<p>The 2026 NBA All-Star Game takes place on <strong>Sunday, February 15, 2026 </strong>at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.</p> <p>It's the 75th edition of the league's midseason showcase, and for the first time, it'll feature a completely new format: <strong>USA vs the World</strong>.</p> <p>Mark your calendars for the full All-Star Weekend, which runs from February 13-15, 2026. Rising Stars kicks things off on Friday night, All-Star Saturday brings the dunk contest and three-point shootout, and the main event wraps it all up on Sunday.</p> <p>The NBA's shaking things up with a three-team tournament format that could actually make people care about the outcome again. Two American squads will face off against one international team in a round-robin competition featuring four 12-minute games. The top two teams advance to a championship game to decide it all.</p> <h2>The New Format: USA vs World Tournament</h2> <p>Here's how the 2026 NBA All-Star Game breaks down. Twenty-four All-Stars get divided into three teams: two composed of American players (minimum eight players each) and one World team featuring international talent (also minimum eight players).</p> <p>The tournament structure works like this: Team A plays Team B in Game 1. The winner moves on to face Team C in Game 2, while the loser takes on Team C in Game 3.</p> <p>After those three round-robin games, the top two teams by record square off in the championship game. If all three teams end up 1-1, point differential decides who advances.</p> <p>Each game lasts just 12 minutes, so the entire tournament stays compact and watchable. If you are not new to the NBA, you’ll notice that this is a massive departure from the traditional East vs West format that's been losing steam for years.</p> <p>The format change comes from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who cited the success of the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off and the timing of the 2026 Winter Olympics as influences.</p> <p>The international flavour makes sense: the NBA's global talent pool is deeper than ever, and pitting American stars against the best from around the world creates natural storylines.</p> <h2>Where the Game Takes Place</h2> <p>The Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California hosts all the weekend's action. This is the LA Clippers' brand-new $2 billion arena that opened for the 2024-25 season, and the All-Star Game will be its first massive showcase event.</p> <p>Commissioner Adam Silver toured the facility before it opened and called it unlike anything he'd seen in 32 years in the NBA.</p> <p>Steve Ballmer built a basketball-centric arena from the ground up, and it shows. The place was designed specifically to create the best possible experience for basketball: not concerts, not hockey, just hoops.</p> <p>This marks the seventh time the Los Angeles area has hosted NBA All-Star Weekend, setting a record. Previous LA-area All-Stars happened in 2018, 2011, 2004, 1983, 1972, and 1963. But this is the first time Inglewood's hosting, and the first time the Clippers get to play host city.</p> <p>Beyond the Intuit Dome, the NBA will spread fan events across Los Angeles and Inglewood, including the Kia Forum and LA Convention Center. In other words, expect the usual All-Star Practice, Celebrity Game, and fan fest with player access and basketball programming.</p> <h2>The Full Weekend Schedule</h2> <h3>Friday, February 13: Rising Stars</h3> <p>The weekend opens with Rising Stars at Intuit Dome, featuring top rookies, second-year players, and G League standouts competing for bragging rights. It's evolved into a surprisingly entertaining mini-tournament format in recent years.</p> <h3>Saturday, February 14: Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, Slam Dunk</h3> <p>State Farm All-Star Saturday Night brings the three marquee competitions. The Skills Challenge tests ball-handling and passing, the Starry 3-Point Challenge crowns the league's best long-range shooter, and the AT&amp;T Slam Dunk contest showcases aerial artistry.</p> <p>Three-time defending dunk champ Mac McClung has already said he won't defend his title in 2026, which opens the door for new blood. Ja Morant's hinted at entering, which could convince other stars like Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon to join and make it one of the most stacked competitions in years.</p> <h3>Sunday, February 15: NBA All-Star Game</h3> <p>The main event caps the weekend with the new USA vs World tournament format. NBC and Peacock will broadcast the action in the United States starting at 5pm ET / 2pm PT.</p> <p>For Australian viewers, that's 8am AEST on Monday, February 16: perfectly timed for a morning watch. You can catch it on Kayo Sports, ESPN via Disney+, or through Sportsbet's streaming service. The event reaches fans in over 200 countries and territories in more than 50 languages.</p> <h2>How Players Get Selected</h2> <p>The NBA All-Star Game voting process stays mostly the same, with one significant change: it's now positionless.</p> <p>Fans, media, and NBA players all vote for the starters. Fans make up 50% of the vote, while players and media each account for 25%.</p> <p>The five players with the highest cumulative vote totals become starters, but they're no longer required to be two guards and three frontcourt players. You could theoretically vote for five centres if you wanted (looking at you, Western Conference).</p> <p>The same positionless approach applies to coaches selecting reserves. Each coach picks players based on talent and fit rather than rigid position requirements, which makes more sense given how the modern NBA actually plays.