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when is the dunk contest 2026

The 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest is scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026, as part of All-Star Saturday Night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood/Los Angeles, California.

Quick Scoop: When Is the Dunk Contest 2026?

  • Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026 (All-Star Saturday).
  • City / Arena: Intuit Dome, Inglewood / Los Angeles, California.
  • Start of All-Star Saturday block: 5:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
  • Event order:
    1. 3-Point Contest.
2. Shooting Stars-type event.

3. AT&T Slam Dunk Contest (third event, closes the night).

You should be tuned in by 5:00 p.m. ET, since the dunk contest is part of the continuous All-Star Saturday broadcast rather than a separate show.

At a Glance (HTML table)

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Detail Info
Date Saturday, February 14, 2026
All-Star Saturday start 5:00 p.m. ET
Event slot AT&T Slam Dunk is the 3rd event of the night, after the 3-Point Contest and Shooting Stars.
Venue Intuit Dome, Inglewood / Los Angeles, California
TV / Streaming NBC & Peacock (within the All-Star Saturday broadcast)

Who’s in it this year?

Multiple outlets list a four-man field of first-time dunk contest participants:

  • Carter Bryant – San Antonio Spurs.
  • Jaxson Hayes – Los Angeles Lakers.
  • Keshad Johnson – Miami Heat.
  • Jase Richardson – Orlando Magic.

With three-time defending champion Mac McClung not participating, fans are guaranteed a brand-new winner in 2026, which has added some extra buzz in forums and previews.

Format and what to expect

Most previews describe a classic two-round format in 2026:

  1. Opening round:
    • Four dunkers, two dunks each, judges’ scores are combined.
    • The top two advance based on total score.
  1. Final round:
    • Two finalists, two more dunks each.
    • Highest combined score wins the contest.

For context, some discussion videos and forum-style commentary had speculated that the dunk contest might be phased out after 2025, but current 2026 coverage makes clear the event is very much still on the schedule and being promoted as a centerpiece of All-Star Saturday.

“The Dunk Contest is not gone. It is still dunking and with a little effort, it can soar to even greater heights.”

Mini FAQ

  1. What exact time is the dunk contest itself?
    The league lists All-Star Saturday’s start at 5:00 p.m. ET, with the dunk contest as the third event; exact minute can shift based on how long the earlier contests run, so plan to be watching from the start.
  1. Where can I watch?
    NBC and Peacock carry the full Saturday slate, including the dunk contest; there is no standalone broadcast just for the dunk event.
  1. Any trending angle for 2026?
    The buzz this year centers on a fresh field with no defending champion, the relatively new Intuit Dome as host, and debate over whether rising talents can restore some of the contest’s old “wow” factor.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.