CORTIS to Hit the NBA Stage: A Big Moment for K-Pop

• CORTIS will become the first K-pop group to perform at the NBA All-Star Weekend 2026.
• The milestone reflects the rookie group’s fast-growing global presence beyond traditional K-pop stages.
• The collaboration highlights the NBA’s push to tap into K-pop’s international fanbase.

CORTIS, a rookie boy band, is ready to make history in Korean pop music by becoming the first K-pop group to perform at the NBA Crossover concert series. The concert will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center during NBA All-Star Weekend in 2026, with CORTIS set to take the stage on February 12.

"It's a huge moment for us to be the first K-pop group to perform at NBA Crossover, kicking off All-Star Weekend,” CORTIS said in a statement noted by various industry reports. “We're grateful for the opportunity and excited to hit the stage, connect with fans up close, and officially tip off this incredible weekend," they further added.

The group, consisting of James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon, and Keonho, made their debut with the EP "Color Outside the Lines" in August 2025 through Big Hit Music, a HYBE subsidiary. The album debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, an unusual high for a rookie K-pop act's first release, indicating early momentum in the world's largest music market.

CORTIS Streaming Numbers

CORTIS has achieved important global streaming benchmarks since its launch. Tracks from their debut album have reached 100 million Spotify streams worldwide, indicating considerable audience engagement for a new group only a few months into their career.

As of December 2025, data from KWORB found that the album's streaming performance was headed by GO!, which had 86.89M streams. The track is then followed by FaSHioN with 75.63M, and What You Want ranking third with 34.72M streams. Next in line, JoyRide garnered 27.97M streams, while the collaboration track What You Want (feat. Teezo Touchdown) gained 12.46M streams, with Lullaby close behind at 11.57M streams.

CORTIS Long Collaborating with Sporting Entities

CORTIS is not collaborating with a sporting organization for the first time. Major League Baseball used the group's GO! song in a promotional video for the 2025 post-season earlier this year. This move assisted the song in regaining a foothold on domestic charts, like Melon, in daily rankings in October.

CORTIS is also the first K-pop artist group to be designated as Honorary Falconers Major League Soccer's Los Angeles FC at BMO Stadium, the club's home stadium. The group received the honor in October, which is a ceremonial position previously held by other celebrities like actor and co‑owner Will Ferrell, singer Meghan Trainor, actor Danny Trejo, actor Ty Burrell, and actress Sophia Bush. Notably, famed South Korean footballer Son Heung-min also plays for Los Angeles FC.

The K-pop boy group was also invited to the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final in Los Angeles, as part of a partnership, highlighting their expanding global popularity outside traditional music marketing.

NBA x CORTIS: What Does it Mean for the Broader K-Pop Industry?

CORTIS's main appearance on a major U.S. sports entertainment platform placed it alongside established international performers like Shaboozey and Ludacris. According to industry experts, the NBA Crossover series, which has long been dominated by Western pop and hip hop groups, appears to be tapping into K-pop's global fanbase. The change is a strategic drive to increase audience engagement with the All Star Weekend program.

Established artists like BTS and BLACKPINK continue to dominate streaming charts and global brand reputation rankings. At the same time, industry reports also show that year-end events and chart ceremonies bring a close to a record-breaking year for Korean artists.

The NBA stage could help CORTIS maintain its momentum into 2026. The performance provides exposure to new audiences in North America. It also represents a symbolic milestone for young K-pop artists working at the crossroads of sports and global pop culture.