2026 NBA All-Star voting: when it starts, rules, more

Get those tickets ready, NBA fans! The road to the 2026 All-Star Game is about to officially open. in 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend will take place from February 13-15. Here’s everything you need to know about the voting results, rosters and rookies who will be traveling to Los Angeles.

When does the 2026 NBA All Star voting begin?

The league announced that voting will end on Tuesday, December 17th at 12pm ET. The window to send your favorite superstars to the showcase event will remain open until January 14th at 11:59 PM ET.

How to Vote for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game

If you want to influence who takes the court, you’ll need an NBA ID. Fans can submit one full ballot each day through the NBA app and NBA.com.

Maximize Your Impact: “3 in 1 Day”

For fans looking to make a serious push for their team’s franchise player, strategy is key. The NBA is bringing back “3-for-1 days,” where every vote cast is counted three times.

Here are the key dates to circle on your calendar:

• Sunday, December 21
• Thursday, December 25 (Christmas)
• Tuesday, December 30
• Wednesday, January 7
• Wednesday, January 14 (Final day of voting)

What is the format for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will debut a new three-team USA vs. World format. Two rosters will be made up of American players and the third will be made up of international players from the world team. Each team will have a minimum of eight players, and the event will be played in a round-robin format with four games of 12 minutes each.

In the round-robin portion, Team A will face Team B in Game 1. The winner of that matchup will face Team C in Game 2. The loser of Game 1 will then face Team C in Game 3.

After three round-robin games, the two highest-scoring teams will advance to the championship game, Game 4. If all three teams finish 1-1, the points difference from each team’s two round-robin games will determine which teams advance.

How does NBA All-Star voting work?

The 2026 NBA All-Star selection process will continue to include 24 players, with 12 selected from each conference. The five starters from each conference will be selected by a split vote among fans (50%), current NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%). Seven reserves from each conference will be selected by NBA head coaches. This year, All-Stars will be selected regardless of position. The process for assigning players to the two US teams will be determined at a later date.

If the All-Star voting does not produce at least 16 American players and eight international players, the NBA will add players to meet those minimums. NBA commissioner Adam Silver would select additional All-Stars, resulting in at least one roster exceeding eight players.

How are reserves selected?

Reserves are selected by voting among the head coaches, although head coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players. There are seven reserves per conference.

How will the teams be selected?

24 players will be selected for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, with 12 selected from each conference. The fans cast 50% of the votes to begin with, while the current players and the media panel make up 25% each. That vote determines the 10 starters, with no positional requirements. NBA head coaches select seven reserves from each conference, also regardless of position.

If the vote does not produce the minimum of 16 American players and eight international players, commissioner Adam Silver will add players to reach that total. After the rosters are finalized, players will be assigned to teams for the new USA vs. World tournament format.

Who will coach the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

The coaching staffs from the teams with the best results in the Eastern and Western Conferences will go to the All-Star game.

The East and West head coaches will coach each team in the tournament; one assistant coach from each staff will serve as the head coach for the other two teams in the All-Star Tournament.

What is prize money?

There is a $1.8 million prize pool for the All-Star game.

Each player on the All-Star championship team will receive $125,000, each player on the runner-up team will receive $50,000, and players on the teams eliminated in the semifinals will each receive $25,000.

When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, February 15, 2026. The game begins at 5:00 PM ET in Los Angeles, CA at the Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA (home of the Clippers).