Los Angeles takes center stage for NBA All-Star Weekend 2026, with the league’s 75th All-Star Game set for Sunday, February 15, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, home of the Clippers. The midseason showcase returns to Southern California for a record seventh time, underscoring the city’s deep connection with basketball and its history as a marquee stage for the league’s biggest events.
All-Star Weekend will run from February 13–15 across the Los Angeles area, with Intuit Dome serving as the main hub for the league’s top attractions. The new arena, opened as the Clippers’ long-awaited home, now steps into the global spotlight as it hosts the NBA’s anniversary All-Star celebration. Fans looking to bet on the All-Star game will see a format and field unlike anything the league has rolled out before.
This year’s All-Star Game breaks from decades of tradition. Instead of conferences or captains drafting teams, the league has moved to a nationality-based setup, elevating the USA vs. World concept that has been building across the regular season and international competitions. The new approach aims to restore competitiveness, increase pride, and highlight the NBA’s global core at a time when many of its biggest stars come from outside the United States.
All-Star Weekend 2026 Overview
All-Star action starts Friday, February 13, with the Celebrity Game and Rising Stars headlining the opening night. Rising Stars will again showcase many of the league’s top rookies and sophomores, continuing a trend that has turned Friday into a must-watch window for fans tracking the next wave of talent. The league will also stage fan experiences and community events across the region, leveraging the Los Angeles market and the new arena’s surrounding campus.
Saturday, February 14, brings All-Star Saturday Night back to its familiar slot, featuring the Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest, and Skills-focused competitions. The fields for the Saturday events now blend established names with up-and-coming players, and sharpshooting rookie Kon Knueppel has emerged as one of the main storylines in the three-point field. His early-season volume and efficiency from deep have moved him into favorite status with many oddsmakers and added extra intrigue to the contest.
The weekend culminates Sunday afternoon at Intuit Dome with the new-look All-Star Game. The NBA has positioned this edition as both a celebration of 75 All-Star Games and a reset for how the event fits into a league increasingly defined by positionless basketball and international stars.
New USA vs. World Format
The league’s revamped format divides 25 All-Stars into three teams: USA Stars, USA Stripes, and Team World. Two rosters are composed entirely of American-born players, while the third brings together the league’s top international talent. Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff leads USA Stars, San Antonio Spurs assistant Mitch Johnson coaches USA Stripes, and Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković guides Team World.
Rather than one 48-minute exhibition, the event now plays out as a mini-tournament. The teams will compete in a round-robin of shorter games, with four 12-minute contests scheduled. Each team plays twice in the first three games, and the two best teams advance to a championship matchup to close the night. The format is designed to introduce urgency from the opening tip in each game and reduce the long, low-intensity stretches that have drawn criticism in past years.
The change also reflects the reality of the modern NBA, where MVP races, All-NBA slots, and Finals narratives are often driven by international stars. Framing the game as USA vs. World gives players and fans a clear competitive hook while still allowing the league to showcase the full range of its talent.
Star Power Across All Three Teams
The rosters reflect both the NBA’s aging legends and its emerging core. USA Stripes brings major star power and championship pedigree, featuring LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, and others. The group combines high-usage scorers, versatile wings, and battle-tested postseason performers, making Stripes a natural favorite among fans who lean toward experience.
USA Stars tilts younger, headlined by Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Duren, Jalen Johnson, and Chet Holmgren. This roster mirrors the future of USA Basketball, loaded with players who have already taken on primary roles for their franchises. Their athleticism and pace could be decisive in a shorter-game format, especially in a tournament setting where quick starts matter.
Team World continues the trend of international dominance at the top of the league. Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, Pascal Siakam, Karl-Anthony Towns, Norman Powell, and Deni Avdija headline a lineup that showcases size, playmaking, and scoring from every position. Injuries have forced adjustments, but the core remains one of the most talented collections of international players ever assembled in a single NBA game.
The international group highlights a larger shift in league hierarchy. Recent MVPs have overwhelmingly come from outside the United States, and players like Jokić, Dončić, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Wembanyama remain at or near the center of title and awards conversations. That context adds another layer to Team World’s role in this format and sets up natural storylines around national pride and legacy.
Odds, Trends, and Individual Storylines
Betting markets have tilted toward Team World in the run-up to the weekend. Many oddsmakers list the World team as a slight favorite to win the mini-tournament, with USA Stripes and USA Stars close behind. The combination of Jokić’s playmaking, Dončić’s shot creation, and Wembanyama’s two-way impact has made the World side a popular pick, especially in a format that rewards halfcourt execution in short bursts.
Outright tournament odds and MVP markets continue to shift as injury updates come in and minutes expectations become clearer. Dončić and Wembanyama draw significant attention in MVP projections, while Edwards, Cunningham, Maxey, and Leonard emerge as potential swing players on the American side. Shorter games and multiple teams mean fewer minutes per player, so efficiency and late-game stretches could decide individual awards.
Beyond the main event, All-Star Saturday remains a major focus for fans and bettors. Knueppel’s rapid rise as a high-volume, high-efficiency shooter has pushed him toward the front of the Three-Point Contest odds, alongside established names like Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Norman Powell, and others. The dunk contest features a new crop of participants, with a wide-open field and no clear dominant favorite, heightening anticipation for surprise performances.
Betting platforms have responded to the new format with expanded markets, including game-by-game lines within the mini-tournament and props tied to specific matchups between the three teams. International books such as Stake.com reflect the elevated interest in Team World and the increased attention on first-time All-Star formats, offering odds not just on the overall winner but also on point totals and individual performance.
International Dominance Shapes Expectations
The broader backdrop to All-Star Weekend is the sustained success of international players at the top of the NBA. Since James Harden’s 2018 MVP season, the award has largely belonged to international stars, with multiple trophies for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić and recent wins for Joel Embiid and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Dončić and Wembanyama are now firmly in that conversation, reinforcing the narrative that the league’s most dominant players often come from outside the United States.
That pattern feeds directly into the perception of Team World heading into the 2026 All-Star Game. Fans see a group that mirrors the MVP ballot and the All-NBA first team more than a traditional All-Star “underdog” squad. If the World team delivers in this new format, it could further cement the idea that the balance of power at the very top of the league has shifted, even as American stars continue to fill out the All-Star pool.
With a new arena, a new format, and a talent pool that reflects the NBA’s global reach, All-Star Weekend 2026 in Los Angeles sets up as both a celebration and a stress test for the league’s latest attempt to keep its showcase event meaningful. As the ball goes up at Intuit Dome, the spotlight will fall not only on highlight plays, but also on whether USA vs. World can deliver the competitive edge fans have been asking for.
