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The NBA All-Star Game delivered a much-needed ratings win for the league’s midseason showcase.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game drew 8.8 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo, according to preliminary Nielsen data and Adobe Analytics, the network announced Monday. That number would be an 87% increase in viewers over last year (4.7 million, second-lowest in history), and the most-watched NBA All-Star Game since 2011.
It was the first NBA All-Star Game on NBC Sports since 2002.
NBC said viewership peaked at 9.8 million viewers from 7-7:15 p.m. ET, the closing minutes of the third game of the four-game tournament—essentially the third quarter of a regular game—when Team USA Stripes defeated Team World, 48–45.
This year’s All-Star Game was the first time the NBA incorporated a USA vs. World format. The league has continued to change its format in recent years in an attempt to get players to compete during the exhibition.
Sunday’s game was undoubtedly one of its more competitive showcases in recent memory, as the first three games were decided by one score. The final game was a blowout, with Team USA Stars defeating Team USA Stripes, 47–21.
The USA vs. World format also coincided with NBC’s 2026 Winter Olympics coverage. The All-Star Game aired at 5 p.m. ET—rather than the usual 8 p.m. ET tip-off—and was sandwiched between NBC’s live Winter Olympics coverage and tape-delayed Primetime In Milan replays.
The NBA was averaging 1.85 million viewers for its 2025–26 regular season as of Feb. 1, up 19% from last year.
