HoopsFest Returns to Perth
The ultimate celebration of basketball heads back to Western Australia in January, with HoopsFest confirmed for Perth for a second straight year.
The ultimate fusion of sport, culture, music and entertainment, HoopsFest will once again take over the state – this time in January from the 15th until the 18th, 2026. Significantly, all the action will take place during the regular season for both the NBL and WNBL competitions meaning blockbuster matchups across four unforgettable days.
“We are delighted to be heading back to Perth for HoopsFest, after what was an incredible experience last year,” NBL CEO, David Stevenson, said.
“The shift to the January school holiday period is a great result for basketball fans all around the country, and for those wanting to experience the best of basketball and all it has to offer, then HoopsFest is not to be missed. This year, we’re particularly excited to host the first-ever joint round of NBL and WNBL regular season matches, making it an even more historic event for our sport. We want to thank the Western Australian Government, Tourism WA and VenuesWest for their continued support and partnership – it’s because of them that we’re able to bring this unique and growing celebration of basketball to life. We also want to thank all our clubs for their participation not only through their involvement in the games, but also the community events and fan initiatives.”
“HoopsFest is a vibrant celebration of everything we love about basketball — the perfect chance for everyone to experience the game, whether you’re a longtime fan or attending for the first time,” WNBL CEO, Jennie Sager, said.
“Women’s basketball is thriving like never before, both here in Australia and globally, and the WNBL offers a rare opportunity to see Olympians, WNBA champions, and Australia’s top talent all on one court.”
Returning after a successful inaugural event, HoopsFest Perth will again include fan activations including Sneakerland – Australia’s biggest sneaker convention – and a huge line-up of food, music, entertainment, and community engagement.
New in 2026, the HoopsFest Cup will bring together open-age men’s and women’s players from around Australia for a four-day basketball tournament with each team playing for $25,000 and giving them the unprecedented chance to become part of the HoopsFest action. Entry to the tournament will be open to all.
“With the success of last year’s inaugural HoopsFest, it’s great that Perth’s secured Australia’s biggest basketball festival once again to delight fans in venues across the city,” WA Tourism Minister, the Hon. Reece Whitby MLA, said.
“Western Australia has a long, proud and successful basketball history with the Perth Wildcats and Perth Lynx, so we’re very excited to see this event return. It’s yet another opportunity to showcase our world-class sporting facilities and spotlight Western Australia as an incredible tourism destination, and host of major events.”
The WNBL and NBL games featuring as part of HoopsFest Perth are:
Thursday 15th January: Perth Lynx v Bendigo Spirit (WNBL) & Sydney Kings v Brisbane Bullets (NBL)
Friday 16th January: Geelong United v Sydney Flames (WNBL) & Perth Wildcats v Illawarra Hawks (NBL)
Saturday 17th January: Southside Flyers v Adelaide Lightning (WNBL), Cairns Taipans v New Zealand Breakers (NBL) & Melbourne United v Tasmania JackJumpers (NBL)
Sunday 18th January: Adelaide 36ers v South East Melbourne Phoenix (NBL) & Townsville Fire vs Canberra Capitals (WNBL)
Fans are encouraged to register their interest now at hoopsfest.com.au and be the first to know all the details and reserve their tickets.
HoopsFest Perth 2026 is delivered in partnership with the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA, the NBL, and WNBL.
Mark your calendars. Perth is set to host the biggest basketball event in the southern hemisphere – and it’s only getting bigger.