NBA All Star Weekend is back in Los Angeles, and this time the entire thing is built around a new centerpiece: the LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The league has officially set NBA All Star 2026 for February 13 through February 15, 2026, with the 75th NBA All Star Game scheduled for Sunday, February 15 at Intuit Dome.
New arena, global stage, and a fresh game format that the league is betting will feel more competitive and easier to follow than recent years.
Los Angeles is the perfect place to test that idea because when the NBA puts a big event here, it does not live only on the court. It spills into music, fashion, nightlife, brand activations, and content production across the entire city.
What follows is the clean rundown of everything official the NBA has announced so far, the confirmed venues and schedule windows, and the most realistic player pools for each event based on what we actually know today.
The official dates and the key venues
NBA All Star Weekend 2026 is officially set for February 13 to February 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. The NBA’s official All Star hub confirms the weekend dates and that the All Star Game will be played at Intuit Dome.
Intuit Dome’s own event schedule lists the weekend programming at the venue, including Castrol Rising Stars on Friday, All Star Saturday on Saturday, and the All Star Game on Sunday.
For the Celebrity Game, the NBA’s event pages confirm the Ruffles NBA All Star Celebrity Game at Kia Forum on Friday, February 13, with broadcast info and doors timing published.
This matters because LA All Star weekends can get noisy fast, and the only way to keep a Respect My Region guide legit is to separate what the NBA has actually scheduled from everything else that will inevitably pop up around it.
The biggest change, USA vs World format is official
The NBA has officially announced a new All Star Game format for 2026: two United States teams and one World team, playing a round robin tournament with four 12 minute games, with the top two teams advancing to a final. This is not rumor, it is an official NBA release, and ESPN also broke down the core structure and selection changes when the league announced it.
For fans, the simplest way to understand it is this: the NBA is trying to make the All Star Game feel like an event again, not a 48 minute highlight reel with no edge. USA vs World also gives the weekend a clean storyline that casual viewers can follow immediately, and it taps into something that has been building for years, the league is more global than ever.
All Star voting is live, and the first returns tell us a lot
As of January 3, 2026, All Star voting is already underway, and the first fan returns were released on December 29, 2025. The NBA’s official update and Reuters both report the same headline: Luka Dončić leads all players in votes, and Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the East.
Those first returns also list the top five in each conference at that time, which is the most concrete signal we have today for who is trending toward selection.
From Reuters’ reporting of the NBA’s first returns, the top five in the West are Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama. In the East, the top five are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, and Donovan Mitchell.
Voting weight also matters. The NBA’s structure gives fans 50 percent of the starter vote, with current players and a media panel each at 25 percent. That means fan returns are not the final word, but they absolutely shape the runway.
The NBA has also promoted special voting pushes like “3 for 1 Day,” where votes count triple on a specific day, and announced the next voting update date, which keeps the picture moving week to week.
Most likely All Star Game participants, based on official voting momentum
Let’s keep this clean. The NBA has not announced the final rosters yet. Coaches still influence reserve selections, and the new USA vs World format changes how the final pool is organized. But based on the official first fan returns, these names are the most likely core group to be in the All Star mix if they stay healthy and keep their production where it is.
The West vote leaders trending toward All Star selection are Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama.
The East vote leaders trending toward All Star selection are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, and Donovan Mitchell.
If you want the simplest, most defensible “likely participants” headline for RMR right now, it is that list, because it is anchored in official voting data rather than vibes.
There are also notable “outside the top five but still loud” names. One example that popped in the first returns coverage is Deni Avdija, who ranked seventh in the West in the first fan returns, and his vote total was reported as ahead of Kevin Durant and LeBron James at that moment.
That does not guarantee anything, but it does show the vote landscape is not just the usual legacy list this year.
Here’s a recent list of 5 NBA players who are crushing it too.
Friday night at Intuit Dome, Castrol Rising Stars and who is most likely
Castrol Rising Stars is officially on the Intuit Dome schedule for Friday, February 13.
The NBA has not announced the Rising Stars rosters yet, so we cannot “name the field” as fact. What we can do is outline the most likely types of players who will be chosen, and then call out the young names already appearing in the All Star voting conversation, because that is a strong indicator of visibility and momentum.
