Everything you need to know about the 2026 HBCU Classic: Teams, location, date, time and how to watch and stream online
The Kia Forum hosts the fifth edition of the HBCU Classic today, as the Hampton Pirates face the North Carolina A&T Aggies.
The Hampton Pirates take on the North Carolina A&T Aggies in the 2026 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Classic, as the first day of the NBA’s All-Star weekend witnesses a clash between two long-standing college-basketball rivals.
What time is the Pirates vs the Aggies?
Hampton and North Carolina A&T meet today, Friday Feb. 13, at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT.
This will be the second meeting between the Pirates and the Aggies in 2026. On Jan. 19, the Coastal Athletic Association teams faced off in a regular-season matchup in Hampton, Virginia, with the hosts triumphing 82-61.
It was the 12-13 Pirates’ third straight win over the 9-14 Aggies, who last tasted victory over Hampton in a 50-58 win in Greensboro, North Carolina, in January 2024.
“Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University are two premier HBCU institutions with a historic rivalry that represents the pride, tradition and excellence of HBCU basketball,” said the NBA’s deputy commissioner, Mark Tatum, in a statement announcing the lineup for the 2026 HBCU Classic in January.
‼️ TONIGHT is the night ‼️
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 13, 2026
Show out with your HBCU pride at the NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T at 8pm/pt at Kia Forum.
Grab your tickets before they run out at https://t.co/bnSoxnf3BC and get your gear at https://t.co/wrzShZQvzV. pic.twitter.com/8rxPvZiluE
How can I watch the HBCU Classic in the U.S.?
Viewers in the United States can tune in to the 2026 HBCU Classic live on ESPN2, Peacock and NBA TV. You can also stream the game on the online platform fubo, which offers a free trial.
First held in 2022, the HBCU Classic represents the NBA’s “commitment to increasing support and awareness for athletics and advancing educational, career and economic opportunities in partnership with HBCUs”, the league says.
Together with the game’s sponsor, AT&T, the NBA has pledged to donate $100,000 each to Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University.
What happened in previous NBA HBCU Classics?
- 2022: Howard 68-66 Morgan State
- 2023: Grambling 69-64 Southern
- 2024: Winston-Salem State 64-47 Virginia Union
- 2025: Tuskegee 68-55 Morehouse
What else is happening on All-Star Weekend?
The 2026 HBCU Classic closes out an All-Star-weekend opening day that witnesses a total of five matches - including the All-Star Celebrity Game, which will feature celebrities such as NFL star Amon-Ra St. Brown and NBA insider Shams Charania.
Following Friday’s action, All-Star Saturday sees a host of NBA players contest three major skills events: the 3-Point Contest, the Shooting Stars competition and the Slam Dunk Contest.
On Sunday, the NBA’s top performers then take to the Intuit Dome court for the main event: the All-Star Game. In a new, U.S. vs world format, the 2026 All-Star will see three teams - two featuring American players, one comprising international players - compete in a round-robin tournament.
Check out the full All-Star weekend schedule.
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