Promotional art for the Kentucky Derby on NBC

Promotional art for the Kentucky Derby on NBC

ESPN8: The Ocho is Back and Bigger (and Quirkier) Than Ever

The Ocho returns to ESPN and ESPN2 with 30 new events and the return of favorites like Ultimate frisbee, Cornhole and Slippery Stairs. Here's a look at the full schedule and how to catch all the craziest action with Sling.

We’ve all heard the phrase “life imitates art.” But what about sports that imitate life imitating art? ESPN8: The Ocho got its start as a tossed off joke in the 2004 sports comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Executives at the Worldwide Leader then took the reference and made it a reality. Once a year, the family of ESPN networks transforms into ESPN8: The Ocho, bringing you the finest in seldom-seen sports from around the globe since 2016.

This year, The Ocho returns for “its most adrenaline-fueled year to-date, taking over ESPN platforms from Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 3 with more than 65 hours of thrilling, unexpected and unconventional sports,” according to ESPN. With a record 30 new competitions and the return of favorites like Ultimate Frisbee, Cornhole and Slippery Stairs, these events promise to put the OMG in The Ocho. Here’s a look at the full schedule and how to watch ESPN8: The Ocho with Sling.

How to watch ESPN8: The Ocho with Sling

https://youtu.be/JLL5NM8CAk4?si=EpC1WAt_vHvHlgOG

Events from The Ocho will air across three ESPN channels on Sling: ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. ESPN and ESPN2 – which will air the majority of the programming – are both available with a subscription to Sling Orange or Orange + Blue. ESPNU, which has the Cornhole championships, is available on Sling with Sling Orange + the Sports Extras Pack. To watch ESPN8: The Ocho with Sling, use the link below to subscribe to Sling Orange with ESPN and ESPN2!

https://main--sling--aemsites.aem.page/aemedge/fragments/try-sling-orange

For the first time, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort where 11 different competitions will be hosted on-site. These include:

As mentioned, this year there 30 sports making their debut on The Ocho, including:

Humans aren’t the only ones getting in on the Ocho action. There will be a number of animal-themed events like:

If all this isn’t enough, you can even revisit the original Ocho anchors Cotton McKnight and Pepper Brooks when Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story airs Saturday, Aug. 2 at midnight on ESPN.

Check out the full schedule for ESPN8: The Ocho below.

The Ocho 2025 Schedule

https://youtu.be/ys0hCegBp7I?si=YbQ-7s81imV2m1lh

Thursday, July 31

All times Eastern

7pm - Red Bull Flugtag Cincinnati on ESPN2

7:30pm - Ludwig's Streamer Games on ESPN2

8pm - 2025 Blackbird Cup - Alberta Pro Roller Hockey League on ESPN2

9pm - National Ball Hockey League Presented by Garage Beer on ESPN2

10pm - National Putting Tour American Dream's Super Roll of Putting on ESPN2

10:30pm - Nulu Bock Fest Goat Racing Championships on ESPN2

11pm - T-Rex World Championship Races on ESPN2

11:30pm - 2025 Corgi Races at Emerald Downs on ESPN2

Friday, Aug. 1

Midnight - 2025 World Dog Surfing Championships Best Waves on ESPN2

12:30am - Roofball - 2025 RFA Cup on ESPN2

1am - The 2024 Onewheel World Championship - Race For The Rail on ESPN2

1:30am - 2025 NESSBIC Finals presented by Stern Pinball on ESPN2

2am - 2025 Golden Tee Golf World Championships on ESPN2

2:30am - 2023 FTA World Championship (Freestyle Trampoline) on ESPN2

3am - 2023 Wisconsin Auctioneers Championship on ESPN2

3:30am - 2020 USA Mullet Championships on ESPN2

4am - Battle of the Buoy 2 on ESPN2

4:30am - SXY National Beach Tennis Invitational on ESPN2

5am - IWL Wrestball 3×3 on ESPN2

6am - Battle Court Jai-Alai Championship VII on ESPN2

7am - 11th Annual Outhouse Races on ESPN2

7:30am - Swiss Stone Tossing on ESPN2

8am - Mailboat Jumping on ESPN2

8:30am - Big League Chew presents: 2025 National Bubble Gum Blowing Championship on ESPN2

