The NBA is trying its hand at a brand new All-Star Game format in 2026, but the honor of being named a starter remains unchanged. As in years' past, five players from each conference receive the starter label, even though 15 players will actually start as part of the league's three-team format.
If the early voting returns were any indication, fans expect the World team to have an advantage over the two USA teams on All-Star Weekend. Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic were the top three vote-getters in the NBA's final update on Jan. 7, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama also not far behind.
For the Americans, Jalen Brunson put together a strong showing in early voting returns, while Stephen Curry was near the top of the balloting in the West even as he approaches his 38th birthday.
Which 10 players are 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters? AllSportsPeople is tracking the full results below.
MORE: Highest-scoring NBA All-Star Games in history
NBA All-Star voting results 2026
Eastern Conference starters
| Player | Team | Player rank | Fan rank | Media rank | Weighted score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2.25 |
| Cade Cunningham | Pistons | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2.75 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 76ers | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Jalen Brunson | Knicks | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3.25 |
| Jaylen Brown | Celtics | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3.5 |
Western Conference starters
| Player | Team | Player rank | Fan rank | Media rank | Weighted score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.75 |
| Luka Doncic | Lakers | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2.5 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Stephen Curry | Warriors | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3.5 |
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5.75 |
How does the NBA All-Star voting process work?
Fans voted on starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game from Dec. 17 to Jan. 14, with votes counting for three times the value of a normal vote on five particular days. The All-Star ballot was position-less this year, but fans still voted for five starters from each conference.
The selection process remained the same as previous years, with fan vote accounting for 50 percent, media vote accounting for 25 percent and player votes accounting for the final 25 percent toward determining the five starters in each conference.
What is the new NBA All-Star Game format in 2026?
The NBA All-Star Game once again has a new format, and it means the honor of being named one of the 10 starters is mostly ceremonial.
The NBA is breaking in a new USA vs. World format comprised of three teams: two eight-man rosters of American players and one eight-man roster of international players. The teams will play a round-robin format to determine who will advance to the championship game. All games will be played on Sunday, Feb. 15.
If all three teams are tied after the round-robin format, point differential will be used to determine which teams go to the championship game. Each game will be 12 minutes, adding up to the equivalent of a 48-minute game of basketball.
When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?
- Date: Sunday, Feb. 15
- Time: 5 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. PT
- Location: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
The 2026 NBA All-Star will tip off at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15 from the Los Angeles Clippers' Intuit Dome. The game has an earlier start time this year to fit around NBC's Winter Olympics coverage.
2026 NBA All-Star schedule
Friday, Feb. 13
- NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, 7 p.m. ET
- NBA Rising Stars Game, 9 p.m. ET
- NBA HBCU Classic (Hampton vs. NC A&T), 11 p.m. ET
Saturday, Feb. 14
- NBA All-Star Saturday Night, 5 p.m. ET
Sunday, Feb. 15
- NBA All-Star Game, 5 p.m. ET