hub of the U.S., a change that has not occurred in over two decades [8].
“Marcello Hernández will host the 2026 ESPY Awards ceremony”
The return of the ESPYs to New York City after more than 25 years suggests a desire to reconnect the awards with a major metropolitan sports market. By selecting a current SNL star like Hernández, the production aims to blend contemporary pop culture with athletic achievement to maintain viewership across diverse demographics.
