More changes are reportedly coming to NBA All-Star Weekend.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that the league is “likely” to make a few significant changes to the 2026 All-Star Game, which will include a new round-robin tournament featuring two USA teams and one World team.
The NBA and its player union reportedly presented the new format idea to the Competition Committee, and while it has yet to become official, Charania added that the response was “positive” to make the changes.
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Here’s what to know about the NBA’s potential new All-Star Game format.
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2026 NBA All-Star Game format, explained
The NBA has made various changes to its All-Star Game format over the years. In 2018, the traditional East vs. West matchup was changed so that a fan-voted team captain would draft their squads. Later on, a “target score” elam ending was introduced for the fourth quarter to increase competitiveness.
In 2024, East vs. West teams returned, but in 2025, a mini-tournament was introduced with three eight-player rosters drafted by the “NBA on TNT” crew.
Now, the league appears to be heading for another major change to the All-Star exhibition matchups. Charania reported Wednesday that the 2026 All-Star game is “likely” to continue the use of a round-robin tournament with three eight-player squads, but a key difference will be how those teams are decided upon.
Per Charania, two of the three squads will be “USA” teams, while the other will be a “World” team. The changes are not yet official, but were met by the NBA’s Competition Committee with a positive response.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game format is likely to feature a round-robin tournament consisting three eight-player squads of two USA teams and one World team, sources tell ESPN. NBA and players union presented format to the Competition Committee on Wednesday and response was positive. pic.twitter.com/xuR46pVYyu
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 3, 2025
Charania then added that in the potential new format, the two USA teams and one World team would play each other in 12-minute per quarter, “Ryder Cup-style games.”
Team USA vs. World rosters have been rumored for years, especially as the NBA’s international talent has grown with players like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Now they could be becoming a reality, should the proposal become official in the coming months before the 2025-26 season begins.
Where is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be played at the L.A. Clippers’ Intiuit Dome on Feb. 15.
It will be played during the same time of the Winter Olympics, which NBA commissioner Adam Silver said was “not lost” on the league when considering an international twist to the All-Star Game, per ESPN.
