NBA announces latest format tweak to NBA All-Star Game, introduces USA vs. World format

The NBA will change its All-Star Game format in 2026 to a round-robin tournament of two U.S. teams and one international team. Each team will have eight players and play each other in 12-minute games.

The U.S. vs. the World format presents a unique problem: What if there aren’t 16 Americans and eight international players (including Americans with ties to other countries)? Then, NBA commissioner Adam Silver would select additional All-Stars so the teams could reach the minimum of eight players. Meaning a team could have more than eight players.

The NBA has several international stars, including former league MVPs Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Luka Dončić is another international player of MVP caliber.

Roughly 25 percent of NBA players are from outside the United States, and the last eight league MVPs were not born in the United States. The league hopes this change is better received than the 2025 format, which consisted of three teams and a fourth team composed of players of the “Rising Stars” squad of first- and second-year players. It was the second-lowest-rated All-Star Game, down 13 percent from 2024.

NBA just revealed the All-Star Game format this season. Two teams of American players and one World team. Same selection process for the All-Stars but they will not be picked based on position.

So positionless All-Stars selections is a big tweak on the composition of the teams.

— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) November 12, 2025

Last year’s game featured lengthy stoppages and gimmicks aimed at garnering interest but was criticized for its format and how long the games lasted. The NBA is opting for this change instead of the traditional East vs. West format that has primarily been used.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be played at Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers.