What the ESPY Awards Are
The ESPY Awards are an annual sports awards show created by ESPN to honor athletic achievement, sports moments, and athletes from the previous year. The name stands for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly. The ceremony is typically held in mid-July in Los Angeles and is broadcast on ESPN and simulcast on ABC. The show features live performances, celebrity hosts, and multiple award categories covering team sports, individual sports, and extreme sports. The ESPYs are distinct from the Hall of Fame and other awards because they focus on single-year performance and viral sports moments.
The show is produced by ESPN and is part of the broader ESPN Events portfolio, which also manages college basketball and football events. The ESPY Awards are open to athletes, teams, and performances from both professional and amateur levels across all major sports leagues. The ceremony has been hosted by athletes, actors, and comedians, with recent hosts often drawn from ESPN's own roster of commentators and analysts. The event is widely covered by sports media outlets, and clips from the show often drive social media engagement and online traffic for ESPN and its partners.
How the ESPY Awards Voting and Categories Work
Voting for the ESPY Awards is conducted online by the public, with categories spanning Best Athlete, Best Team, Best Game, Best Moment, Best Breakthrough Athlete, and Best Comeback Athlete. In recent years, ESPN has expanded the number of categories to include awards for specific sports such as Best MLB Player, Best NBA Player, Best NFL Player, and Best College Athlete. The voting window typically opens in late June and closes shortly before the ceremony. Results are announced live during the broadcast, and the winners are determined entirely by fan votes rather than by a panel of journalists or coaches.
The categories are designed to reflect both traditional sports metrics and cultural moments, such as the Best Moment award, which often goes to a single play or event that generated widespread attention. The Best Championship Performance category highlights athletes from major finals and title games. ESPN partners with data providers and sports leagues to verify nominees and ensure that only eligible performances are considered. The show also includes honorary awards, such as the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which recognizes individuals whose actions transcend sports.
Recent Winners, Viewership, and Economic Impact
Recent ESPY Awards have highlighted dominant athletes and teams from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and international competitions. In recent years, winners have included star players from the NBA Finals and World Series, as well as standout performers in college football and soccer. The show has also recognized moments from Olympic Games and major international tournaments. The ESPY Awards ceremony itself draws millions of viewers, and the broadcast is one of the higher-rated sports entertainment specials on cable television. The event also drives significant online traffic to ESPN platforms, where clips, interviews, and highlights are available on demand.
The economic impact of the ESPY Awards includes advertising revenue for ESPN, sponsorship deals with major brands, and increased visibility for athletes and teams. The show serves as a marketing platform for leagues and broadcasters, with promotional spots often featuring upcoming events and programming. The ESPY Awards have also become a venue for social and philanthropic messaging, with hosts and presenters using the platform to highlight causes and organizations. The ceremony continues to evolve with changes in viewing habits, and ESPN has expanded digital coverage and social media engagement around the event. For more details on the history and format of the ESPY Awards, see the ESPN page ESPY Awards explained and for broader context on sports media economics, see the Forbes analysis The ESPY Awards and the