NBA revolutionizes 2026 All-Star Game: USA vs World, the future of the superstar gathering event?

The NBA is preparing to revolutionize its All-Star Game once again. According to ESPN, the 2026 all-star game should adopt an unprecedented format pitting the United States against the rest of the world, but with a particular twist: a round-robin tournament involving three teams of eight players each.

The two USA teams and one World squad would play each other in 12-minute per quarter, Ryder Cup-style games, sources said. Governors, team executives and players discussed the format positively within the Competition Committee meeting on Wednesday. https://t.co/tS5GsA0BaW

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 3, 2025

Los Angeles and NBC at the heart of the 2026 event

The 2026 All-Star Game will take place on February 15 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the new home of the LA Clippers. The event, broadcast on NBC, will also benefit from a time slot change, moving from the traditional Sunday evening to a Sunday afternoon slot.

Commissioner Adam Silver had anticipated this international evolution last April, stating that it « presents an enormous opportunity for us to do something with international competition instead of the traditional All-Star formats we’ve used. » This direction is particularly inspired by the NHL‘s success with its « 4 Nations Face-Off, » whose final between the United States and Canada attracted 10.1 million viewers.

The current distribution of the NBA, with approximately 70% American players versus 30% international players, will facilitate the formation of balanced teams. This new format could finally restore competitiveness to an All-Star Game that has struggled to generate player engagement in recent years.