CORTIS Makes History as First K-Pop Act to Headline NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Halftime Show

CORTIS was the main act during the halftime show at the 2026 NBA All, Star Celebrity Game, making them the first Korean pop group to have that honor.

The five, member band Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho stepped up to the center of the arena that was packed with fans in Inglewood and performed their hit songs GO! and FaSHiOn with full energy. The event was a major cultural crossover for the band which started their career under BigHit Music in August 2025.

Right from the first drum, CORTIS captured everyone’s attention with their perfectly coordinated dance moves, live singing and a show that blended street style fashion with elegant stagecraft. Their halftime performance came after an NBA Crossover Thursday event in which the group members met fans and sports stars, thus heralding the NBA’s increasing willingness to incorporate international music acts into its brand.

The spectacle is said by the industry’s insiders to be a reflection of the NBA’s strategy of continuing to grow its brand globally by involving Kpop and its huge international fanbase. The social media platforms went crazy during the game’s telecast as official NBA social media accounts posted clips of the performance that went viral and became trending among the music and sports fans.

Among the celebrities who attended the event and witnessed the group’s performance from courtside were actor Simu Liu and 2024 Celebrity Game MVP Rome Flynn. The fans were happy that CORTIS had given a show that was vibrant and very well done at the same time which kept the level of the event at a high. The milestone performance highlights the growth of Kpop on major U.S. entertainment platforms.

For CORTIS, the halftime stage was way more than just a performancethey were marking the moment at which they as global entertainers that bridge the worlds of music and sports culture, had come into their own. It’s remarkable that they’re still less than a year into their career.

leesung@ygkplusofficial.com