Marcello Hernández has been announced as the host of the 2026 ESPY Awards, which honour the biggest achievements in sports.

The ceremony will return to New York City and take place live from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, July 15, airing at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT on ABC. 

Speaking about the hosting opportunity, Hernández reflected on his early struggles in comedy and how far he has come since starting out a decade ago.

“I started doing comedy 10 years ago in Cleveland, Ohio, and I would take the train 12 hours to New York to sell comedy tickets on the street in Greenwich Village in exchange for stage time. It is an honor, and frankly feels crazy to be hosting The ESPYs this year in New York. I’m sure the energy is going to be great.”

ESPN praised the choice of host, with Craig Lazarus, ESPN vice president and ESPYs executive producer, calling Hernández “one of the most electric, young comedians today.”

“His genuine enthusiasm for sports and his ties to New York City make him a natural fit to host this year’s ESPYs. We are excited to partner with him to celebrate the best moments in sports and look forward to the fresh take he’ll bring to the show.”

The Award show will also stream on ESPN+ via the ESPN App in sync with ABC broadcasts across time zones, with next-day availability on Hulu, the ESPN App and ABC Video on Demand.