Adelaide set for NBL1 showpiece event

The 2026 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 National Finals will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, from Friday August 21 to Sunday August 23.

For the first time, the pinnacle event of Australia’s premier winter basketball competition will be hosted in Adelaide, with the State Basketball Centre at the Adelaide Showground set to welcome the nation’s best NBL1 teams and players.

Six men’s teams and six women’s teams will compete for national glory, with each field comprising the five NBL1 Conference Champions and the reigning National Champions, the Canberra Gunners (men) and Knox Raiders (women). Remaining qualifiers will be confirmed as conference finals are played across July and August.

More than 120 players and coaches from around Australia are expected to converge on Adelaide, showcasing the very best talent from across the NBL1 landscape.

NBL1 General Manager Tyrone Thwaites said Adelaide was the perfect destination to host the competition’s showpiece event.

“The National Finals represent everything that makes NBL1 special, and we’re excited to bring the event to Adelaide for the first time,” Thwaites said.

“You won’t find another competition in Australian sport where current and former NBL and WNBL players, international talent, emerging stars and local community heroes all come together on the one stage.

“NBL1 is where community basketball meets the professional game. Our clubs are built on incredibly passionate basketball communities, and we’re looking forward to seeing those communities travel from around the country to support their teams in Adelaide.

“Bringing the champions from every conference together alongside our reigning national champions creates a unique atmosphere, and Adelaide’s rich basketball history makes it the ideal place to host this year’s event.

“I’d like to thank Basketball South Australia for their support, along with the our state associations across the country, whose invaluable partnership continues to strengthen the NBL1 each year.”

The NBL1 National Finals have previously been held in Canberra, the Sunshine Coast, Joondalup and Melbourne, with the event continuing to grow as the premier national championship for community basketball in Australia.

Basketball South Australia Chief Executive Officer Ben MacCormack welcomed the opportunity to bring the event to South Australia.

“Basketball has a special place in South Australia's sporting story, and we're proud to welcome the NBL1 National Finals to Adelaide for the first time,” MacCormack said.

"Given the states rich basketball heritage, it's fitting that the champions of every corner of the country will come together here to write the next chapter in the NBL1 story.

"We can't wait to showcase South Australia's love of basketball and provide a memorable experience for everyone who travels to Adelaide to be part of this celebration of the game.”

Recent National Finals have featured a host of current and former NBL and WNBL players, while inaugural 2022 Champion & MVP Leonie Fiebich has since gone on to establish herself as a WNBA champion and international star.

All games from the 2026 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 National Finals will be streamed live and free on Kayo Freebies with tickets available for purchase now via INTIX.

Stay tuned to NBL1.com.au and @NBL1 social media channels for all the latest updates as we count down to the National Finals.