ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Athletes Shine in Sparkle at the 2026 ESPY Awards

award · 2026-07-16

The 2026 ESPY Awards took place on July 15 at Lincoln Center in New York City, showcasing remarkable appearances by athletes on the red carpet. Eileen Gu captivated attendees in a floral gown by Guo Pei, while Simone Biles, with Jonathan Owens, opted for a bold liquid gold dress. Lindsey Vonn, still recovering from injuries, wore a stunning sequined Gucci outfit. Ayesha Curry chose a corseted gown, and Karl-Anthony Towns shone in a golden ensemble. Award winners included Jalen Brunson, who garnered three honors, and Alysa Liu, recognized as Best Breakthrough Athlete, during the hosted event by Marcello Hernandez.

Key facts

  • 2026 ESPY Awards held July 15 at Lincoln Center, New York.
  • Eileen Gu wore Guo Pei spring 2026 couture gown.
  • Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens attended; Biles wore liquid gold gown.
  • Lindsey Vonn wore a sequin one-sleeved Gucci dress.
  • A'ja Wilson won Best WNBA Player for the third time in four years.
  • New York Knicks won Best Team, first NBA team since 2022.
  • Jalen Brunson won Best Male Athlete, Best Championship Performance, and Best NBA Player.
  • Chloe Kim presented Myles Garrett with Best Record-Breaking Performance award.

Entities

Artists

  • Eileen Gu
  • Simone Biles
  • Jonathan Owens
  • Ilona Maher
  • Lindsey Vonn
  • Ayesha Curry
  • Steph Curry
  • Karl-Anthony Towns
  • Jordyn Woods
  • Evan Bates
  • Madison Chock
  • Chloe Kim
  • Myles Garrett
  • Alysa Liu
  • Toni Breidinger
  • A'ja Wilson
  • Caitlin Clark
  • Jalen Brunson
  • Marcello Hernandez
  • Ali Truwit
  • Gretchen Walsh
  • Mikaela Shiffrin
  • Sunisa Lee
  • Ali Marks
  • Miles 'Deuce' McBride
  • Ana Zortea
  • Folarin Balogun
  • Damar Hamlin
  • Dion Dawkins
  • Daiyaana Muhammad
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Dwight Howard
  • Teagan Kavan
  • Will Anderson
  • Trey Murphy
  • Chiney Ogwumike
  • Jordan Clarkson

Institutions

  • ESPY Awards
  • Lincoln Center
  • Guo Pei
  • Gucci
  • Christian Siriano
  • Oscar de la Renta
  • Louis Vuitton
  • Retrofête
  • Christian Louboutin
  • New York Knicks
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • NFL
  • WNBA
  • NBA
  • Team USA
  • Getty Images
  • Vogue

Locations

  • New York City
  • New York
  • United States

Sources