Miami to Stage 2028 NBA All-Star Weekend

Miami is poised to welcome the NBA’s All-Star festivities in 2028, returning the weekend to South Florida for the first time since 1990. The event would be held in the city’s current arena, unlike the previous Miami edition, when the Heat were a new franchise, having joined the NBA in 1988-89.

The Heat have sought to host for several years, but the Miami International Boat Show typically occupied convention center, hotel and other local space during the second weekend of February. The NBA’s move to schedule All-Star Weekend a week later opened a window for Miami.

The city and team could use the event to showcase Miami beyond basketball, including South Beach and downtown, while bringing visitors and economic activity to the area. The Heat have since won three NBA titles and reached the Finals seven times.

The 1990 All-Star starters included Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird and Charles Barkley for the East. The West lineup featured Magic Johnson, James Worthy, A.C. Green, Hakeem Olajuwon and John Stockton. Nine of the ten later entered the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The 2028 weekend could also raise questions about which players will take part and what format the league will use. The NBA has changed the All-Star game format several times; the details for the Miami event were not specified.