One month after The New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA Finals, ending a 53-year championship drought for the franchise, the team and its star players took a victory lap by sweeping the 2026 ESPY Awards. The show, fittingly, was held in New York for the first time in five years, this time at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. The 2026 ESPYS aired live on the East Coast on Wednesday (July 15) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

The Knicks won the ESPY for best team; Jalen Brunson won best athlete, men’s sports; best championship performance; and best NBA player; and teammate OG Anunoby’s tip-in in the NBA finals won for best play.

Other multiple winners were A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, who won best athlete, women’s sports and best WNBA player; Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won best single-game performance and best MLB player; and Myles Garrett, who was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Los Angeles Rams on June 1. Neither Wilson nor Ohtani was present at the show.

SNL star Marcello Hernández proved to be a charismatic and effective host. He was introduced as the show’s first Latino host in 25 years. (That would be since actor Jimmy Smits hosted the 2000 show.)

The Savannah Bananas opened the show with an entertaining variety performance. Hip-hop stars De La Soul, Ghostface Killah and Slick Rick did very abbreviated sets. The ESPYS spends its time on special awards and taped packages, often with a strong emotional pull.

Trailblazing former NBA player Jason Collins was posthumously honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage; baseball legend Jim Abbott received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance; and Scott Ruskan received the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

Presenters include both sports legends (Billie Jean King and Mike Tyson) and entertainment and media figures (Kevin Hart, DJ Khaled, Tracy Morgan and Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts). Will Ferrell and mentalist Oz Pearlman provided entertainment.

Here’s the complete list of 2026 ESPYS nominations, with winners marked.

Best athlete, men’s sports

WINNER: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami CF

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Best athlete, women’s sports

Hilary Knight, hockey

Nelly Korda, golf

Mikaela Shiffrin, ski

WINNER: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Best breakthrough athlete

Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks

WINNER: Alysa Liu, figure skating

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Football

Best record-breaking performance

WINNER: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns — broke the NFL single-season sack record

Megan Grant, UCLA Softball — broke the NCAA single-season softball home-run record

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, cross-country skier — first athlete to win six golds at Winter Games

Sabastian Sawe, long-distance runner — first to finish a marathon in less than two hours

Best championship performance

WINNER: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Aerin Frankel, USA Women’s Hockey

Connor Hellebuyck, USA Men’s Hockey

Teagan Kavan, Texas Longhorns Softball

Best comeback athlete

Anthony Kim, golf

Savy King, Angel City FC

WINNER: Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

Kyndal Stowers, Texas A&M Volleyball

Best play

Golden Goal for Gold! — Olympic Women’s Hockey 

Golden Goal for Gold! — Olympic Men’s Hockey

UConn stuns Duke with Braylon Mullins’ buzzer-beating 3 — NCAA Men’s March Madness 

WINNER: OG Anunoby’s Tip-In (New York Knicks) — NBA Finals

Caleb Williams’ game-tying TD vs. Rams — NFL

Best team

Las Vegas Aces, WNBA

Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB

Indiana Hoosiers, NCAA Football

Carolina Hurricanes, NHL

New York Knicks, NBA

Texas Longhorns, NCAA Softball

Seattle Seahawks, NFL

Team USA Men’s Hockey

Team USA Women’s Hockey

Best single-game performance

Tyce Armstrong, Baylor Baseball — hit three grand slams in a single game, tying a record set 50 years ago

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat — scored 83 points for the Miami Heat in a 150-129 win against the Washington Wizards, recording the second-highest single-game total in NBA history

Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame Basketball — broke the NCAA record for most steals (16) in a game

WINNER: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers — pitched six scoreless innings, struck out 10 batters and hit three home runs

