The Worst-Dressed Attendees At The 2026 ESPY Awards

The 2026 ESPY Awards took place yesterday evening, with many of the nation's most prominent athletes showing out on the ceremony's red carpet. The attendees embraced Hollywood glamour, with accomplished sports professionals like Lindsey Vonn and Best Athlete nominee Mikaela Shiffrin donning gowns that sparkled under the lights. More elaborate dresses like the champagne-colored satin frock worn by Olympic gymnast Simone Biles also emerged as some of the best of the night, highlighting how the athletes balance dominance in their respective sports and high-fashion elegance. 

However, like the worst-dressed celebs at the 2025 ESPY Awards, some attendees didn't quite make the podium with their red carpet looks. While none of the outfits from this year's ceremony are awful enough to warrant a place on the list of the worst-dressed in ESPY Awards history, they're still poor showings from the celebs who wore them. From dress trends that are firmly outdated in 2026, to tacky accessories and questionable fabric choices, the worst-dressed attendees of the 2026 ESPY Awards stood out for all the wrong reasons. 

Peloton head instructor and vice president of fitness programming Robin Arzón may be a leader in the wellness industry, but she fell behind on the ESPYs red carpet. Arzón donned a black lace dress with layers of tiered ruffles, adding a black bodysuit underneath. The high-cut bodysuit combined with the sheer lace gives her dress the appearance of a swimsuit cover-up, which likely wasn't what she intended. Arzón could have greatly improved this look by swapping out the bodysuit for a black slip.

We weren't sold on pickleball star Anna Leigh Waters' ESPYs look. Waters wore a white lace dress from Mac Duggal; it isn't a bad dress by any means, but simply looks too casual for the biggest annual sports awards show. Combined with a lack of jewelry and minimalistic gold block heels, the overall look comes off as a last-minute afterthought. However, Waters' blinged-out pickleball purse is an absolutely adorable touch; it unfortunately just wasn't enough to save the rest of the ensemble. 

Physical therapist Ali Marks Brunson attended the 2026 ESPYs in support of her husband, Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks' guard who took home all three awards he was nominated for at the ceremony. Though the night was triumphant for Ali and Jalen, Ali's look wasn't one of our favorites. While her black halter-neck gown was elegant, the understated glamour was undercut by the cheap-looking, shiny black corset she added over the top; its addition didn't contribute anything meaningful to the look.

Supermodel Kate Upton rarely enters the public eye these days, but when she does, she always rules the red carpet. One day before the 2026 ESPYs, Upton stunned at the MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show in a chic white minidress. However, the high-fashion vibe that Upton projected at that event completely disappeared by the time she made it to the ESPYs. Upton wore a strapless blue and black textured midi dress from Schiaparelli which struck a boring note, especially given her lack of accessories.

Rising volleyball star Harper Murray dialed up the glamour for the 2026 ESPYs in a black satin and lace gown, with cut-outs and a lace choker providing a sultry twist. However, Murray paired the gorgeous dress with a black kitten-heel sandal — which didn't match the dress' edgy energy — and a white Miu Miu handbag disconnected from the rest of the moody look. Murray's hair styling (or lack thereof) didn't help, as an updo would have better allowed the unique design on the bodice to shine.