The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is set to undergo major changes when it takes the floor in Los Angeles next February.
Only shooting stars break the mold and the 2026 NBA All-Star Game is apparently attempting to do the same.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver previewed changes to the annual exhibition during a Wednesday appearance on Fox Sports' "Breakfast Ball," revealing that "some form of USA against the world" will be staged on the floor of Intuit Dome on Feb. 15.
Silver was inspired by both the National Hockey League's staging of its inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, a weeklong competition starring international teams in lieu of an all-star game, as well as the fact that the NBA's exhibition was moving back to NBC under the new media deal that kicks in next season. The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be sandwiched by NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics in Italy, placing the exhibition in a rare afternoon timeslot.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirms there will be USA vs. the World in the 2026 All-Star Game 👀
— Breakfast Ball (@BrkfstBallOnFS1) June 4, 2025
"I'm not exactly sure what the format will be yet. I paid a lot of attention to what the NHL did, which was a huge success."@craigcartonlive | @DannyParkins | @markschlereth pic.twitter.com/WsEzhe4Jkk
"We’ll be smack in the middle of the Winter Olympics,” Silver said. “The very day we’re on, the lead-in will be Winter Olympic events and then coming out of the All-Star Game, which is now going to be in the afternoon instead of the evening, there will be more Olympic events."
“So what better time to feature some form of USA against the world? I’m not exactly sure what the format will be yet. I obviously paid a lot of attention to what the NHL did with the (4 Nations Face-Off), which was a huge success. But also going back, last summer, our Olympic competition was a huge success.”
The 4 Nations Face-Off placed NHL stars on a series of nationally-branded superteams, with the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden represented in a nine-day competition staged in Boston and Montreal. Canada defeated the U.S. by a 3-2 final in overtime at TD Garden, avenging a 3-1 loss at Bell Centre during pool play.
Moving to such a format is the NBA's latest attempt to liven up the main event on All-Star Weekend, which has faced an increased amount of scrutiny for the lack of effort on display from participants.
The latest edition in February turned to a four-team tournament format consisting of three squads drafted by "NBA on TNT" personalities Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kenny Smith plus the winner of the Rising Stars Challenge from earlier in the weekend (overseen by another TNT personality in Candace Parker). The year prior, defense was at an absolute premium in a brief return to the conference-vs.-conference format, one that yielded a final score of 211-186 in favor of the East.
The most prominent attempt at an officially sanction "USA vs. all" was perhaps staged at the NHL All-Star Game between 1998 and 2002, which opted for a "North America vs. The World" showdown. NHL all-stars squared off against the Soviet Union in 1979 and 1987.
On the hardwood, WNBA All-Star Games have pitted the United States' women's national basketball team against a team of WNBA standouts of all nationalities (including American) during Olympic years. Team WNBA won the most recent competition last July by a 117-109 final.
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I have an idea that has not been stated. Keep the format “East vs West “. Most of the participants are voted come from winning teams during this showcase. Here’s the caveat, the winning team or i should conference gets home court edge in the NBA finals. Let’s say for instance, the East won this seasons All-Star game, this would give the Pacers, regardless of record, home court edge. This would, hopefully, have the team with the best record of worst record incentive to play their best ball. For that advantage.
Not sure how old you are, but that exact idea was tried by baseball some years back. It was interesting, to be sure, but by the ninth inning all of the starters/stars were long gone. Instead, some first-time All-Star from a last-place team would decide the home-field for the World Series as a pinch-hitter. At least in basketball, the stars would be on the floor in crunch time. I think the most interesting question will be is it USA vs. The World? Or NORTH AMERICA vs. The World. SGA would like to know. lol