Deni Avdija showing up seventh in West fan returns is unusual for a young player not already branded as a megastar, and it signals he is on the national radar in a real way. That makes him a logical name to watch for either Rising Stars or a bigger leap depending on how the league slots him.
From an editorial standpoint, the real hook is that Rising Stars in LA is going to feel like an audition. This is where the next wave gets introduced to a worldwide audience in the most content heavy weekend of the season. If a young guard or wing is ready to turn into a household name, this is the stage.
Friday afternoon at Kia Forum, Celebrity Game and what we can say today
The Ruffles NBA All Star Celebrity Game is officially scheduled for Friday, February 13 at Kia Forum, and the NBA’s event page confirms the time and broadcast outlet.
The important detail for RMR right now is not pretending we know the lineup. The NBA has not released the celebrity roster yet. So the right way to cover it is to frame what is typical and what the NBA itself is promising, celebrities from sports, film, TV, and music, plus NBA legends and WNBA players often participating.
In Los Angeles, the Celebrity Game always overperforms because the talent pool is literally local. You get fewer random picks and more people who actually want to be there because it is in their backyard.
Saturday at Intuit Dome, All Star Saturday and who is most likely for each contest
Intuit Dome’s schedule lists “All Star Saturday” for Saturday, February 14. The NBA has not published the final list of participants for Skills, Three Point, or Dunk as of January 3, 2026. So here is the honest way to cover likely participants without making stuff up.
Who is most likely to be invited to the Three Point Contest: elite volume shooters and star guards who are already central to the league’s story this season.
From the first fan returns, Stephen Curry is an obvious “if he wants it” candidate, and high scoring guards like Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Luka Dončić, Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Maxey, and Jalen Brunson are the kind of stars the NBA often wants involved across the weekend.
That does not mean all of them will do it, but those are the most realistic “likely” names to discuss today because they are already trending as All Stars in official returns.
Who is most likely to be in the Skills Challenge: players with handling, passing, and versatility, often guards and do everything wings, plus at least one big with real playmaking. If you want to keep this grounded, use the same All Star vote leaders as the pool, because those are the league’s most visible faces right now.
Who is most likely for the Slam Dunk Contest: this one is always the hardest to project early because it comes down to who actually agrees to do it. The NBA has not confirmed entrants yet, so the correct approach is to avoid naming a “confirmed field” and instead frame it as an open question that the league will answer closer to February.
Sunday at Intuit Dome, the 75th NBA All Star Game
The 75th NBA All Star Game is officially scheduled for Sunday, February 15 at Intuit Dome. It is also officially the debut year of the USA vs World competition format described earlier.
For Los Angeles, the biggest storyline is that the NBA is putting its newest arena on the loudest possible stage. If the weekend runs smoothly, Intuit Dome instantly becomes part of the NBA’s premium event rotation. If the new format lands and feels competitive, the league gets exactly what it wants, a modern All Star weekend that fans actually care about from tip to final possession.
Ticketing and official packages
The NBA is already selling official experience packages through NBA Experiences, positioning them as a primary way to access premium seats and multiple weekend events.
That is not the only way to attend, but for a lot of fans it is the cleanest route to lock in without trying to stitch together separate tickets.
What we should expect between now and February
Between now and All Star Weekend, the NBA is expected to release, in order, more voting returns, starter announcements, reserve announcements, and then contest participants for Saturday night events. The only smart way to keep an RMR guide accurate is to update as those official drops happen.
Right now, the strongest defensible “likely participants” story is built around the NBA’s first fan returns. Luka and Giannis are leading, and the rest of the top five lists in each conference give you a real snapshot of who the public is pushing toward Los Angeles.
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FAQ: NBA All Star Weekend 2026 in Los Angeles
When is NBA All Star Weekend 2026 taking place
NBA All Star Weekend 2026 is officially scheduled for Friday, February 13 through Sunday, February 15, 2026.
Where is the NBA All Star Game being played
The 75th NBA All Star Game will be played at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, the home arena of the Los Angeles Clippers.
