K-pop rookie sensation CORTIS set to headline 2026 NBA All-Star in LA

The intersection of global sport and international pop culture will reach a fever pitch this February as the rookie K-pop group CORTIS will be the opening headliner for the 2026 NBA Crossover concert series, along with Shaboozey and Ludacris.

The five-member group consisting of James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon, and Keonho will make history as the first-ever K-pop act to headline an All-Star event that’ll take the stage at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Thursday, February 12. The announcement cements the NBA’s commitment to bridging the gap between Eastern and Western entertainment, placing the boundary-defying rookies alongside veterans like Ludacris and breakout star Shaboozey in a genre-spanning three-night series.

CORTIS X NBA: A cultural crossover

For a league that has spent decades cultivating a global brand, the inclusion of CORTIS is more than just a musical booking, it is a strategic connectivity of two massive, yet opposite worlds. While K-pop and the NBA occupy opposite sides of the globe, they share a hardcore and digitally-native fan base that thrives on high-energy performance and community.



CORTIS, following in the footsteps of their sunbae, Suga of BTS (NBA global ambassador), will represent the new guard of this partnership and the new generation of K-pop. This crossover highlights the expanding nature of sports and entertainment and how their combination will reach a much wider audience, be it in Seoul or LA.

The NBA announced this news on December 18th, 2025, and along with it, the three-night concert series through February 12th to 15th. CORTIS will open the show on Thursday, 12th February, showcasing the high-energy performance on their songs like GO! And FaSHioN. The excitement is building up, and fans are eagerly waiting to witness this historic night.

The meteoric rise of CORTIS

NBA’s selection of CORTIS is a testament to their impact since debuting under HYBE’s Big Hit Music in August 2025. In just a few months, the group transitioned from Best Rookie nominees to international headliners. Their debut EP, Color Outside the Lines, debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, the highest ever for a non-project rookie group, and their viral hit "GO!" has already surpassed 100 million Spotify streams.

They also won the Rookie of the Year at the 2025 MAMA and 40th Golden Disc Awards. By the time they tip off the weekend in Los Angeles, the group is expected to have further solidified their status as the face of the genre's next generation.

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