Best college athlete, men’s sports

Cameron Boozer, Duke Basketball

WINNER: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Football

Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State Wrestling

Donavan Phillip, NC State Soccer

Best college athlete, women’s sports

Olivia Babcock, Pittsburgh Volleyball

WINNER: Lauren Betts, UCLA Basketball

Madison Taylor, Northwestern Lacrosse

Faith Torrez, Oklahoma Gymnastics

Best athlete with a disability

Jake Adicoff, Paralympic Nordic-Skiing

WINNER: Declan Farmer, Paralympic Hockey

Oksana Masters, Paralympic Cross-Country Skiing

Susannah Scaroni, Wheelchair Racing

Best NFL player

WINNER: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns/Los Angeles Rams

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Best MLB player

Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

WINNER: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates

Best NHL player

Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks

Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

WINNER: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Best NBA player

WINNER: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Best WNBA player

Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream

Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury

WINNER: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Best driver

Kimi Antonelli, F1

WINNER: Lando Norris, F1

Alex Palou, IndyCar

Tyler Reddick, NASCAR

Best fighter

WINNER: Terence Crawford, boxing

Gabriela Fundora, boxing

Justin Gaethje, MMA

Claressa Shields, boxing

Best soccer player

Temwa Chawinga, KC Current

Ousmane Dembélé, PSG/France

WINNER: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami CF

Alexia Putellas, Spain/Barcelona

Best golfer

Nelly Korda

Rory McIlroy

WINNER: Scottie Scheffler

Jeeno Thitikul

Best tennis player

WINNER: Carlos Alcaraz

Elena Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka

Jannik Sinner

Other Winners

Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, and his wife, Ayesha Curry

Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Jim Abbott

Pat Tillman Award for Service: Scott Ruskan, U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer

Gatorade Players of the Year: Maddie DiMaria and Grady Emerson

Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award: Kelis Armstrong, Julia Howe and Samuel Phillips

Arthur Ashe Courage Award: Jason Collins

Fcukers lead all nominees with three nods in the shortlist for the Association of Independent Music’s 2026 Independent Music Awards.

The New York-based electronic duo is nominated in the best independent album (Ö, Ninja Tune), best independent track (“L.U.C.K.Y.”) and independent breakthrough categories.

The 2026 ceremony will take place at London’s Roundhouse on Sept. 22, and will honor an array of indie musicians, labels, companies and creators across a wide variety of categories.

Six acts follow with two nominations each: Jalen Ngonda (Daptone Records), Jim Legxacy (XL Recordings), Jorja Smith (FAMM), Nova Twins (Marshall Records), Romy (XL Recordings) and Tiana Major9 (+1 Records).

Young leads all labels with five nominations across all categories, followed by XL Recordings and Ninja Tune with four apiece, and FAMM and Marshall Records each earning three nominations.

Competing for best independent album are BICEP, Blawan, Fcukers, Geese, Mitski, Nova Twins, Prostitute, Robyn Scaler and Thundercat.

More categories and nominations will be announced in the coming months, with submissions open for the publicly voted best live performer and best independent record store categories. Submissions can be entered at the Independent Music Awards website.

Gee Davy, CEO of AIM said in a statement, “We’re thrilled to share the first nominees list for the 2026 Independent Music Awards, showcasing just some of the broad spectrum of success and authenticity flowing from the U.K.’s independent music community. The array of artists and genres on display here demonstrates once again that the independent music sector is the most exciting, authentic and groundbreaking place in the industry.

“Following our 15th anniversary edition of the awards last year, we have a fresh new look and feel, reflecting the consistent evolution of the independent music sector,” Davy continued. “We look forward to sharing more new features at the ceremony at London’s Roundhouse as we celebrate the success that comes from the collective strength of our mighty community.”

At the 2025 ceremony, Fontaines D.C. won best independent album for Romance, Ezra Collective claimed best independent track for “God Gave Me Feet for Dancing” and XL Recordings took home best independent label. DJ and curator Giles Peterson was recognized with the outstanding contribution to music and Throbbing Gristle member Cosey Fanni Tutti with the innovator prize.

See the full list of nominees so far below.

Best independent track

DEBBY FRIDAY, “Bet On Me” (Sub Pop Records)
Fcukers, “L.U.C.K.Y” (Ninja Tune)
Genesis Owusu, “Stampede” (Ourness)
Jalen Ngonda, “Doctrine of Love” (Daptone Records)
Jim Legxacy, “3x” (XL Recordings)
Jorja Smith, “The Way I Love You” (FAMM)
Nova Twins, “Piranha” (Marshall Records)
Robyn, “Dopamine” (Young / Konichiwa)
Romy, “Love Who You Love” (Young)
Tiana Major9, “Desire” (+1 Records)

Best independent album

BICEP, TAKKUUK (Original Soundtrack) (Ninja Tune, EarthSonic)
Blawan, SickElixir (XL Recordings)
Fcukers, Ö (Ninja Tune)
Geese, Getting Killed (Partisan Records)
Mitski, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me (Dead Oceans)
Nova Twins, Parasites & Butterflies (Marshall Records)
Prostitute, Attempted Martyr (Mute)
Robyn, Sexistential (Young / Konichiwa)
SCALER, Endlessly (Black Acre)
Thundercat, Distracted (Brainfeeder)

