If you're asking when is the NBA All Star game, you probably already know that the league loves to tinker with things. But 2026 is a whole different beast. Mark your calendars for February 15, 2026. That is the big night. The game is heading to the brand-new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California—the high-tech home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Honestly, the schedule is packed. It’s not just a Sunday game anymore. It’s a full-blown takeover of Los Angeles that starts on Thursday, February 12, and runs through the weekend.
The 2026 Schedule: What’s Happening and When
You’ve got to plan this out or you’ll miss the good stuff. Most people think it starts Friday, but the NBA Crossover fan event actually opens its doors at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Thursday. It’s basically a massive basketball theme park. If you want to see the players without paying thousands for a courtside seat, that’s where you go.
Here is how the main events actually break down:
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- Friday, February 13: The Celebrity Game kicks things off at the Kia Forum, followed by the Rising Stars at the Intuit Dome. There’s also the HBCU Classic happening that night.
- Saturday, February 14: This is usually the fan favorite. All-Star Saturday Night features the Skills Challenge, the 3-Point Contest, and the Slam Dunk Contest. It starts around 5:00 PM PT.
- Sunday, February 15: The main event. The 75th NBA All-Star Game tips off at 5:00 PM PT.
The Massive Format Change (No More East vs. West?)
The NBA is ditching the traditional game format. Again. After years of people complaining that the game was just a glorified layup line with no defense, Adam Silver is trying something radical for the 75th anniversary.
Instead of one long game, we are looking at a four-team round-robin tournament.
Think about it like this: Three teams of All-Stars—two groups of U.S. players and one team of International stars—plus the winner of the Rising Stars game. They’ll play a series of mini-games to see who makes the final. It’s kind of a "USA vs. The World" vibe, which makes sense considering guys like Giannis, Luka, and Jokic are basically running the league right now.
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It’s a 12-minute time limit per game. Fast. Chaotic. Probably way more competitive than what we’ve seen lately.
Why the Intuit Dome Matters
If you haven't seen the Intuit Dome yet, it's basically a spaceship. Steve Ballmer, the Clippers owner, went a little crazy with the tech. We are talking about "The Wall," which is a section of 51 uninterrupted rows of fans, and more toilets than any other arena in existence so you never miss a play.
Watching the All-Star game here is going to feel different. The "Halo Board" is a double-sided 4K ring that circles the entire ceiling. If you’re lucky enough to be there in person, you’re basically in a giant video game.
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Real Talk on Tickets and Travel
Don't wait. Seriously. If you're looking for tickets to the Sunday game, they are already hovering around the $1,200 to $1,500 range for the "cheap" seats. The average price is sitting closer to $3,700.
If that's too rich for your blood, the Celebrity Game or the Crossover event are much more manageable. But even those will sell out fast because, well, it’s L.A. Traffic is going to be a nightmare around Inglewood, so if you're staying in Hollywood or Downtown, give yourself at least two hours to get to the arena. No joke.
Actionable Steps for Your All-Star Weekend
If you are planning to attend or just want to catch the best moments from your couch, here is what you should do right now:
- Book Your Stay: If you're traveling, look for hotels in El Segundo or near LAX. They’re much closer to the Intuit Dome than the standard tourist spots.
- Download the NBA App: The league is moving toward digital-only for everything—entry, food ordering at the Intuit Dome, and schedule updates.
- Check the Broadcast: For the first time in over 20 years, the game is moving back to NBC and Peacock. If you only have cable for TNT, you might need to adjust your setup.
- Set Alerts for Voting: All-Star voting usually opens in late December. If you want your favorite player in that new round-robin format, you have to vote early.
This isn't just another exhibition game. Between the 75th-anniversary celebrations and the tournament-style format, the 2026 NBA All-Star weekend is shaping up to be the biggest shift in the event's history.