K-pop group CORTIS is set to reach a new milestone in the United States, becoming the first K-pop act to perform at the halftime show of an NBA All-Star Week marquee event — just six months after its debut.
According to the NBA and ESPN on Wednesday, CORTIS will take the stage during halftime of the "2026 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game" on Feb. 13 (local time) at the Kia Forum in California.
The NBA and ESPN said CORTIS will be the first K-pop group to headline a halftime show in the history of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, signaling high expectations for the group’s performance.
The All-Star Celebrity Game is one of the signature events of NBA All-Star Week, featuring former NBA players, Hollywood actors, popular rappers and sports stars competing in a lighthearted exhibition match. The game is broadcast live nationwide in the United States on ESPN, drawing significant attention from basketball fans around the world.
The appearance underscores CORTIS’ growing presence in the U.S., extending beyond music into the broader sports and entertainment industries. Earlier, the group announced it had been selected as the headliner for the "NBA Crossover Concert Series," scheduled for Feb. 12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. CORTIS is the first Korean act to lead that concert series.
_This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times._