K-Pop Meets NBA in Historic Los Angeles Concert Series
Global sports and international pop culture will collide spectacularly this February. The rookie K-pop sensation CORTIS secures the opening headline slot for the 2026 NBA Crossover concert series. They join established artists Shaboozey and Ludacris for this genre-spanning event.
CORTIS Creates a First for K-Pop at NBA All-Star Weekend
The five-member group, featuring James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon, and Keonho, will perform on Thursday, February 12. Their show at the Los Angeles Convention Center makes them the first K-pop act ever to headline an NBA All-Star event. This announcement solidifies the league's strategic push to connect Eastern and Western entertainment spheres.
The NBA places these boundary-defying rookies alongside veteran performer Ludacris and breakout star Shaboozey. The concert series will run for three nights, offering a diverse musical experience.
A Strategic Cultural Crossover for a Global League
For the NBA, a league with decades of global brand building, this move represents more than a simple musical booking. It is a deliberate fusion of two massive cultural worlds. K-pop and the NBA may originate from opposite sides of the globe, but they share key similarities.
Both command fiercely loyal, digitally-native fanbases. These fans thrive on high-energy performances and a strong sense of community. CORTIS now follows in the footsteps of their senior, Suga from BTS, who serves as an NBA global ambassador.
The group represents the new guard of this growing partnership and the next generation of K-pop artists. This crossover highlights how sports and entertainment are expanding together. Their combination promises to reach a vastly wider audience, from Seoul to Los Angeles.
Concert Details and Building Fan Excitement
The NBA officially announced this news on December 18, 2025. They confirmed the three-night concert series running from February 12 to February 15. CORTIS will kick off the festivities on the opening night.
Fans can expect the group to showcase their signature high-energy style. They are likely to perform popular tracks like "GO!" and "FaSHioN." Anticipation is building rapidly, with fans eagerly awaiting this historic musical moment.
The Meteoric Rise of CORTIS
The NBA's selection of CORTIS underscores their incredible impact in a short time. The group debuted under HYBE's Big Hit Music label in August 2025. In just a few months, they have skyrocketed from Best Rookie nominees to international headliners.
Their debut EP, Color Outside the Lines, achieved a remarkable feat. It debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart. This is the highest position ever for a non-project rookie group. Their viral hit single "GO!" has already soared past 100 million streams on Spotify.
- They won the Rookie of the Year award at the 2025 MAMA Awards.
- They also secured the Rookie of the Year title at the 40th Golden Disc Awards.
By the time they take the stage in Los Angeles, CORTIS is expected to have firmly established themselves as the leading face of K-pop's exciting new generation.
