Ruffles All-Star Celebrity Game 2026 (Image via Getty)
NBA All-Star Weekend opens with the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, a yearly exhibition that blends entertainment with basketball. Musicians, actors, media personalities, athletes from other sports and former NBA players will take the floor at the Kia Forum in Inglewood.The 2026 edition features a recognizable group led by GloRilla and Keegan-Michael Key. Indian rapper Badshah is also part of the lineup, along with Jeremy Lin and Tacko Fall, who bring professional basketball experience to a game that is usually played at a faster, less structured pace than traditional competition.
NBA All-Star Celebrity Game 2026 Date, time, venue and TV details
• Date: Friday, February 13, 2026 • Tipoff time: 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) • Venue: Kia Forum, Inglewood, California. The arena is serving as one of the main All-Star locations while the All-Star Game will be played at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome. • TV channel (U.S.): ESPN will carry the broadcast exclusively, while several other All-Star events are scheduled for NBC and Peacock platforms.
NBA All-Star Celebrity Game 2026 Streaming options
• ESPN app and ESPN.com with a TV provider login • Streaming services that include ESPN, such as Sling Orange, Fubo, DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV • Some services, including Fubo and DirecTV Stream, are offering free trials that can be used to watch the game legally
All-Star Weekend returns to Los Angeles
The 75th NBA All-Star Game is set for Sunday, Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, placing the center of this year’s events in the Los Angeles area.
The Celebrity Game is scheduled early in the weekend and will be followed later that night by Rising Stars and the NBA HBCU Classic.Friday’s schedule: • Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game – 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) • NBA Rising Stars – 9 p.m. ET (Peacock/NBC platforms) • NBA HBCU Classic – 11 p.m. ET (Peacock)
NBA All-Star Celebrity Game 2026 Game rosters
The NBA and ESPN announced the participants in early February. The group combines entertainment figures with retired players and athletes from other leagues.GloRilla and Keegan-Michael Key headline the list. They are joined by Badshah, producer-DJ Mustard, former NBA champion Jeremy Lin and Tacko Fall.The participants below reflect the confirmed pool as of February 2026. Because the game features celebrities and retired professionals, roster changes tied to NBA trades are not a factor.
NBA All-Star Celebrity Game 2026 Notable celebrities and personalities
• GloRilla – Multi-platinum rapper making her first Celebrity Game appearance • Keegan-Michael Key – Emmy-winning actor, writer and producer • Badshah – Indian rapper with a large international following • Mustard – Los Angeles producer and DJ • Taylor Frankie Paul – Television personality known from “The Bachelorette” and Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” • Nicolas Vansteenberghe – Reality TV personality from “Love Island USA” • Shams Charania – ESPN Senior NBA Insider • Amon-Ra St. Brown – All-Pro NFL wide receiver and Los Angeles native
Returning Celebrity Game standouts
• Rome Flynn – Emmy-winning actor and the reigning Celebrity Game MVP • Simu Liu – Star of “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” returning for another appearance • Andre De Grasse – Seven-time Olympic medalist sprinter • Dylan Wang – Chinese actor and singer making his third Celebrity Game appearance • Jason “White Chocolate” Williams – Former NBA champion known for his passing
NBA All-Star Celebrity Game 2026 Storylines to watch
– GloRilla’s All-Star Weekend debut: GloRilla enters the event as one of its most recognizable first-time participants.
Her presence is expected to draw attention during the broadcast and in postgame highlights.– Keegan-Michael Key on the court: Key is widely known for comedy, but the Celebrity Game often produces competitive moments. His interactions with teammates and officials could become part of the night’s entertainment.– Badshah adds international interest: Badshah’s participation brings additional global visibility.
The NBA has continued to involve international entertainers in the Celebrity Game as part of its effort to grow the sport’s audience.– Experience matters: Jeremy Lin and Tacko Fall: Players with professional backgrounds often influence this exhibition.Jeremy Lin can organize the offense and create scoring chances in a game where defensive structure is limited. Tacko Fall’s height makes him a strong presence near the rim and a clear target on interior plays.If they share the floor, their team should benefit in rebounding and paint defense.
Shams Charania steps onto the floor
Shams Charania, known for reporting league news, will take part as a player. His appearance adds a different angle to the event, placing a familiar media figure in the game itself.
How the Celebrity Game fits into the 2026 NBA All-Star weekend
The Celebrity Game serves as an entry point to All-Star Weekend. It is less focused on competition than Saturday’s events but remains part of the league’s overall schedule.Holding the game at the Kia Forum allows the NBA to use multiple venues across Inglewood and Los Angeles while reserving Intuit Dome for the All-Star Game.Also read: NBA All-Star Weekend 2026: Format change, predictions, Slam dunk contest, 3-point winner, and players to watchFor viewers, the event works as a starting point for the weekend – watch the celebrity matchups, follow the contributions from experienced players such as Jeremy Lin, Tacko Fall, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Andre De Grasse, and then continue into Rising Stars and the rest of the All-Star programming.
