Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played for the Global Stars in this year's All-Star game before being named the NBA's Most Valuable Player

USA to Face World Stars in 2026 NBA All-Star Game Shake-Up

USA vs World: NBA All-Star Game Gets International Twist in 2026

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will take on a new format, pitting Team USA against a squad of international NBA stars. This revamped structure comes as the NBA returns its All-Star showcase to NBC and aligns it with the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Scheduled for 16 February, the game will take place during the Olympics, with NBC planning to sandwich the All-Star Game between live Olympic events in a prime programming move.

“So what better time to feature some form of USA against the world?” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

New Format, New Broadcaster

NBC, regaining the broadcast rights to the NBA All-Star Game, is shifting the event to an afternoon slot to complement Olympic programming.

Silver referenced the NHL’s successful 4 Nations Face-Off, a format that showcased national teams made up solely of NHL stars earlier this year. He said he closely observed the fan reception and intends to bring a similar excitement to the NBA version.

Why International Stars Now Take Center Stage

The decision also reflects a growing global influence in the NBA:

The last seven MVP awards have gone to non-American players.
The last two No. 1 overall draft picks have been French.
Joel Embiid, originally from Cameroon, now represents the USA.

This global shift makes the USA vs World format more relevant and competitive than ever.

A Response to Declining Viewership

The change comes after significant viewer drop-off. The 2025 All-Star weekend featured an experimental four-team mini-tournament, but ratings still dropped 13%, marking the second-lowest audience in 25 years.

The league hopes that national pride and international star power will restore fan excitement and raise engagement.