16
Jun
Key Dates
Hoops heaven: 20 more games added to NBL26
Trey Kell III of the Hawks gives an interview after game five of the NBL Grand Final Series between Illawarra Hawks and Melbourne United at WIN Entertainment Centre, on March 23, 2025, in Wollongong. Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
The 2025-26 NBL schedule is expected to be released within the next few weeks
- The NBL is introducing an In-Season tournament which adds 20 games to the 2025-26 schedule
- NBL Blitz is expected to be played at the end of August, 2025
- HoopsFest 2026 will include five NBL26 regular season games in 2026
Twenty additional games will be incorporated into the NBL draw due to the launch of the In-Season tournament.
It's understood the final NBL schedule is still a work in progress given European giants Panathinaikos BC AKTOR and KK Partizan will take on the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers in the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament , held for the first time outside of Europe, between September 18 and 22, 2025, in Melbourne and Sydney.
This means it's unlikely Adelaide and Sydney will play in Round 1 of the 2025-26 season.
Additionally, the NBL Blitz is anticipated to commence at the end of August, contributing to one of the most active fixture releases for the 2025-26 season.
Adding further complications is structuring the schedule around the New Orleans Pelicans exhibition games against the South East Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne United on October 3 and 5, 2025.
The Sydney Kings have made significant roster changes by recruiting former Adelaide 36ers star Kendric Davis and NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova, enhancing their backcourt's strength.
Adelaide fans will have to wait a little longer for their first regular season glimpse of the partnership between five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton, who stunned the NBL world by signing with the 36ers. , and former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell.
And then there's Patty Mills, who is out of contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Australian rumour "Mills" has stopped whirling since the Clips were eliminated with Mills being linked to both Perth and Cairns. But without bursting the bubble too much, it seems highly unlikely to father-to-be will finish his career in Australia.
HoopsFest 2026 has been announced and with it, multiple NBL and WNBL games that will be played in Perth in January 2026.
NBL & WNBL games at HoopsFest 2026
Thursday, January 15, 2026:
- Perth Lynx vs Bendigo Spirit (WNBL)
- Sydney Kings vs Brisbane Bullets (NBL)
Friday, January 16, 2026:
- Geelong United vs Sydney Flames (WNBL)
- Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks (NBL)
Saturday, January 17, 2026:
- Southside Flyers vs Adelaide Lightning (WNBL)
- Cairns Taipans vs New Zealand Breakers (NBL)
- Melbourne United vs Tasmania JackJumpers (NBL)
Sunday, January 18, 2026:
- Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix (NBL)
- Townsville Fire vs Canberra Capitals (WNBL)
Stay tuned, basketball.com.au will publish the NBL26 draw as soon as we have it.
These are the 10 teams competing in NBL26
- Adelaide 36ers — Based in Adelaide, South Australia.
- Brisbane Bullets — Based in Brisbane, Queensland.
- Cairns Taipans — Based in Cairns, Queensland.
- Illawarra Hawks — Based in Wollongong, New South Wales.
- Melbourne United — Based in Melbourne, Victoria.
- New Zealand Breakers — Based in Auckland, New Zealand.
- Perth Wildcats — Based in Perth, Western Australia.
- South East Melbourne Phoenix — Based in Melbourne, Victoria.
- Sydney Kings — Based in Sydney, New South Wales.
- Tasmania JackJumpers — Based in Hobart and Launceston, Tasmania.
