The WNBA has announced that the 2026 All‑Star Game will be held in Chicago. The marquee game will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the United Center, which is home to the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks.
Why Chicago and the United Center?
Chicago is no stranger to hosting WNBA All‑Star events — the city previously welcomed the game in 2022, though then it was at the smaller Wintrust Arena. For 2026, the move to the United Center offers a much larger capacity (around 20,900 for basketball) than the roughly 10,000 seats at Wintrust. The United Center is also the NBA’s largest arena by seating capacity, which will help address an expected strong demand for tickets.
What to Expect
The weekend will feature three different events:
- 3‑Point Contest & Skills Challenge: Friday, July 24, at Wintrust Arena
- All‑Star Game: Saturday, July 25, at the United Center.
- WNBA Live Fan Festival: An interactive fan experience at McCormick Place
But a work stoppage could impact the game
The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement ends on October 31, 2025, and all signs point to a potentially contentious negotiation between the league and the players’ union. In the event that they don’t reach a deal before the beginning of the season, the possibility of a work stoppage has certainly been talked about within industry circles. If such a lockout were to last a long time, it could affect whether the All-Star Game is played at all in 2026.
Next steps
Ticket and other event info will be released in the coming months, so there’s nothing to do on that front right now. But if you think you might want to come in for the game, now might be a great time to book a refundable hotel reservation.
Doubleheader Digest
It will be a busy weekend in Chicago during the All-Star Game, which will also make it a great time to be there if you’re a sports fan.
- The Savannah Bananas will take on the Firefighters in Banana Ball at Wrigley Field on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For more information about seeing a game at Wrigley Field, check out our insider guide.
- The Chicago White Sox will play the Houston Astros at Rate Field on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and will follow that series with a four-game set against the Yankees. For more information about seeing a game at Rate Field, check out our insider guide.
- For those up for a road trip, the Milwaukee Brewers will be at home on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday against the Colorado Rockies. Milwaukee is 90 miles north of downtown Chicago and is accessible by both car and Amtrak. For more info on seeing a game at American Family Field, check out our insider guide.
- There is no announcement yet for the 2026 Chicago Fire (MLS) or Chicago Stars (NWSL) schedules, but either or both could have a home game this weekend as well.
