Marcello Hernández to Host the 2026 ESPYS

Marcello Hernández is taking over the ESPYS.

The “Saturday Night Live” star is bringing the laughs to the annual sports awards show after officially being named the host of the 2026 ESPYS.

“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,” said Hernández in a press release. “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.”

The 2026 ESPYS, presented by Capital One, will take place on Wednesday, July 15, and air live at 8 p.m. on ABC. The ceremony will be held from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Previous hosts include Jimmy Kimmel, John Cena, LeBron James, Serena Williams, Shane Gillis and many others. The ESPYS honor the major sports achievements of the past year. The show also celebrates unforgettable moments and recognizes notable athletes and sports figures who dominated during their seasons.

Hernández’s hosting gig comes after he performed his biggest show in Spanish during the Netflix Is A Joke festival. During the event, which was held on Mother’s Day, the comedian took a moment to honor his most loyal supporter: his mom Isabel Cancela.

“God bless all the moms out there tonight who have cared for their kids, made sacrifices,” he said in Spanish, with his mom by his side. “Today, we celebrate you.”

“God gave me a mom that worked every day for me and today I thank her and everyone who is here,” he continued.

Hernández previously shared during a January appearance on TODAY that his mom is his muse, crediting her for a lot of his material. He added that his Netflix standup, “Marcello Hernández: American Boy,” was a way for him to give her much-deserved flowers.