What city is officially hosting NBA All Star Weekend 2026
Los Angeles is the official host city, with Inglewood serving as the primary hub for league events due to Intuit Dome and nearby venues.
What is the new NBA All Star Game format for 2026
The NBA has introduced a USA vs World format for 2026. The game will feature two United States teams and one international team competing in a round robin tournament, with the top two teams advancing to a final game.
Why did the NBA change the All Star Game format
The NBA changed the format in response to fan feedback and declining competitiveness in recent All Star Games. The league has stated the goal is to create a more engaging and competitive experience while keeping the event entertaining.
Who decides which players make the NBA All Star Game
All Star starters are determined by a weighted voting system where fan votes count for 50 percent, current NBA players account for 25 percent, and a media panel makes up the remaining 25 percent. Head coaches select the reserve players.
Who is leading NBA All Star voting right now
As of the first official fan returns released in late December 2025, Luka Dončić leads all players in total votes, while Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Eastern Conference.
Does leading fan voting guarantee a player makes the All Star team
No. Fan voting heavily influences starter selections, but media and player votes can impact final results, and coaches ultimately decide reserve spots.
Which players are most likely to participate in the 2026 All Star Game
Based on official early voting returns, players most likely to be selected include Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, and Donovan Mitchell, assuming health and availability.
When will official All Star rosters be announced
The NBA typically announces All Star starters in late January, followed by reserve selections shortly after.
What events take place on Friday during All Star Weekend
Friday events include the Ruffles NBA All Star Celebrity Game and the Castrol Rising Stars game.
Where is the NBA All Star Celebrity Game being played
The NBA All Star Celebrity Game will be played at the Kia Forum in Inglewood.
Who plays in the NBA All Star Celebrity Game
The Celebrity Game features a mix of actors, musicians, influencers, former athletes, and media personalities selected by the NBA. Official rosters are announced closer to the event.
What is the Rising Stars game
The Rising Stars game showcases top rookies and second year NBA players. It is designed to highlight the league’s future and often serves as a breakout moment for young stars.
When will Rising Stars participants be announced
Rising Stars rosters are usually announced in early February, closer to All Star Weekend.
What events happen on NBA All Star Saturday Night
Saturday night features the Skills Challenge, Three Point Contest, and Slam Dunk Contest.
Who chooses participants for Saturday night contests
The NBA invites players to participate in each contest. Selection is based on performance, popularity, and player interest, and participation is voluntary.
Are Saturday night contest participants All Stars
Not always. While some participants are All Stars, others are invited specifically for their shooting, athleticism, or skill set.
What is NBA Crossover
NBA Crossover is the league’s official fan experience, featuring interactive exhibits, merchandise, brand activations, and player appearances. It is designed to give fans access to All Star Weekend even without game tickets.
Is NBA Crossover open to the public
Yes. NBA Crossover is open to the public, though some experiences may require tickets or advance registration.
Where will NBA Crossover be located in Los Angeles
The NBA has not yet announced the exact location, but NBA Crossover is typically held near the primary All Star venues.
How can fans buy tickets for NBA All Star Weekend
Tickets are sold through official NBA channels, authorized partners, and NBA Experiences packages. Availability varies by event.
Will NBA All Star Weekend be broadcast on TV and streaming
Yes. All major All Star Weekend events will be broadcast nationally and internationally, with streaming options available through official NBA partners.
Is NBA All Star Weekend family friendly
Many events are family friendly, including NBA Crossover and the Rising Stars game. Some private events and after parties are invite only.
Will there be events outside the arenas
Yes. In addition to official NBA events, Los Angeles typically hosts brand activations, media events, and private parties throughout the weekend, though these are not NBA sanctioned.
Why is Los Angeles such a big deal for All Star Weekend
Los Angeles combines elite sports infrastructure with global influence in entertainment, fashion, and media, making it one of the NBA’s most impactful host cities.
Will there be road closures or transportation changes
Large scale events like All Star Weekend usually involve temporary traffic adjustments. The NBA and local officials release transportation guidance closer to the event.
Can fans attend without going to the All Star Game
Yes. Many fans attend All Star Weekend specifically for NBA Crossover, public events, and the overall atmosphere without attending the All Star Game itself.
