The National Basketball Association (NBA) and NBC Sports have announced the entertainment lineup for NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles, headlined by three-time GRAMMY Award winner Ludacris. The global entertainment icon will take center court on NBA All-Star Saturday (Feb. 14) and deliver a high-energy, in-arena performance ahead of AT&T Slam Dunk designed to elevate the atmosphere inside Intuit Dome. NBA All-Star Saturday tips off at 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock and will be available in more than 200 countries and territories in 50 languages.
On Sunday, Feb. 15, legendary music composer and television and radio personality John Tesh will deliver a historic live performance of his iconic “Roundball Rock” to introduce the 75th NBA All-Star Game, airing at 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. This marks the first time “Roundball Rock” has ever been performed live inside a sports arena and celebrates the NBA All-Star Game’s return to NBC after 24 years. First introduced during NBC Sports’ acclaimed NBA coverage from 1990 to 2002, “Roundball Rock” remains one of the most recognizable and enduring pieces of sports music in television history and underscores the NBA All-Star Game’s return to NBC.
Prior to tip-off of the 75th All-Star Game, GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress Brandy will perform the U.S. national anthem, while three-time GRAMMY Award winner Sarah McLachlan will sing the Canadian national anthem live from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
On Friday, Feb. 13, ahead of Castrol Rising Stars, Aiden Ross, winner of NBC’s “The Voice” Season 28, will perform the U.S. national anthem and Toronto native Chxrry will perform the Canadian national anthem. Castrol Rising Stars tips off at 9 p.m. ET from Intuit Dome and airs live on Peacock. Prior to the NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T on Friday, Feb. 13, GRAMMY-nominated singer and actress Chlöe Bailey will perform the U.S. national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The NBA HBCU Classic tips off at 8 p.m. ET and streams live on Peacock.
As previously announced, the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game will include a special halftime performance by five-member K-pop group CORTIS on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, airing exclusively on ESPN.
In addition, Ludacris, genre-defying star Shaboozey and CORTIS will perform throughout the weekend as part of the NBA Crossover Concert Series, taking place Feb. 12-15 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Tickets are available at NBAEvents.com.
Emmy Award-winning musician Adam Blackstone will serve as Musical Director for NBA All-Star 2026.
ABOUT LUDA:
The career of the multi-talented CHRIS “LUDACRIS” BRIDGES can best be described as remarkable. As a recording artist, he has sold more than 24 million albums worldwide, thanks to the blockbuster success of such singles as “Stand Up,” “Get Back,” “Southern Hospitality,” “Number One Spot,” “Money Maker,” and “My Chick Bad.” All these records were accompanied by ingenious videos that demonstrated Bridges’ far-reaching imagination and his willingness to stretch the boundaries of what rap videos should look and feel like.
With an unrivaled match of lyrical acumen, wit, and imagery, Ludacris has solidified himself as one of music’s premier entertainers. His versatility and artistic complexity also enabled him to make a seamless transition to acting, including the fan-favorite role of “Tej” in Universal Pictures’ box office phenomenon Fast & Furious franchise, where he was first introduced in 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003). He recently reprised his role for the seventh time in Fast X, released May 20, 2023, while simultaneously hitting the road with Janet Jackson to perform his greatest hits during the 33-city Together Again tour — once again proving himself to be a true, modern-day Renaissance man.
His other notable film credits include Garry Marshall’s ensemble comedy New Year’s Eve, Ivan Reitman’s romantic comedy No Strings Attached, Paul Haggis’s Crash (which received an Academy Award for Best Picture in 2006), and Hustle & Flow (which earned Bridges a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture). He also starred alongside Lil Rel in the Christmas comedy Dashing Through the Snow.
As a father of four girls, his latest ventures fittingly include launching an educational platform devoted to the enrichment of children called KidNation. In addition, Bridges created the animated series KARMA’S WORLD, which debuted in Netflix’s Top 10 in 42 countries, received two NAACP Award nominations, and is currently awaiting its fifth season. The show — a coming-of-age story for children ages 6–9 about a young Black girl finding her voice — was inspired by Chris’s oldest daughter, Karma, and is based on the interactive educational website of the same name created by Karma’s World Entertainment in 2009.
A consummate businessman, Ludacris is enjoying success outside of entertainment. One of his most successful ventures includes opening his long-anticipated restaurant Chicken-n-Beer at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, and most recently, at LAX in Los Angeles.
Bridges’ philanthropic efforts rival his entertainment accomplishments. He founded The Ludacris Foundation in 2001, focusing on empowering youth in his hometown of Atlanta. He has also partnered with No Kid Hungry and Feeding America, further amplifying his commitment to making a difference.
This October marks the 25th anniversary of Ludacris’ groundbreaking debut album Back for the First Time — a milestone that not only celebrates his legacy but also sets the stage for what’s next. To commemorate this incredible achievement, Ludacris recently delivered an epic, legendary performance at One Music Fest, where he brought out a star-studded lineup including Usher, LL Cool J, Fergie, Chingy, Shawna, Bobby V, Jadakiss, Jeezy, and I-20. In honor of this major career milestone, he is also planning a new anniversary tour that will reconnect fans with the music, energy, and creativity that have defined his journey from day one.
