NEWLY NAMED “FRIENDS OF THE NBA,” CORTIS TO HEADLINE NBA ALL-STAR 2026 OPENING NIGHT WITH NBA 2K26 AND FORTNITE ON BOARD, “GO!” CONTINUES ITS RISE AS A GLOBAL HIT
CORTIS (MARTIN, JAMES, JUHOON, SEONGHYEON, and KEONHO) are rapidly expanding their global reach through the sports and gaming industries.
Officially named “Friends of the NBA” by the National Basketball Association (NBA) on January 18th, CORTIS are set to headline the NBA Crossover Concert Series during NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles. Scheduled for “Opening Night” on February 12th, the performance marks a historic milestone as CORTIS becomes the first-ever K-pop act to headline this premier cultural event.
As part of the partnership, CORTIS will participate in a wide range of league initiatives, including appearances at games and official events, original content creation, co-development of branded apparel and merchandise, and global promotional campaigns—signaling a boundary-breaking collaboration that bridges sports and music.
Further expanding its presence in sports and gaming, “GO!”—the standout intro track from CORTIS’ 1st EP COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES—has joined the official soundtrack for NBA 2K26 Season 4. The inclusion came at the request of NBA 2K26, a testament to the track’s explosive global appeal. Widely regarded as a major tastemaker in the gaming industry, the NBA 2K franchise has previously featured tracks from heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, The Creator, positioning “GO!” alongside an elite lineup of globally influential tracks.
“GO!” has also entered the world of gaming through Epic Games’ Fortnite. On January 22, the hit title officially launched a dance emote featuring the track and its signature choreography, marking another high-profile collaboration for the group. Only a handful of K-pop songs—including BTS’ “Dynamite” and TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s “Over The Moon”—have previously been featured as Fortnite emotes.
These continued collaborations reflect the global momentum behind “GO!”. After becoming the fastest K-pop boy group track released last year to surpass 100 million streams on Spotify, the track secured its place on major international charts, including Billboard’s Global 200. Its reach has extended beyond music platforms, drawing interest from industry titans across sports, technology, and entertainment. Major League Baseball (MLB) previously featured the track in its 2025 postseason promotional campaign, while Apple recently spotlighted “GO!” through an Apple Immersive Video performance.
Notably, “GO!” is a fully self-produced track, with all members of CORTIS actively involved in the songwriting, composition, choreography, and music video production. This creative ownership makes the song’s global resonance especially meaningful, underscoring CORTIS’ identity as a team of self-driven creatives whose work continues to connect across music, sports, and gaming worldwide.
About CORTIS
CORTIS—consisting of MARTIN, JAMES, JUHOON, SEONGHYEON, and KEONHO—have quickly solidified their position as a breakout global act under BIGHIT MUSIC since their debut in September 2025. Their 1st EP COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, released worldwide on September 8, 2025, landed at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, highlighting their rapid rise as one of the most talked-about new acts of the year. The name CORTIS is an unconventional mix of six letters drawn from the phrase “COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES,” reflecting their determination to think beyond the boundaries defined by the world. True to this ethos, the members present themselves as boundary-pushing originals who create on their own terms.
