It is that time of year again where everyone stops caring about the standings for a minute to watch the best athletes on the planet run into each other (or hit home runs) in one stadium. Honestly, trying to figure out what station is the all star game on has become a bit of a nightmare lately because the TV deals keep shifting like tectonic plates.
One year it is on TNT, the next it is tucked away on a streaming app you forgot you paid for, and then suddenly it is back on network TV. For 2026, we are seeing some of the biggest broadcast shake-ups in a generation. If you are sitting on your couch with the remote, wondering why the game isn't where it "usually" is, you aren't alone.
The MLB Midsummer Classic Returns to Fox
For the baseball purists heading toward July 14, 2026, the answer is pretty straightforward, but the backdrop is historic. The MLB All-Star Game is heading to Philadelphia. Citizens Bank Park will be the center of the universe as the city celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Fox remains the primary home for the game.
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They’ve held these rights for a long time, and they aren't letting go yet. You can expect the usual suspects in the booth—Joe Davis and John Smoltz—bringing that big-game energy. If you’re in Canada, you’re looking at SportsNet. For those who prefer the radio or happen to be stuck in a car, ESPN Radio still carries the national broadcast.
What's actually interesting this year is how much "All-Star Week" has expanded. It isn't just a Tuesday night game anymore.
- The Home Run Derby (July 13) usually sticks with ESPN.
- The Futures Game and the Celebrity Softball Game (July 12) have been bouncing between Peacock and MLB Network.
If you're trying to stream the main event without cable, you’ll need a service that carries your local Fox affiliate, like YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV. Just a heads-up: the standard MLB.TV package usually has a blackout for the All-Star Game in the States because of those exclusive national rights.
The NBA's Massive Move to NBC
This is where things get wild. For over twenty years, we associated NBA All-Star Weekend with TNT and the crew at Inside the NBA. But 2026 is a brand-new era. Because of the massive new media rights deal, the NBA All-Star Game has moved to NBC and Peacock.
Mark your calendars for February 15, 2026.
The game is being held at the brand-new Intuit Dome in Inglewood (the Clippers' high-tech home). Because the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan are happening at the exact same time, NBC is doing this "mega-broadcast" thing. They are treating the All-Star Game as a centerpiece of their Olympic coverage.
Basically, the "station" you need is your local NBC channel. If you've cut the cord, Peacock is going to be your best friend. They are promising "Courtside Live" features where you can pick your own camera angles. It's a huge shift from the Turner Sports era we all grew up with.
The format is changing too. We’re looking at a "U.S. vs. World" tournament style. It’s not just East vs. West anymore; it’s a three-team round-robin. Seeing LeBron (if he’s still playing!) or Anthony Edwards face off against Luka Dončić and Giannis under the NBC peacock logo is going to feel very "90s throwback" for a lot of fans.
What Station Is The All Star Game On for Football Fans?
The NFL does things differently. They don't even call it a "game" anymore—it’s the Pro Bowl Games. For 2026, the NFL has made a massive scheduling tweak. Instead of the week before the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl festivities are moving to Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
Why Tuesday? They want it to be part of the Super Bowl LX buildup in the San Francisco Bay Area.
ESPN and Disney XD are the primary stations here.
Interestingly, ABC is not doing a simulcast of the main flag football game this time because of their Tuesday night primetime lineup. So, if you only have an antenna and no cable/streaming, you might be out of luck for the live Tuesday event. However, ABC will run a "Best Of" special the following Sunday.
Pro Bowl Broadcast Details:
- Primary Channel: ESPN
- Youth-Focused Feed: Disney XD (usually has cool AR graphics)
- Spanish Language: ESPN Deportes
- Streaming: ESPN+
Hockey's International Flavor
The NHL is in a weird spot in 2026. Because of the Winter Olympics, the traditional NHL All-Star Game is being replaced by the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Olympic tournament itself.
However, if you are looking for the "All-Star" fix, the ECHL All-Star Classic is the one filling the gap on the calendar. That airs on NHL Network on January 19, 2026. For the big NHL stars, you’ll be watching them on NBC and USA Network as part of the Olympic hockey tournament in February. It’s basically an All-Star game on steroids because they actually play defense when a gold medal is on the line.
A Quick Cheat Sheet for 2026
If you just need the quick "where do I click" info, here is the breakdown:
MLB All-Star Game
- Date: July 14, 2026
- Station: Fox
- Venue: Citizens Bank Park, Philly
NBA All-Star Game
- Date: February 15, 2026
- Station: NBC / Peacock
- Venue: Intuit Dome, Inglewood
NFL Pro Bowl Games
- Date: February 3, 2026
- Station: ESPN
- Venue: Moscone Center / Levi's Stadium area
Why the Channels Keep Changing
It’s all about the money. NBC paid a king's ransom to get basketball back. Fox clings to baseball because it’s a pillar of their summer programming. For us fans, it means we have to keep a checklist of which apps are active.
One thing to watch out for in 2026 is the "split broadcast." We’re seeing more games where the "main" feed is on a big station like Fox or NBC, but a "stat-heavy" or "celebrity" feed is exclusive to a streaming app.
Actionable Tips for Game Day
- Check your local listings early. Since the NBA is now on NBC, the start times are more rigid to fit into local news slots. Don't assume it's an 8:00 PM ET tip-off like the old days.
- Download the apps now. If you're using Peacock for the NBA or the Olympics, make sure your login works a day before. There’s nothing worse than missing the first inning or the first quarter because of a password reset.
- Use an Antenna. Since MLB (Fox) and NBA (NBC) are both on major broadcast networks in 2026, a cheap $20 digital antenna will get you the games in 4K-adjacent quality for free.
- Watch the Calendar. The NFL moving to a Tuesday is a huge trap. Most people will tune in on Sunday and realize they missed the whole thing.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the official league apps (MLB, NBA, NFL) about 48 hours before the event. They usually update the "Where to Watch" tab with specific local channel numbers based on your ZIP code. This is especially helpful if you're traveling and don't know the local affiliate numbers.