The National Basketball Association's mid-season spectacle, the All-Star Weekend, is set to descend upon Los Angeles in 2026. This event is not merely a basketball game; it is a three-day celebration of the sport's global reach, athletic artistry, and a cornerstone of the NBA's cultural footprint.

 

The primary venue for the main events, including the All-Star Game itself, will be the cutting-edge Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the brand-new home arena for the LA Clippers. The surrounding area, including the historic Kia Forum and the Los Angeles Convention Center, will host ancillary events throughout the weekend. Scheduled from Friday, February 13, to Sunday, February 15, 2026, this will be a record-setting seventh time the greater Los Angeles area has hosted the league's marquee event.

 

The weekend kicks off on Friday with the NBA Rising Stars challenge, showcasing the league’s top rookies and second-year players in a tournament format. Saturday night is dedicated to the skills competitions, featuring the Skills Challenge, the high-stakes 3-Point Contest, and the aerial acrobatics of the Slam Dunk Contest, which consistently provides some of the most memorable moments of the weekend.

The crescendo of the weekend is the All-Star Game on Sunday night. The 2026 edition introduces an innovative, potentially experimental, format: a round-robin mini-tournament featuring two teams from the USA facing off against one "World" team. This new structure aims to heighten competition and engagement, moving away from the often defense-optional exhibitions of the past. The event serves as both a dazzling entertainment spectacle and a crucial global marketing platform for the NBA, celebrating the best talent the sport has to offer.