What time does the NBA Slam Dunk Contest start today? 2026 All-Star Game TV Channels, Schedule, Live Streaming, Format originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend is approaching. This year, the All-Star Game will adopt a new format.
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However, before the main event, All-Star Saturday Night will feature entertainment that fans will also enjoy. As is customary, Saturday night’s headliner will be the popular NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
The Dunk Contest will conclude Saturday night’s action, following the Skills Challenge and Three-Point Shootout Contest.
Who will be the winner? Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, including TV and streaming options.
What time does the NBA Slam Dunk Contest start today?
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest will begin at approximately 8pm ET on Saturday, February 14th, and will also be held at the Intuit Dome.
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How to watch the NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Events during NBA All-Star Weekend will be broadcast live on NBC and can also be streamed on Peacock.
Peacock’s sports programming includes live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, NBA, Olympic and Paralympic games, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, Premier League football, golf and more.
NBA Slam Dunk Contest Participants and Format
This year’s slam dunk contest features the following contestants:
Each player will perform two dunks in the first round. The two players with the highest overall scores will advance to the finals. The two finalists will perform two additional dunks. The player with the highest total score will be the winner.
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A panel of four judges will score each dunk on a scale of 40 to 50. Fans with an NBA ID can submit their votes through the NBA app. All fan votes will be aggregated into one number, serving as the fifth judge.
The average of the five judges’ scores will serve as the contestant’s individual dunk score.
2026 NBA All-Star Schedule
|
date |
event |
Time (EST) |
Channel/Streaming |
|
Friday. February 13 |
NBA All-Star Game |
7pm |
ESPN, ESPN App |
|
– |
NBA Rising Stars Game |
9pm |
Peacock |
|
– |
NBA HBCU Classic |
11pm |
Peacock |
|
Saturday. February 15 |
All-Star Media Day |
1:30 pm |
NBA TV |
|
– |
saturday all star night |
8pm |
nbc, peacock |
|
sun. February 16 |
NBA All-Star Game |
5pm |
nbc, peacock |