ESPN8 The Ocho Returns to Walt Disney World on August 7 for Its 10th Anniversary Full Schedule, Free Tickets, and Everything You Need to Know.
ESPN8: The Ocho is celebrating its 10th anniversary in a big way, and Walt Disney World is once again the place to be. The OCH10 returns to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on August 7, 2026, with a full day of free live competition that runs from 10 a.m. straight through to 10 p.m. — and if you have never been, this is the year to go.
Holly and I were there last year for the first time, and it genuinely surprised us. Sitting inside the arena at Disney in the air conditioning, watching world-class athletes compete in sports you have never seen on television before, is a completely different kind of Disney day. It feels like a secret that not enough people know about. Slippery Stairs was the highlight of our entire visit. Watching competitors try to haul themselves up a soapy, foam-covered staircase while gravity absolutely refuses to cooperate is one of the funniest and most legitimately impressive things we have ever seen at Walt Disney World. We also discovered Popdarts that day, and I am not exaggerating when I say we went home and ordered our own set. That is what The Ocho does. It introduces you to sports you never knew existed and somehow makes you care deeply about the outcome within about thirty seconds.
What Is ESPN8: The Ocho?
The Ocho is ESPN’s annual celebration of seldom-seen sports, a concept that started as a joke in the 2004 film “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” and became a real, beloved annual event. This is year ten, and ESPN is leaning all the way into the milestone with the OCH10 branding. The broader event runs August 6 through August 9 across the country, but the live in-person experience at Walt Disney World takes place entirely on August 7. Entry is free, and spectators can move between venues inside the complex to catch different sports throughout the day.
The 2026 August 7 Schedule at ESPN Wide World of Sports
ESPN has not yet announced the full 2026 sports lineup for the Walt Disney World event, but last year’s schedule gives you a very good idea of what The Ocho delivers. In 2025, the day ran from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and included Major League Paintball, NWLA Wiffleball, OmegaBall (a three-team three-goal version of soccer that is as chaotic as it sounds), adult kickball, BullShooter electronic darts, Popdarts, Slippery Stairs, Extreme Archery, the National Dodgeball League Championships, Pop-A-Shot, and the Pillow Fight Championship. SportsCenter and The Ocho Show both broadcast live from the complex.
We will update this article with the full 2026 schedule as soon as ESPN releases it. Check back here to get the update the moment it drops.
How to Attend and What to Expect
Admission to The Ocho at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is free. Advanced registration is not required but is encouraged, and you can register and find full details at the ESPN Wide World of Sports website when it goes live. The complex is air-conditioned for the indoor events, which in Florida in August is not a small detail. This is an all-day event built for families, and the schedule is paced well enough that you can catch multiple sports across the venue without feeling rushed.
When we attended last year, one of the unexpected highlights was running into Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto all dressed in their sports outfits. It is the kind of Disney magic you do not expect to find at a dodgeball tournament, and it absolutely made the day. Food was available throughout the event, and there was Ocho merchandise on site as well, so budget a little extra if you want to bring something home beyond the memories and a sudden obsession with Popdarts.
The overall four-day ESPN8: The Ocho broadcast runs August 6 through 9 across the ESPN family of networks, with more than 65 hours of programming. The August 7 events at Walt Disney World will be part of what airs live on ESPN8 that day.
Our Take
We were skeptical the first time and converts by the end of the day. The Ocho at Wide World of Sports is one of the most underrated things you can do at Walt Disney World, and the 10-year anniversary feels like exactly the right time to finally go if you have been on the fence. You will leave having discovered at least one sport you want to try yourself. In our case it was two. Go. Bring snacks. Watch Slippery Stairs. Thank us later.
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ESPN8 The Ocho Returns to Walt Disney World on August 7 for Its 10th Anniversary
