Country United States First awarded 1993 Ceremony date 13 July 2016 | Hosted by John Cena Official website espn.go.com/espys/ Host John Cena | |
Awarded for Excellence in sports performance and achievements Winners Zaevion Dobson, Zaevion Dobson, Courage Award, Courage Award, LeBron James, LeBron James, Best Male Athlete, Best Male Athlete, Conor McGregor, Conor McGregor, Best Fighter, Best Fighter, Breanna Stewart, Breanna Stewart, Best Female Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Best Moment, Best Moment, Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Rodgers, Best Play, Best Play, Jake Arrieta, Jake Arrieta, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Eric Berry, Eric Berry, Best Comeback Athlete, Best Comeback Athlete, Craig Sager, Craig Sager, Award for Perseverance, Award for Perseverance, LeBron James, LeBron James, Best Championship Performance, Best Championship Performance, LeBron James, LeBron James, Best NBA Player, Best NBA Player, Holly Holm, Holly Holm, Best Upset, Best Upset, Kobe Bryant, Kobe Bryant, Icon Award, Icon Award, Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning, Icon Award, Icon Award, Abby Wambach, Abby Wambach, Icon Award, Icon Award, Sidney Crosby, Sidney Crosby, Best NHL Player, Best NHL Player, Stephen Curry, Stephen Curry, Best Record-Breaking Performance, Best Record-Breaking Performance, Golden State Warriors, Golden State Warriors, Best Game, Best Game, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Best Game, Best Game, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Best International Athlete, Best International Athlete, Caitlyn Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Courage Award, Courage Award, Stephen Curry, Stephen Curry, Best Male Athlete, Best Male Athlete, Ronda Rousey, Ronda Rousey, Best Fighter, Best Fighter, Ronda Rousey, Ronda Rousey, Best Female Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Lauren Hill, Lauren Hill, Best Moment, Best Moment, Odell Beckham Jr, Odell Beckham Jr, Best Play, Best Play, Mo'ne Davis, Mo'ne Davis, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Rob Gronkowski, Rob Gronkowski, Best Comeback Athlete, Best Comeback Athlete, Devon Still, Devon Still, Award for Perseverance, Award for Perseverance, Leah Still, Leah Still, Award for Perseverance, Award for Perseverance, LeBron James, LeBron James, Best Championship Performance, Best Championship Performance, Stephen Curry, Stephen Curry, Best NBA Player, Best NBA Player, Ole Miss Rebels football, Ole Miss Rebels football, Best Upset, Best Upset, Derek Jeter, Derek Jeter, Icon Award, Icon Award, Jonathan Toews, Jonathan Toews, Best NHL Player, Best NHL Player, Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning, Best Record-Breaking Performance, Best Record-Breaking Performance, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Best Game, Best Game, New England Patriots, New England Patriots, Best Game, Best Game, Lionel Messi, Lionel Messi, Best International Athlete, Best International Athlete, Serena Williams, Serena Williams, Best Female Tennis Player, Best Female Tennis Player, Michael Sam, Michael Sam, Courage Award, Courage Award, Kevin Durant, Kevin Durant, Best Male Athlete, Best Male Athlete, Floyd Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather, Best Fighter, Best Fighter, Ronda Rousey, Ronda Rousey, Best Female Athlete, Best Female Athlete, United States men's national soccer team, United States men's national soccer team, Best Moment, Best Moment, Chris Davis, Chris Davis, Best Play, Best Play, Richard Sherman, Richard Sherman, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Russell Westbrook, Russell Westbrook, Best Comeback Athlete, Best Comeback Athlete, Stuart Scott, Stuart Scott, Award for Perseverance, Award for Perseverance, Kawhi Leonard, Kawhi Leonard, Best Championship Performance, Best Championship Performance, Kevin Durant, Kevin Durant, Best NBA Player, Best NBA Player, Mercer Bears men's basketball, Mercer Bears men's basketball, Best Upset, Best Upset, Sidney Crosby, Sidney Crosby, Best NHL Player, Best NHL Player, Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning, Best Record-Breaking Performance, Best Record-Breaking Performance, Auburn Tigers football, Auburn Tigers football, Best Game, Best Game, Alabama Crimson Tide football, Alabama Crimson Tide football, Best Game, Best Game, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Best International Athlete, Best International Athlete, Maria Sharapova, Maria Sharapova, Best Female Tennis Player, Best Female Tennis Player, Doug McDermott, Doug McDermott, Best Male College Athlete, Best Male College Athlete, Nyjah Huston, Nyjah Huston, Best Male Action Sports Athlete, Best Male Action Sports Athlete, Robin Roberts, Robin Roberts, Courage Award, Courage Award, LeBron James, LeBron James, Best Male Athlete, Best Male Athlete, Floyd Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather, Best Fighter, Best Fighter, Serena Williams, Serena Williams, Best Female Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Jack Hoffman, Jack Hoffman, Best Moment, Best Moment, Jadeveon Clowney, Jadeveon Clowney, Best Play, Best Play, Colin Kaepernick, Colin Kaepernick, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Adrian Peterson, Adrian Peterson, Best Comeback Athlete, Best Comeback Athlete, Team Hoyt, Team Hoyt, Award for Perseverance, Award for Perseverance, LeBron James, LeBron James, Best Championship Performance, Best Championship Performance, LeBron James, LeBron James, Best NBA Player, Best NBA Player, Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men's basketball, Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men's basketball, Best Upset, Best Upset, Sidney Crosby, Sidney Crosby, Best NHL Player, Best NHL Player, Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps, Best Record-Breaking Performance, Best Record-Breaking Performance, Miami Heat, Miami Heat, Best Game, Best Game, San Antonio Spurs, San Antonio Spurs, Best Game, Best Game, Usain Bolt, Usain Bolt, Best International Athlete, Best International Athlete, Serena Williams, Serena Williams, Best Female Tennis Player, Best Female Tennis Player, Johnny Manziel, Johnny Manziel, Best Male College Athlete, Best Male College Athlete, Nyjah Huston, Nyjah Huston, Best Male Action Sports Athlete, Best Male Action Sports Athlete, Pat Summitt, Pat Summitt, Courage Award, Courage Award, LeBron James, LeBron James, Best Male Athlete, Best Male Athlete, Floyd Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather, Best Fighter, Best Fighter, Brittney Griner, Brittney Griner, Best Female Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow, Best Moment, Best Moment, Christian Watford, Christian Watford, Best Play, Best Play, Jeremy Lin, Jeremy Lin, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Matthew Stafford, Matthew Stafford, Best Comeback Athlete, Best Comeback Athlete, Eric LeGrand, Eric LeGrand, Award for Perseverance, Award for Perseverance, LeBron James, LeBron James, Best Championship Performance, Best Championship Performance, LeBron James, LeBron James, Best NBA Player, Best NBA Player, Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Best Upset, Best Upset, Jonathan Quick, Jonathan Quick, Best NHL Player, Best NHL Player, Drew Brees, Drew Brees, Best Record-Breaking Performance, Best Record-Breaking Performance, San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco 49ers, Best Game, Best Game, New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Saints, Best Game, Best Game, Lionel Messi, Lionel Messi, Best International Athlete, Best International Athlete, Maria Sharapova, Maria Sharapova, Best Female Tennis Player, Best Female Tennis Player, Robert Griffin III, Robert Griffin III, Best Male College Athlete, Best Male College Athlete, Shaun White, Shaun White, Best Male Action Sports Athlete, Best Male Action Sports Athlete |
An ESPY Award (short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award) is an accolade currently presented by the American broadcast television network ABC, and previously ESPN, to recognize individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony. The first ESPYs were awarded in 1993. Because of the ceremony's rescheduling prior to the 2002 iteration thereof, awards presented in 2002 were for achievement and performances during the seventeen-plus previous months. As the similarly styled Grammy (for music), Emmy (for television), Academy Award (for film), and Tony (for theatre), the ESPYs are hosted by a contemporary celebrity; the style, though, is more relaxed, light, and self-referential than that of many other awards shows, with comedic sketches usually included.
Contents
- Charitable role
- Design
- Timing
- Location
- Hosts
- Awards
- Cross cutter categories
- Individual categories
- Sponsored categories
- References

