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.
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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.
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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
Intocable will be saluted next week with a prime piece of real estate — a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Formed in the border town of Zapata, Texas, in the early 1990s, Intocable revolutionized Latin music, blending Tejano, Norteño, pop, rock, and cumbia “into a groundbreaking sound that has inspired generations,” reads a statement announcing their latest award. “Their influence is unmatched.”
The Latin music legends will receive the 2,852nd star during a ceremony next Thursday, July 16, in the category of “Recording.” Jessica Maldonado will emcee the ceremony, with Edgar Barrera and Nir Serrousi on hand as special guests.
The group has long ranked among regional Mexican music’s most durable hitmakers, with 15 No. 1s on Billboard’s Top Regional Mexican Albums chart and 21 No. 1s on Regional Mexican Airplay, sold an estimated 55 million albums and collected multiple Grammys, Latin Grammys, Billboard awards, and lifetime achievement awards.
“For more than three decades, Intocable has helped shape the sound and global reach of regional Mexican music through their artistry, authenticity, and enduring connection with audiences,” remarks Ana Martinez, producer, Hollywood Walk of Fame. “The Hollywood Walk of Fame is proud to recognize their extraordinary contributions to the recording industry with this well- deserved honor.”
Outside of music, the group received a Proclamation for their enduring contributions to music and cultural impact from the Governor’s Office and the House of Representatives in Texas, and were named “Emissary of the Muses” by the city of San Antonio, a title previously awarded to the likes of Bon Jovi, Journey, and Placido Domingo.
The star is forged as Intocable continues its Cultura Tour 2026, which visits 24 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Separately, the Tejano legends last month partnered with Primary Wave Music in a deal covering the band’s catalog as well as its name, image and likeness rights.
Intocable’s star is dedicated at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard.
Hosted by Billboard cover star Druski and anchored by star-studded tributes to Ms. Lauryn Hill and the late D’Angelo, the 2026 BET Awards absolutely rocked Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre on Sunday night (June 28).
A wide range of performers lit up the night, including R&B sensations (Kehlani, Tems, kwn), hip-hop superstars (Cardi B, Don Toliver, Baby Keem, T.I.), and British powerhouse RAYE.
Lauryn Hill, who was honored with the Living Legend Icon Award, received a sprawling tribute comprised of some of contemporary music’s biggest stars and her own musician children, including Selah, YG and Zion Marley, who provided a strong reggae backbone for the whole affair. The War and Treaty, which includes Sister Act 2 actress Tanya Trotter, kicked off the tribute with a rousing performance of “Joyful, Joyful,” threading together the gospel and thespian throughlines that ground much of Ms. Hill’s oeuvre. Doja Cat and Nas delivered a cross-generational rendition of “If I Ruled the World,” Lizzo and Rapsody joined forces for the classic “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and Common and Queen Latifah rocked the theater with “Lost Ones.”
D’Angelo also received a terrific tribute. The Vanguard, his illustrious backing band, reunited to support a lineup of stellar vocalists, including RAYE, George Clinton, Ari Lennox, Isaiah Sharley, BJ the Chicago Kid and Durnad Bernarr, who stole the show with a killer rendition of “S—t, Damn, Motherf—er.”
The night’s most-nominated artist, Cardi B (six), took home a new best female hip-hop artist trophy, marking her third win in the category. Teyana Taylor and Clipse swept the ceremony with three wins each. The One Battle After Another star won best actress, video director of the year, and the newly-established fashion vanguard award, in addition to her honorary Icon of the Year Award, while the Virginia-hailing brother duo took home best group, best collaboration (for their Kendrick Lamar-assisted “Chains & Whips”) and album of the year (Let God Sort Em Out). Pusha T and Malice might not have been in attendance, but Taylor picked up her trophies from none other than Janet Jackson.
Another music industry titan was honored with a special award: culture-shaping record executive Sylvia Rhone, who received the Ultimate Icon Award, presented by Kelly Rowland, for her indelible impact on contemporary Black music and the music industry at large.
Outside of music, Sinners won best movie, Michael B. Jackson picked up best actor and New York Knicks 2026 NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson was named sportsman of the year.
Viewers at home were treated to a (surprisingly and relatively) succinct show, but those cameras didn’t tell the full story. Here are the seven best 2026 BET Awards Moments you may not have seen on television.