The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will use a USA vs. World format. Victor Wembanyama suggested the concept before last year’s game. The event takes place at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Three teams will compete in a round-robin tournament with 12-minute games.
Wembanyama suggested the format before last year’s game
Victor Wembanyama floated the USA vs. World idea before the 2025 All-Star Game. “It just makes me think if there was a game of the World vs. USA, that would be interesting,” Wembanyama said at the time. The NBA adopted the format for 2026. The structure features two American teams and one international team competing in a three-team tournament.
The format uses 12-minute games
Each game is 12 minutes. The three teams play round-robin. The top two teams advance to a championship game. The total basketball action is 48 minutes across the tournament. The format replaces the traditional East vs. West structure that had drawn criticism for lacking competitive intensity.
Team World has Jokić, Dončić, and Wembanyama
The international roster includes Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama. Team USA Stars features Scottie Barnes, Devin Booker, and Anthony Edwards. Team USA Stripes has LeBron James and Steph Curry. Kawhi Leonard’s placement on a U.S. roster balances the number of American and international players across the three teams.
The game is at Intuit Dome
All-Star Weekend takes place in Los Angeles at the Intuit Dome. The USA vs. World format is designed to introduce national and international stakes to the event. Previous format changes included the Elam Ending and captain-selected teams. This is the first time the All-Star Game has been structured around country of origin since the NBA began expanding its international player base.