When is NBA Dunk Contest 2026?
The 2026 NBA Dunk Contest will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026, as part of NBA All-Star Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood/Los Angeles, California. It’s the third and final event of the night, closing out the skills slate after the 3-Point Contest and Kia Shooting Stars challenge.
All-Star Saturday officially starts at 5:00 p.m. ET, with the dunk contest happening later in the program once the other two events wrap up. So if you’re the “I only tune in for the slams” type, you’ll want to be settled on the couch by early evening, but realistically, the entire block is worth watching.
This year has an extra layer of intrigue, too: with three-time defending champ Mac McClung not participating, the title is guaranteed to go to a brand-new winner.
The setting itself adds to the hype. The Intuit Dome is still a relatively new arena, and 2026 marks its turn as the All-Star host, so you’re getting not just big dunks but a very modern, tech-heavy presentation. It’s the kind of stage the league loves for “here’s the next generation” moments.
How to Watch NBA All-Star Saturday
You can watch NBA All-Star Saturday, including the 2026 dunk contest, live on NBC and streaming on Peacock starting at 5:00 p.m. ET.
The broadcast covers the full night: State Farm 3-Point Contest first, then the Kia Shooting Stars, then the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest as the closer.
In short:
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Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
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Time (block start): 5:00 p.m. ET
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Venue: Intuit Dome, Inglewood / Los Angeles, California
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TV: NBC
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Streaming: Peacock
The dunk contest doesn’t have a separate, standalone telecast; it’s baked into the All-Star Saturday broadcast, so if you’re planning content or watch parties, it’s safest to treat 5:00 p.m. ET as your start time and just enjoy the build-up.
Friday’s Celebrity Game, Rising Stars, and HBCU Classic, plus Sunday’s new Stars vs. Stripes vs. World All-Star Game format wrap around the night, but Saturday still has that nostalgic “event TV” feel.
If you’ve got friends who don’t usually watch full games, the dunk contest is still the easiest sell: no complex schemes, no 48-minute commitment, just “can that guy really jump over that?”
Who is competing in the NBA slam dunk contest?
The 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest features a four-man field of first-time participants:
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Carter Bryant – San Antonio Spurs
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Jaxson Hayes – Los Angeles Lakers
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Keshad Johnson – Miami Heat
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Jase Richardson – Orlando Magic
All four were officially announced by the NBA as part of the All-Star Saturday lineup, and each brings a slightly different flavor of athleticism.
Carter Bryant (Spurs)
Bryant is a 6'6" rookie forward, drafted 14th overall in 2025, known for his long frame and serious bounce. He’s already built a bit of a reputation in San Antonio as a lob finisher who can get his head near the rim, and his Combine numbers hinted at what we’re seeing now, a near-40-inch vertical and the kind of hang time that makes slow-motion replays feel necessary rather than extra. This contest is a chance for him to step out of his team’s system and show off pure flair.
Jase Richardson (Magic)
Richardson might be the most intriguing name in the group because of his family legacy. He’s a 6'1" rookie guard and the son of two-time dunk champ Jason Richardson, which means he’s basically grown up with the contest playing in his living room both on TV and on old tape. His vertical and creativity give him the classic “small guard dunker” look; smaller players often get extra love from judges because everything looks more difficult at that height. There have already been hints that he might remix one of his father’s famous between-the-legs slams.
Jaxson Hayes (Lakers)
Hayes is the home-court representative, a 7-footer playing for the Lakers who has long been known as a high-flying big man. He’s one of the rare centers who can pull off Eastbay-style dunks in actual games, which says a lot about his mobility and coordination. Bigs historically have a tougher time winning this event, only a couple of players 6'10" or taller have ever taken the trophy, but if Hayes pulls off something truly wild in front of the home crowd, the judges may happily break tradition.
Keshad Johnson (Heat)
Johnson rounds out the field as a second-year forward from Miami, the least familiar name to casual fans but a known leaper to anyone who’s followed his G League and early NBA minutes. His style leans more toward raw power: violent attacks at the rim, big cock-back slams, and the kind of dunks that shake the basket support more than they finesse the judges. If there’s a “Derrick Jones Jr.” type in this group, a player who turns sheer force into a show, it’s probably him.
What makes this year fun is that all four are debutants, and with Mac McClung not returning, the contest feels wide open for the first time in a while. Between Bryant’s length, Richardson’s storytelling and lineage, Hayes’ size, and Johnson’s aggression, there’s a good chance we walk away from Los Angeles with at least one new dunk that lives in highlight reels for years.
Who Are the Recent Dunk Contest Winners on NBA All-Star Weekend?
The most recent NBA Dunk Contest winners are dominated by one name: Mac McClung.
Here are the latest champions heading into All-Star Weekend 2026:
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2025 – Mac McClung (Orlando Magic): McClung made history by winning his third straight AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, becoming the first player ever to three‑peat in the event.
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2024 – Mac McClung (Osceola Magic / G League affiliate of the Magic): He defended his title with another creative, high‑difficulty performance.
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2023 – Mac McClung (Philadelphia 76ers): His breakout win in Utah revived interest in the contest and set up his run as the new dunk‑contest specialist.
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2022 – Obi Toppin (New York Knicks): Toppin took the trophy in Cleveland with a mix of power and creativity.
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2021 – Anfernee Simons (Portland Trail Blazers): Simons edged the field in a scaled‑back All-Star format, showcasing hang time and finesse.
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2020 – Derrick Jones Jr. (Miami Heat): Known for his insane bounce, Jones Jr. won a tightly contested final in one of the more debated results of recent years.
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2019 – Hamidou Diallo (Oklahoma City Thunder): Diallo’s elbow‑in‑the‑rim dunk over Shaquille O’Neal became the signature moment of his winning night.
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2018 – Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz): Mitchell channeled some classic dunk‑contest nostalgia on his way to the title.
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2017 – Glenn Robinson III (Indiana Pacers): Robinson mixed smooth execution with clean, high‑scoring dunks to grab the trophy.
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2016 – Zach LaVine (Minnesota Timberwolves): LaVine completed his back‑to‑back run, following up the iconic 2015 showdown with another win.
Across this recent stretch, Mac McClung and Zach LaVine stand out as modern dunk‑contest legends, with McClung joining Nate Robinson as the only players with three titles apiece.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is based on officially announced schedules, team lineups, and publicly available reports at the time of writing. Event timings, participants, broadcast details, or results may change due to league decisions, injuries, or scheduling adjustments. Viewers should check official NBA sources and broadcasters for the latest updates.
