ESPN Reveals Schedule for 2026 Patriot Games

ESPN has revealed their schedule for the upcoming 2026 Patriot Games, all leading up to a primetime special on ABC.

What's Happening:

• As America continues the yearlong celebration of its 250th anniversary, the ESPN App will stream live coverage of the 2026 Patriot Games, a national athletic competition for high school athletes, for three days beginning Sunday, August 9.
• Coverage will culminate with an hour-long ESPN on ABC primetime special on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 9 p.m. ET.
• The Patriot Games will bring together exceptional young athletes ages 14–17 from across the United States, territories, and tribal nations to compete in a series of challenges designed to test strength, endurance, agility, teamwork and perseverance. Winners will compete for a share of the $250,000 prize pool, providing transformative educational opportunities and helping them pursue their future goals.
• The competition, to be held at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio, will include rounds that test excellence in skillsets of beloved American sports, including elements from football, basketball, soccer, track and more. Competitions will include both team and individual categories. The athletes will be tested on the skills from the Presidential Fitness Test, go through a military-inspired boot camp circuit and finalists will compete in an obstacle course designed to test strategy and skill.
• ESPN’s live coverage will be anchored by Laura Rutledge, Matt Barrie, Beth Mowins and Tom Hart, with analysts Jordan Rodgers, Sean Farnham, Ron Slay and Danielle Lawrie. Reporters will be Brooke Weisbrod and Marion Crowder. Rutledge and Barrie also will co-host the ESPN on ABC primetime special.

August 9

• 10:00 AM - Boys Presidential Qualifier
• 1:00 PM - Girls Presidential Qualifier
• 3:00 PM - Boys Dodgeball
• 4:00 PM - Boys Kickball
• 6:00 PM - Girl's Dodgeball
• 7:00 PM - Girl's Kickball

August 10

• 11:00 AM - Boys Varsity Circuit
• 11:00 AM - Boys Operation Endurance
• 2:00 PM - Girls Varsity Circuit
• 2:00 PM - Girls Operation Endurance

August 11

• 9:00 AM - Tug of War (Boys & Girls)
• 10:00 AM - Pop A Shot (Boys & Girls)
• 5:00 PM - Semifinal, Final, & Closing

August 13

• 9:00 PM - 2026 Patriot Games - Airs on ESPN on ABC

The Games:

• The 2026 Patriot Games are a new nationwide youth athletic competition being held as part of the United States 250th anniversary celebrations, and is a high-profile activity under the "Freedom 250" initiative.
• The competition brings together high school athletes - one boy and one girl representing each state and U.S. territory - creating a national field of competitors.
• The winners will be awarded $250,000 in college scholarships, $125,000 each to both the top male and female competitor.