</p> <p>Here's where it gets interesting for the format: if voting doesn't produce 16 American players and eight international players naturally, Commissioner Adam Silver steps in to make additional selections until those minimums are met. That means some teams might end up with nine or more players.</p> <p>The process for dividing American players between the two USA teams hasn't been announced yet. Expect that detail closer to the actual event.</p> <h2>What Makes 2026 Different</h2> <p>The NBA's been tinkering with All-Star formats for years trying to recapture the magic. The East vs West games became unwatchable exhibitions where nobody played defence and the score ballooned past 180 regularly.</p> <p>They tried the draft format with team captains. They introduced target scores. Nothing quite worked.</p> <p>The USA vs World format feels different because it taps into actual competitive pride. American players won't want to lose to the international guys, and vice versa. The round-robin structure means teams can't coast, and that every game matters for advancing to the final.</p> <p>It also reflects where the league actually is in 2025. International stars dominate MVP conversations. Reigning champions regularly feature multiple international players in key roles. The NBA's a global league now, and this format acknowledges that reality.</p> <p>The timing helps too. The 2026 Winter Olympics happen concurrently, ramping up international sports interest. The NHL found success with its international format. Why not basketball?</p> <h2>How to Watch NBA All-Star 2026 in Australia</h2> <p>The entire weekend airs on NBC and Peacock in the United States. This marks the return of the NBA to NBC after years on ESPN/ABC and TNT.</p> <p>Friday's Rising Stars and Saturday's contests will all stream on NBC Sports and Peacock. Sunday's All-Star Game gets the full NBC primetime treatment at 5pm Eastern / 2pm Pacific.</p> <p>Here in Australia, you've got multiple options to catch all the action. Kayo Sports will have full coverage of the weekend, including Rising Stars, Saturday's contests, and the main event.</p> <p>ESPN is also available through Disney+ for subscribers who want another streaming option.</p> <p>As you may already know, here at Sportsbet you also find <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nba/nba-news/how-to-stream-the-nba">live streams for major NBA events as well</a>, giving punters a way to watch while they bet.</p> <p>Given the time difference, the All-Star Game on Sunday, February 15 will tip off at 9am AEDT on Monday, February 16 in Australia, which is perfect for a morning watch before work or uni.</p> <p>International fans outside Australia and the US can watch through their local NBA broadcast partners, as the event reaches over 200 countries in more than 50 languages.</p> <p>For those attending in person, tickets are available through NBA Experiences packages covering multi-day and single-day options.</p> <p>The always-popular NBA Crossover fan event runs February 12-15 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, offering interactive basketball experiences and player access.</p> <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <p><strong>When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in Australia?</strong></p> <p>The game tips off at 8am AEST on Monday, February 16, 2026. It's being played on Sunday, February 15 in Los Angeles, but the time difference means Aussie viewers get a Monday morning start.</p> <p><strong>What is the new All-Star format for 2026?</strong></p> <p>Three teams compete in a round-robin tournament: two USA teams and one World team. They play three 12-minute games, with the top two teams advancing to a championship game.</p> <p><strong>Where is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game being played?</strong></p> <p>Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, which is the LA Clippers' new home arena that opened for the 2024-25 season.</p> <p><strong>How can I watch the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in Australia?</strong></p> <p>Kayo Sports will have full coverage of the entire weekend. You can also watch through ESPN on Disney+, or catch it via Sportsbet's streaming service if you're having a punt on the action.</p> <p><strong>What time does All-Star Weekend start in Australia?</strong></p> <p>Rising Stars kicks off Friday night US time, which means Saturday morning February 14 in Australia. Saturday's events (Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, Dunk Contest) run Sunday morning February 15 Australian time. The main All-Star Game is Monday morning February 16 at 8am AEST.</p> <p><strong>Will Australian players be in the 2026 All-Star Game?</strong></p> <p>If Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, or any other Aussie NBA players make the All-Star roster through voting, they'd represent the World team in the USA vs World format. Voting happens in early 2026.</p> <p><strong>How many times has Los Angeles hosted the NBA All-Star Game?</strong></p> <p>This will be the seventh time, setting a record. Previous LA-area All-Stars were in 2018, 2011, 2004, 1983, 1972, and 1963.</p> <p><strong>Will there be a Slam Dunk Contest in 2026?</strong></p> <p>Yes, on Saturday, February 14 US time (Sunday morning in Australia). Three-time defending champion Mac McClung has said he won't compete, opening the door for new participants.</p> <p><strong>What is the Intuit Dome?</strong></p> <p>The LA Clippers' brand-new $2 billion arena in Inglewood, California. It opened for the 2024-25 NBA season and was designed specifically for basketball.</p>