The NBA will stage the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup championship game at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, ending a three-year run at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the league announced on June 30.
Hinkle Fieldhouse, opened in 1928, is regarded as one of basketball’s most storied venues. It hosted the 1954 Indiana high school state title game that inspired the film “Hoosiers” and, a year later, saw Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson lead Crispus Attucks High School to the first state championship won by an all-Black team in the United States.
Key details
- Date: Dec. 11, 2026
- Location: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Broadcast: Exclusive live stream on Prime Video
- Tickets: Public sale begins this fall at NBAEvents.com; premium packages are already available
“Playing the championship in an iconic basketball environment like this will further establish it as a signature moment on the NBA calendar,” NBA Head of Global Events Kelly Flatow said in a statement, noting the arena’s “special setting” for capturing the tournament’s drama.
Format adjustments
With the title game shifting to Indianapolis, semifinal contests will return to the participating teams’ home courts instead of being held at a neutral site. The first three editions of the Cup placed both semifinals and the final in Las Vegas.
Recent champions
- 2023: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Indiana Pacers
- 2024: Milwaukee Bucks defeated Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2025: New York Knicks defeated San Antonio Spurs
The league introduced the in-season tournament in 2023, aiming to add playoff-level intensity to the regular-season schedule. Each edition has drawn strong television ratings and sold-out crowds, according to NBA figures.
The 2026 final at Hinkle Fieldhouse will mark the first time the Cup trophy is awarded outside Las Vegas, reinforcing the league’s plan to rotate venues that celebrate the sport’s heritage.
Source: Lakers Nation