Independent breakthrough

Fat Dog (Domino Recording Co.)
Fcukers (Ninja Tune)
Jalen Ngonda (Daptone Records)
Tiana Major9 (+1 Records)
Ego Ella May (Believe UK)

Best independent mixtape/EP

Bricknasty, Blacks Law (FAMM)
Jim Legxacy, black british music (2025) (XL Recordings)
Naima Bock, Live in Toulon (Sub Pop Records)
Strandz, Diaspora Dance Music (Strandz Music)
TTSSFU, Blown (Partisan Records)

Best independent remix

Overmono, “If We Ever” (High Contrast Remix) (XL Recordings)
Sherelle, Romy, “Love Who You Love”(SHERELLE’s Intelligent Dyke Music Remix) (Young)
Robyn, “Sexistential” (Arca’s Take) (Young / Konichiwa)
Jorja Smith, TS7, “The Way I Love You” (TS7 Remix) (FAMM)
House Gospel Choir and Donae’O, “You” (Donae’O Remix) (Swear Down Music)

One to Watch

Ashaine White (Marshall Records)
Alewya (LDN Records)
Lauren Auder (untitled (recs))
Mandy, Indiana (Sacred Bones Records)
Native James (Saviour Music)

The 9th annual Nashville Songwriter Awards is adding to its star power with newly-announced performances from Steve Earle, Ashley McBryde and Chris Stapleton.

The awards ceremony is set for Sept. 22 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and will honor some of the top songs and songwriters of the year. The show will also feature performances from writers and/or artists including Jacob Davis, Ray Fulcher, Ben Johnson, Blake Pendergrass, Hunter Phelps, Lydia Vaughan, Neil Medley and more.

Vince Gill will be honored with the Kris Kristofferson lifetime achievement award, Paul Williams will be honored with the NSAI President’s keystone award, while Pendergrass will be celebrated as songwriter of the year and Riley Green will be feted as songwriter-artist of the year.

Other honors to be presented during the evening include accolades for song of the year, the “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” awards and the legendary song award.

Stapleton and McBryde are both previous honorees in the “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” category, with Stapleton being honored in 2024 (“White Horse”), 2022 (“You Should Probably Leave”), 2021 (“Starting Over”), 2018 (“Broken Halos”) and 2014 (the Luke Bryan-recorded “Drink A Beer”). McBryde was honored in the “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” category in 2022 (“Never Wanted to Be That Girl”) and 2021 (“One Night Standards”).

Earle’s 1986 album Guitar Town is considered a classic, especially in the Americana genre, while his song “Copperhead Road” was named an official state song of Tennessee in 2023. In 2020, Earle was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and he was made a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2025.

Tickets for the event go on sale starting July 17 10 a.m. CT at ryman.com.

The Kelly Clarkson Show and The View were both nominated in both daytime talk categories — best daytime talk series and best daytime talk series host — for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards. Winners will be announced on Oct. 30.

Kelly Clarkson has been a double nominee in these categories for all seven seasons of her talk show, which is concluding this season. She has won four times in each category.

Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro are the nominated hosts of The View. Behar and Goldberg were among the hosts of the long-running program when the show’s hosts won in 2009. The View won best daytime talk series in 2003 and best talk show — informative in 2020.

The other nominees for best daytime talk series are Live With Kelly and Mark, hosted by Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa, which won last year; The Drew Barrymore Show, which has yet to win in the category; and two offshoots of The Today Show: 3rd Hour of Today, hosted by Craig Melvin, Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer, and Today With Jenna & Friends, the fourth hour of the venerable show, which was hosted this season by Jenna Bush Hager and a rotating series of guest co-hosts.

The other nominees for best daytime talk series host are Tamron Hall for Tamron Hall; Jennifer Hudson for The Jennifer Hudson Show; and Sherri Shepherd for Sherri. Shepherd won in the category in 2009 when she was one of the hosts of The View.

The last two winners of best daytime talk series host, Drew Barrymore (2025) and Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos (2024), weren’t nominated in that category this year.

Here are the nominees in the two talk show categories in list form:

Best Daytime Talk Series

3rd Hour of Today

The Drew Barrymore Show

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Live With Kelly and Mark

Today With Jenna & Friends

The View

Best Daytime Talk Series Host

Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, and Ana Navarro — The View

Kelly Clarkson — The Kelly Clarkson Show

Tamron Hall — Tamron Hall

Jennifer Hudson — The Jennifer Hudson Show

Sherri Shepherd — Sherri