NBA All-Star 2026: All-Star Saturday sparks Intuit Dome ahead of USA vs. World finale
All-Star Saturday roars to life at 5 ET at the Intuit Dome with a stacked lineup of events — the State Farm 3-Point Contest, Kia Shooting Stars and the AT&T Slam Dunk — setting the table for Sunday’s 75th All-Star Game at 5 ET. Friday’s Rising Stars produced a breakout MVP performance from Edgecombe, while the weekend’s new USA vs. World format promises a short, intense tournament to close out the celebration.
Saturday night showdowns: shots, slams and spectacle
The evening’s slate, which begins at 5 ET, is designed to deliver fast, highlight-driven entertainment. The 3-Point Contest brings eight sharpshooters, each carrying a clear incentive to walk away with the trophy and its career-defining moment. Teams in the Shooting Stars competition blend teammates, classmates and family connections in a quickfire test of chemistry and precision.
The night’s crescendo will be the Slam Dunk Contest — a perennial All-Star Weekend centerpiece that blends athleticism and imagination. This year’s field features four fresh faces aiming to etch their names alongside the contest’s storied moments. With no returning champion in the lineup, fans can expect inventive approaches, high-risk attempts and the chance for a first-time winner to steal the spotlight.
Complementing the main events, the celebrity game added its share of color earlier in the weekend: performers and former pros mixed with big names from entertainment for a lighthearted, crowd-pleasing display that included long-range theatrics and oversized personalities taking center court.
Rising Stars and storylines shaping the weekend
Friday’s Rising Stars challenge produced a clear MVP in Edgecombe, whose two winners and one takeover helped Team Vince secure the title. That performance underlined the depth of young talent poised to be long-term fixtures in the league’s highlight reels. The Rising Stars format continues to be a proving ground where athleticism, chemistry and late-game flair can turn prospects into instant favorites among fans.
Off the court, a major chapter closed this week: a 12-time All-Star and one of the game’s all-time distributors announced his retirement after 21 seasons, leaving behind a legacy that includes top rankings in both assists and steals. Expect tributes during All-Star Weekend as peers and fans celebrate a career that shaped games and locker rooms across generations.
Sunday’s finale: a compact USA vs. World tournament
The 75th All-Star Game tips off Sunday at 5 ET in a new format that slices the event into three teams — two U. S. squads and one World team — competing in a round-robin of 12-minute games. Each team will play at least two matchups, with the two highest-ranked teams advancing to a championship game later in the day; ties will be settled by point differential. The schedule’s earlier start at 5 ET compresses the day into a brisk slate that aims to maximize competitive intensity and fan engagement.
With elite talent spread across three squads, the weekend’s narrative shifts from single-player showcases to team dynamics and short-burst strategy. Coaches and players alike have signaled that the compact games should encourage aggressive offense and stylistic experimentation — a fitting capstone for a weekend built on creativity and spectacle.
All-Star Weekend has always been a mix of celebration and competition. This year’s lineup — from Edgecombe’s Rising Stars breakout to the anticipation around a brand-new dunk contest champion and the USA vs. World tournament — ensures the 75th edition will be remembered for both its moments and its milestones.
