The 2026 ESPY Awards delivered plenty of memorable sports moments, but one of the biggest talking points came before the first award was even handed out. Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernández took center stage as host, becoming the first Latino to host the ESPYs in more than 25 years during the ceremony held on July 15, 2026, in New York City.
Known for his high-energy comedy and love of sports—having played soccer in college—Hernández opened the show with a fast-paced monologue that mixed self-deprecating humor, cultural pride, celebrity roasts, and heartfelt family stories. While many viewers praised his confidence and comedic timing, others felt parts of the performance were uneven or leaned too heavily into race-related humor, making it one of the most discussed moments of the night.
The ceremony itself also delivered plenty of headlines beyond the hosting duties, with the New York Knicks sweeping several major categories. To know more, read our article 2026 ESPY Awards Winners: Which Athletes Ruled the Biggest Night in Sports? Full Winners List and Major Highlights
2026 ESPY Awards Host Marcello Hernández: Official Event Details
| Detail | Information |
| Event | 2026 ESPY Awards |
| Date | July 15, 2026 |
| Location | New York City |
| Host | Marcello Hernández |
| Historic Milestone | First Latino ESPYs host in over 25 years |
| Monologue Length | Approximately 10 minutes |
Marcello Hernández Opened the ESPYs With Self-Deprecating Humor Before the Celebrity Roasts Began
Hernández wasted little time establishing his comedic style. He joked about his height, correcting the audience with, “standing 5’7… yo yo yo stop that… 5’8,” before introducing his Miami, Cuban, and Dominican roots. He also joked that he was the “first time and therefore undefeated SB host,” adding that the ESPYs are the only awards show where the nominees weren’t bullied in high school. Even Mike Tyson became part of the opening laughs with a joke about having his watch ripped off.
The comedian then shifted toward roasting several well-known sports and entertainment figures.
One of the night’s most talked-about jokes targeted last year’s ESPYs host:
“I also want to shout out last year’s host, Shane Gillis. He is watching from home like a true American—on his couch, drinking a beer while a Hispanic guy does his job.”
The camera immediately caught Kevin Hart reacting, making the moment one of the night’s standout highlights.
Away from the stage, Hernández’s personal life has also drawn fan interest, particularly the story behind how he met his partner. For more on that, read our post How Marcello Hernández Met Ana Amelia: The Charity Event Meet-Cute That Turned Into a Red Carpet Romance
Jake Paul, Bill Belichick, Tiger Woods and Hockey All Became Targets
Hernández continued with a string of jokes aimed at athletes and public figures.
Introducing Jake Paul, he said:
“It’s an honor to be here among so many incredible athletes… and Jake Paul.”
He quickly followed it with:
“Jake, that’s just a joke, OK? Don’t fight me. My dad and my stepdad are both here—they’re over 50 and I know that’s how you like ’em.”
Paul laughed on camera.
The comedian also celebrated the New York Knicks’ first championship since 1973, before tying it into a joke about Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson:
“In 1973, hockey players didn’t wear helmets, basketball had no three-point line. And in 1973, Bill Belichick was the age his girlfriend is now.”
Another memorable line congratulated Caleb Williams on appearing on the Madden cover before joking:
“Tiger Woods will be on the cover of Grand Theft Auto.”
Hernández immediately softened the joke by adding:
“I love you, Tiger. I’m a big fan, man. It was written so well.”
The monologue also featured jokes about hockey referees, including a Latino perspective on penalties and a “white sport” timeout joke, along with jokes involving the WNBA, a reality-show idea, nepotism in sports, World Cup soccer, ranch dressing, and a tribute to coaches, parents, Little League umpires, and his late uncle Pepito.
Adding another comedic layer, Will Ferrell briefly appeared to “translate” part of Hernández’s monologue into English.
Hernández’s relationship has continued to generate interest beyond the awards season, with fans curious about the couple more broadly. To learn more, check out our article Marcello Hernández’s Love Life Revealed: Inside His Relationship With Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral
Emotional Immigrant Tribute Became One of the Night’s Most Powerful Moments
Between the jokes, Hernández delivered one of the evening’s most heartfelt moments by sharing his family’s immigrant story.
He spoke about his mother, describing her journey from working as a nanny and living in an efficiency apartment while pregnant at graduation. He even asked Steph Curry to hug and kiss his mother before delivering one of the night’s most widely shared lines:
“As a child of immigrants… sports without immigrants is just cornhole.”
He also gave a heartfelt shoutout to immigrant athletes whose stories continue to shape professional sports.
World Cup soccer also made an appearance in the jokes, echoing real controversy that unfolded on the pitch just days earlier. To see the details, read our article Argentina’s Falklands Banner After Beating England: Could FIFA Punish the World Cup Finalists Before the 2026 Final?
Fan Reactions to Marcello Hernández’s 2026 ESPYs Monologue
The monologue generated mixed reactions online, although many viewers applauded Hernández’s debut as host and highlighted specific jokes as instant classics.
Among the notable reactions shared on X (formerly Twitter) were:
- “Good opening monologue… very funny!” (with video clip)
- “Marcello Hernandez absolutely killed it… Hilarious 🤣”
- “I love that Marcello Hernandez is hosting… He’s so funny.”
The hockey referee segment quickly went viral, with the “timeout for two minutes… He gon’ do it again. He didn’t learn anything” clip drawing thousands of likes and views.
The jokes about Shane Gillis and the “sports without immigrants is just cornhole” line were also widely shared, while many viewers summed up the performance by saying:
“Marcello Hernández came out swinging with the jokes… definitely got people talking.”
World Cup viral moments have also extended beyond the players themselves this year, with a family connection catching fans’ attention. To know more, read our article Who Is Gabrielle Braut Haaland? Erling Haaland’s Older Sister Goes Viral at FIFA World Cup 2026 After Fans Spot Incredible Family Resemblance
With a mix of bold celebrity roasts, cultural pride, emotional storytelling, and classic stand-up energy, Hernández’s first ESPYs hosting performance ensured that the opening monologue remained one of the ceremony’s biggest conversations long after the awards ended.
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