The NBA will not return to the All-Star Game mini-tournament format in 2026. Last month, the league put on an impressive four-team tournament. It included 24 current NBA All-Stars playing with or against a team of rookies and sophomores, all racing to be the first to 40 points. Despite some excitement for the new format, Commissioner Adam Silver called it a “miss,” so in a mood of self-inflicted mercy, it was killed. The league’s current decision is primarily driven by a desire to enhance competitiveness across the game. For the past several years, the game itself has been at an identity crisis.
This season, the NBA really wanted to experiment with different ideas. Beyond that, they wanted to create a culture of competition among the players themselves. No matter how hard we tried, the format just didn’t click in the way we envisioned. As a result, the league is now exploring alternative approaches to enhance the excitement and competitiveness of the All-Star Game.
In what will be a big departure from prior games, next season’s contest will be broadcasted on NBC‘s network of channels on Sunday, February 15, 2026. Perhaps even more importantly, the broadcast would move from its traditional Sunday evening slot to Sunday afternoon. This shift comes along with the NBA’s new $24 billion-dollar broadcast agreement with NBC, bringing the national network onto the playing field—literally—for Sunday Night Football.
The next All-Star Game, scheduled to take place at the home of the LA Clippers — their new home in Inglewood, California — could be a different story. Holding the event at this particular location marks a new chapter for the venue. It offers a new backdrop for the league’s marquee gathering. The NBA is currently in negotiations for a new television deal, reportedly with NBC. They’re still figuring out the most effective formats and attributes of this partnership.
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