From their inception to 2004, ESPY Award winners were chosen only through voting by fans. Since 2004, sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives, and sportspersons, collectively experts; or ESPN personalities also vote. Award winners have been selected thereafter exclusively through online fan balloting conducted from amongst candidates selected by the ESPY Select Nominating Committee.

Charitable role

A portion of the proceeds from sales of tickets to the event devolves on the V Foundation, a charity established by collegiate basketball coach and television commentator Jim Valvano to promote cancer research. Valvano announced the creation of the charitable foundation during his acceptance of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award during the inaugural ESPY telecast on March 3, 1993, fifty-five days before Valvano's death from metastatic adenocarcinoma.
Design
The ESPY Award statuette was designed and created by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan.
Timing

Between 1993 and 2001, the ceremony was held each year in either February or March and was broadcast recorded on ESPN.

Since 2002, the ceremony has been conducted on the Wednesday in July following the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game; as it marks the only day of the year that none of the major North American professional leagues or college sports programs have games scheduled for that day—the National Basketball Association, National Football League, and National Hockey League are not in-season (though the NBA does have its exhibition NBA Summer League going on and NFL teams are getting ready for training camp), colleges are in recess for the summer, and MLB does not contest games on the day following its all-star game—major sports figures are available to attend. The show is aired on the subsequent Sunday four days later, although the results are announced on ESPN.com and thereafter across media outlets immediately after taping is complete. For the first time since 2003 the ESPY Awards were televised live on ESPN, July 14, 2010. In 2015 the ESPY Awards will come to network television for the first time, as ABC will air the awards. ABC will do so again in 2016.
Location

The first seven editions of the ESPYs were held in New York City—in 1993 and 1994 at Madison Square Garden and from 1995 through 1999, at Radio City Music Hall. The awards relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, for two years beginning in 2000, and ultimately settled at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. In 2006, it was announced that the awards would move in 2008 to the Microsoft Theater (formerly the Nokia Theatre), to be situated as the West Coast headquarters of ESPN at LA Live, adjacent to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Hosts
The ceremonies have been hosted variously by comedians, television and film actors, and sportspeople. American film actor Samuel L. Jackson is the only individual to have hosted four times (in 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2009); American comedian Dennis Miller, American film actor and singer Jamie Foxx, and actor and comedian Seth Meyers are the only others to have hosted the awards ceremonies more than once.
Awards
American professional golfer Tiger Woods is the most-honored ESPY recipient, having received 21 awards.
Cross-cutter categories
Cross-cutter awards are those for which the eligibility is not confined to those sportspersons participating in, or those events occurring in, any single or specific sport.
Individual categories
Individual awards are those for which eligibility is limited to those partaking of a single individual or team sport or specific sport category.
Sponsored categories
Sponsored awards are those otherwise constituted as cross-cutter awards the titles and eligibility criteria of which reflect corporate sponsorship.
Cross-cutter categories
Cross-cutter awards are those the eligibility for which is not confined to those sportspersons participating in, or those events occurring in, any single or specific sport.
Individual categories
Individual awards are those for which eligibility is limited to those partaking of a single individual or team sport or specific sport category.
Sponsored categories
Sponsored awards are those otherwise constituted as cross-cutter awards the titles and eligibility criteria of which reflect corporate sponsorship.