Sports fans are about to get another reminder that streaming isn’t necessarily the cheaper alternative it once was.
ESPN is raising the price of both ESPN Unlimited and ESPN Select beginning September 17, 2026, with subscribers paying more whether they choose a monthly or annual standalone plan.
The biggest increase hits ESPN Unlimited, which gives streaming subscribers access to ESPN’s full lineup of networks without requiring a traditional cable or satellite television package.
But there’s some good news for subscribers who get ESPN Unlimited as part of a Disney+ and Hulu bundle: those bundle prices aren’t increasing.
How Much Will ESPN Unlimited Cost?
Beginning September 17, ESPN Unlimited will increase from $29.99 to $31.99 per month.
The annual subscription will increase from $299.99 to $319.99 per year.
That works out to an additional $24 per year for subscribers who pay monthly, while annual subscribers will pay $20 more.
ESPN Unlimited is the company’s full streaming package, providing access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN+, ESPN on ABC and additional programming.
Beginning September 17, ESPN Unlimited will increase from $29.99 to $31.99 per month.
The annual subscription will increase from $299.99 to $319.99 per year. ESPN lists the complete Select and Unlimited pricing here.
How Much Will ESPN Select Cost?
The less expensive ESPN Select plan is also getting a price increase.
ESPN Select will rise from $12.99 to $13.99 per month, while its annual price increases from $129.99 to $139.99.
ESPN Select is essentially the successor to ESPN+, providing access to ESPN+ programming rather than the complete lineup of ESPN television networks included with Unlimited.
ESPN’s New Streaming Prices
| ESPN Plan | Current Price | New Price Sept. 17 |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN Select Monthly | $12.99 | $13.99 |
| ESPN Select Annual | $129.99 | $139.99 |
| ESPN Unlimited Monthly | $29.99 | $31.99 |
| ESPN Unlimited Annual | $299.99 | $319.99 |
Some Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Bundles Are Going Up Too
The September increases aren’t limited to people who subscribe directly to ESPN.
The Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select bundle with ads will increase from $19.99 to $21.99 per month.
The premium bundle featuring ad-free Disney+ and Hulu alongside ESPN Select will increase from $29.99 to $32.99 per month.
A legacy Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select bundle that is no longer available to new subscribers will also increase from $24.99 to $27.99 per month.
Which ESPN Bundles Aren’t Getting More Expensive?
Here’s where things get a little more interesting.
The Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundles are not getting a price increase.
The ad-supported Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle remains $35.99 per month, while the premium version with ad-free Disney+ and Hulu remains $44.99 per month. Disney lists the currently available ESPN bundle options here.
That means the price gap between buying ESPN Unlimited by itself and getting it bundled with Disney+ and Hulu is becoming even smaller.
After September 17, standalone ESPN Unlimited will cost $31.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle costs $35.99.
That’s only a $4 difference for subscribers who might also use Disney+ or Hulu.
When Does the ESPN Price Increase Start?
The new ESPN prices take effect September 17, 2026.
That gives existing subscribers several weeks before the higher monthly and annual rates kick in.
It’s also worth checking how you’re currently receiving ESPN before changing anything. Subscribers who access ESPN through certain television providers or bundles may have different arrangements than customers paying for a standalone ESPN subscription.
Is ESPN Unlimited Still Worth It?
That’s increasingly going to depend on how much live sports you actually watch.
At $31.99 per month, ESPN Unlimited isn’t an inexpensive streaming subscription. But unlike ESPN Select, Unlimited is designed as a replacement for traditional access to ESPN’s linear television networks.
For viewers who already want Disney+ or Hulu, however, the unchanged $35.99 bundle becomes much more compelling after this increase.
Paying $4 more than standalone ESPN Unlimited adds both Disney+ and Hulu with ads.
That’s the number I’d look at before simply accepting the new standalone price.
Streaming Prices Keep Moving Higher
ESPN’s increase arrives as streaming customers continue dealing with higher subscription costs across the industry.
The individual increases may only amount to a few dollars each month, but those dollars begin adding up quickly for households subscribing to several services.
And that makes knowing exactly which plan you have — and whether a bundle offers better value — increasingly important.
For ESPN subscribers, the next change arrives September 17.
Thomas Miller is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Seat42F, covering television, movies and streaming entertainment. He launched Seat42F in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades covering the entertainment industry.
