Historic change in the USA: The NFL has canceled the All-Star game
After years of stars not being interested in participating and collapsing ratings, the exhibition game has been canceled and will no longer take place after more than seven decades.
An earthquake in the NFL: The league has decided to cancel the Pro Bowl, its annual All-Star game, and in doing so will become the first of the major leagues in the USA to completely stop its All-Star event.
The decision comes after years in which the status of the event has been weakening. The NFL had already stopped the traditional format of a game between the AFC team and the NFC team in 2013, and in recent years tried to save the brand by changing the name to the Pro Bowl Games, which included skills competitions.
According to the report, the main reasons for the cancellation are the continuous decline in ratings and the absence of top players. The 2026 event attracted only 1.6 million viewers - a record low for the Pro Bowl. For comparison, the event in 2025 attracted 4.7 million viewers, compared to 5.8 million in 2024.
The move comes at a time when other leagues in the USA are also dealing with questions surrounding the format of their All-Star games. While the MLB and NHL manage to maintain interest around their events, the NFL decided that continuing to hold the Pro Bowl in its current format does not justify itself.
After more than seven decades of an All-Star event, the Pro Bowl will be canceled. The NFL will maintain the recognition of outstanding players, but the exhibition game itself will no longer be part of its calendar.
