A Guide To NBA All-Star 2026: Everything To Know
- New USA vs World format adds international pride and competitive intensity to the All-Star Game.
- Packed schedule includes fan fest, HBCU game, and marquee events like Dunk Contest and 3-Point Shootout.
- All-Star starters announced, with reserves to be revealed on Feb 1st for the 75th anniversary showcase.
UPDATE — Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, 3:45 p.m. EST:
For 75 years, the NBA All-Star Game has been the league’s midseason cultural touchdown – a celebration of elite skills, iconic moments and the pure basketball love that crosses generations. Over the decades, All-Star Weekend has become way more than just a game. It’s where culture, sport, and entertainment collide — dunk contests, fashion flexes, and unforgettable highlights that live long after the buzzer. This year is extra special: it’s the 75th All-Star Game, and the City of Angels is hosting the festivities. The big game will take place on February 15th at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California — the first time at the brand new arena, and the seventh time All-Star Weekend has been held in Los Angeles.
As excited as we are for the packed lineup — celebs, concerts, contests, and more — before all the chaos hits, you have to know what’s coming. From when the marquee moments go down to what’s fresh for this year, plus the full rundown of the starters and the events beyond the court, here’s all the info you’ll need to stay ahead of one of the NBA’s most action-packed weekends. Let’s get into it!
When, Where & Order Of Events To Watch
All-Star Weekend is back in the 2026 spotlight with three straight days of events you won’t want to miss – starting Friday, February 13th and running through Sunday, February 15th in Los Angeles/Inglewood, California. The action centers around the Intuit Dome, the brand-new Clippers home where the 75th NBA All-Star Game tips off Sunday evening.
Friday kicks things off with some serious energy — the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game gets the vibes started at the Kia Forum, followed later by the Castrol Rising Stars Game showcasing the league’s top rookies and sophomores.
Saturday keeps the heat with NBA All-Star Saturday Night, where media day, skill challenges, the 3-Point Contest, and the Dunk Contest take the spotlight and build the hype before Sunday’s main spectacle. Stay tuned to find out who all will be competing in each event. Then on Sunday evening, the long-anticipated All-Star Game goes live – this time with a fresh format and bragging rights on the line.
What’s New This Year
2026 is flipping the script on the All-Star Game itself. Instead of East vs. West, the league is introducing a new USA vs. World format that adds real stakes and international pride to the showcase. Here’s the breakdown: there will be three teams — two made up of U.S. players and one composed of international players (the “World” team) — battling it out in a round-robin tournament with four 12-minute games. The top two squads then advance to a championship matchup.
The hope with this new setup is more intensity and bragging rights. Players aren’t just hoopin’ for flashes on SportsCenter; they’re reppin’ where they’re from. That competitive layer is something fans have been craving for a minute, and it brings a fresh identity to an event that’s always been about artistry and showmanship.
All-Star Starters & How They Were Selected
The 2026 All-Star starters came out January 19th, after fans, media and current NBA players cast their votes – with fan ballots counting for 50%, and media and player votes each counting for 25% of the total.
Here are the starters:
EAST
Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons) – 2nd All-Star Selection; 1st Start
Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers) – 2nd All-Star Selection; 1st Start
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) – 10th All-Star Selection; 10th Start
Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) – 3rd All-Star Selection; 2nd Start
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics) – 5th All-Star Selection; 1st Start
WEST
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) – 4th All-Star Selection; 4th Start
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) – 8th All-Star Selection; 6th Start
Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers) – 6th All-Star Selection; 5th Start
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) – 12th All-Star Selection; 11th Start
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) – 2nd All-Star Selection; 1st Start
Reserves (& Snubs)
EAST
Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors) – 2nd All-Star Selection
Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons) – 1st All-Star Selection
Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks) – 1st All-Star Selection
Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers) – 7th All-Star Selection
Norman Powell (Miami Heat) – 1st All-Star Selection
Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers) – 4th All-Star Selection
Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks) – 6th All-Star Selection
WEST
Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers) – 1st All-Star Selection
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) – 5th All-Star Selection
Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets) – 16th All-Star Selection
Anthony Edwards (Minnestoa Timberwolves) – 4th All-Star Selection
Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma CIty Thunder) – 1st All-Star Selection
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) – 22nd All-Star Selection
Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets) – 1st All-Star Selection
Every year, fans always feel like there are a few players who were left off the All-Star teams that had valid cases for making them. This year is no different. Here are the most commonly mentioned “snubs” (4 from each conference).
EAST
- Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) – Even with the injury stuff hovering over him again, the argument is basically: when Embiid’s been on the floor, he’s still looked like an All-NBA level problem. The counter from coaches is usually availability + the East frontcourt being crowded this year , so missing times makes it easier to leave you out.
- Brandon Ingram (Cleveland Cavaliers) – Ingram’s case is simple: he’s been the Raptors’ leading scorer and a big reason they’ve stayed in the top tier of the East standing conversation. A lot of chatter is that Toronto getting only one All-Star (Scottie Barnes) felt light for what their season has looked like.
- Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers) – Mobley’s “snub” talk comes from the two-way impact: elite defense plus real offensive growth when he’s active. But he’s also been listed as out recently, and missed time tends to hurt in these tight reserve votes.
- Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn Nets) – This one has people hot because Porter has been putting up career-year numbers and raining threes at high volume, but still got left off. The pushback is team context (rebuilding/wins) and the fact that East had a lot of “winning team” cases coached lean toward.
WEST
- Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers) – The loudest part: the All-Star Weekend is in the Clippers’ building area and the Clippers still ended up with zero All-Stars, which feels wild to fans. Kawhi’s been producing like a top wing again, but the West is a knife fight every year, and the “games played” factor always hands over him.
- Alperen Şengün (Houston Rockets) – Sengun’s snub argument is numbers + role: he’s flirting with Joker-style production (points/rebounds/assists) and has been a hub for Houston’s offense. People think it’s extra crazy because the Rockets did get an All-Star (KD), so it’s not like coaches ignored them entirely.
- Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz) – Markkanen is putting up straight star scoring (upper-20s) and carrying a huge load nightly. The issue is usually team results: when your team’s been sliding voters/coaches tend to reward the same production more if it’s attached to wins.
- Julius Randle (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Randle’s got a legit “count the numbers” case – scoring, playmaking, boards – and he’s been consistent. But the West forward pool is nasty, and once coaches start prioritizing fit/defense/winning stream narratives, somebody productive always gets squeezed out.
Additional Events
NBA All-Star 2026 isn’t just about that final buzzer; it’s a full culture takeover. Here’s what else is poppin’ throughout the weekend:
NBA Crossover
A multi-day fan fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center with interactive exhibits, live music, lifestyle experiences, and appearances from players and legends.
NBA HBCU Classic
Celebrating Historically Black College & University hoops pride, showcasing talent and tradition on Friday night. This year, the Hampton University Pirates will take on the Aggies of North Carolina A&T.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on NBA All-Star Weekend 2026.
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