9am - FlingGolf: LFC-5 Longest FlingShot Championship on ESPN2

9:30am - The Goodyear Blimp Sky Race of the Century on ESPN2

10am - Major League Paintball, 3v3 World Championship on ESPN2

11am - NWLA All-Star Game on ESPN2

Noon - OmegaBall World Invitational presented by Quicksilver Scientific on ESPN2

1pm - Turf Wars Adult Kickball Tournament - LIVE on ESPN8 on ESPN2

2pm - SportsCenter Live from ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on ESPN

2pm - ACL World Championship: Trickshot Challenge on ESPN2

3pm - The 4th Annual BullShooter Invitational Shootout presented by TouchTunes on ESPN2

4pm - The Ocho Show on ESPN2

5pm - The Popdarts Championship presented by APL on ESPN2

6pm - 2025 Slippery Stairs on ESPN2

7pm - Banana Ball: Texas Tailgaters vs. Savannah Bananas on ESPN

7pm - 2025 Extreme Archery Championship presented by Archery Tag on ESPN2

8pm - The National Dodgeball League Championship Games on ESPN2

8pm - ACL World Championship: Women, Senior, Junior Championships on ESPNU

9pm - Pop-A-Shot 2025 National Championship on ESPN2

10pm - Hush Presents Pillow Fight Championship on ESPN2

11:30pm - Carjitsu Championship on ESPN2

Saturday, Aug. 2

Midnight - Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story on ESPN2

2am - Diving Chess: Duel in the Depths on ESPN2

2:30am - Freestyle Chess on ESPN2

3am - Microsoft Excel World Championship Finals on ESPN2

3:30am - NHRL Teams: Robot Fighting Championship on ESPN2

4am - Viii Sports 2024 National Championship on ESPN2

5am - 2022 Speed Chess Championship Final presented by Chess.com on ESPN2

5:30am - ProSayulita SUP OPEN on ESPN2

6am - 2023 FootGolf World Cup on ESPN2

6:30am - World Series of Armwrestling Finals Season 3 on ESPN2

7am - NHRL Prime Time Robot Fighting on ESPN2

7:30am - 360 Hoops Championship on ESPN2

8am - Padel Ping Pong Championship on ESPN2

8:30am - Bottlesbee Presented by Gronk Fitness on ESPN2

9am - Bike Polo Presented by Legacy Pro Sports on ESPN2

9:30am - 2023 World Table Hockey Championships on ESPN2

11am - World Axe and Knife Throwing Championship 2025 on ESPN2

Noon - ACL World Championship: Pro Doubles Final

2:30pm - ACL World Championship: Superhole on ESPNU

6:30pm - Banana Ball: Texas Tailgaters vs. Savannah Bananas on ESPN2

9pm - T-Rex World Championship Races (re-air) on ESPN2

9:30pm - Coffin Wars, Grapple to the Grave on ESPN2

10pm - Tire Wrestling: No Ropes. Just Rubber on ESPN2

10:30pm - The 2025 Big Boy Soap Hockey Tournament on ESPN2

11pm - Donk Toss World Championship on ESPN2

11:30pm - World Premiere: BBA Bubbleball on ESPN2

Sunday, Aug. 3

Midnight - Tractor Pulling on ESPN2

12:30am - 2025 Corgi Races at Emerald Downs (re-air) on ESPN2

1am - Major League Table Tennis Showcase on ESPN2

2am - The 2024 Silverback Breaking Invitational on ESPN2

5am - The 2025 Ultimate Ninja World Series Finals, presented by Americas NAVY on ESPN2

5:30am - Buoy Cup on ESPN2

6am - Microsoft Excel World Championship 2024 Finals on ESPN2

6:30am - The Goodyear Blimp Sky Race of the Century (re-air) on ESPN2

7am - Never Tell Me The Odds Ocho Special on ESPN2

11:30am - 2025 US Open Ultimate Championships: Mixed Finals on ESPN2

Noon - ACL World Championship: Pro Singles Final on ESPN

1:30pm - 2025 US Open Ultimate Championships: Women's Finals

4pm - US Open Ultimate Championships: Men's Finals on ESPNU