DUBAI: Basketball fans asked for it, and the National Basketball Association delivered — the 2026 NBA All-Star Game will debut a new US vs. World format.
Taking place at the Intuit Dome in California on Sunday, Feb. 15, one world and two US teams will take part in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games, bringing renewed intensity to All-Star Weekend. The event will air at 2 a.m. GST, giving fans in the Middle East a chance to watch the action live.
The NBA’s recent innovations have helped pave the way for the change. The Steph Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu three-point contest at the 2024 All-Star Weekend was a major success and generated huge television and social media viewership, proving fans’ hunger for fresh formats and new energy. The U.S. vs. World concept is expected to follow the same path.
The new approach reflects the reality of today’s NBA. Nearly a quarter of the league’s players come from outside the US and the last eight MVPs were all born abroad.
Global stars are shaping the league more than ever. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) is the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic (Serbia) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) remain dominant forces, Victor Wembanyama (France) is living up to the hype and Luka Doncic (Slovenia) continues to play at an elite level. Depending on roster needs, Joel Embiid (Cameroon, France, USA) and Austin Reaves (Germany eligibility) could also add valuable depth to the World team.
However, the international squad faces one potential challenge. Many of its top players are dominant big men or forwards, which could leave them exposed to the speed and movement of the two US teams. If the American squads push the tempo, attack in transition and use smaller, faster lineups, they could turn the World team’s size into a disadvantage.
For the American players, pride becomes an important storyline. By dividing the US talent pool into two teams, stars such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Anthony Edwards may find themselves competing against one another on All-Star Sunday while facing a unified World team with significant momentum.
All-Star selection will follow the standard voting process, with starters chosen by fans (50 percent of the vote), current NBA players (25 percent) and a media panel (25 percent). The seven players honored as reserves from each conference will be selected by NBA head coaches. This year, positions will not be considered — giving the league’s top players a better chance of being selected regardless of role. If voting does not produce 16 US players and eight internationals, Commissioner Adam Silver will appoint additional All-Stars to meet the format. This could result in one team having more than eight players.
The competition will feature three round-robin games that lead into a championship matchup between the two teams with the best records. If all three teams finish at one win and one loss, points differential will determine the finalists. With meaningful games on the line, the All-Star MVP race is expected to carry more weight this year, with players competing in must-win situations instead of a single exhibition.
With international stars continuing to shape the league and a new format adding fresh interest, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game is set to offer a fresh look and a more competitive structure.
The matchup will give fans a clearer sense of how the best American players compare with the top international talent. It also raises a question that many fans are already asking: Will LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry share the court together one more time, as they did at the Paris Olympics?
