NBA Announces Hinkle Fieldhouse Will Host 2026 Emirates NBA Cup Championship
The NBA has announced that the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup Championship will be played at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The winner-take-all championship game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 11, 2026, during the 2026-27 NBA season and will stream exclusively on Prime Video.
Hinkle Fieldhouse, the home of Butler University, is one of the most iconic venues in basketball history. Opened in 1928, the arena has hosted countless memorable moments and served as the inspiration for the classic basketball film Hoosiers.
“The selection of Hinkle Fieldhouse reflects the NBA’s multiyear vision to bring the Championship to distinctive stages that honor the sport’s history while connecting with audiences around the world,” the league said in its announcement.
NBA Head of Global Events Kelly Flatow said the historic venue provides a unique stage for the league’s in-season tournament championship.
“Hinkle Fieldhouse offers a special setting to capture the excitement and drama of the Emirates NBA Cup Championship. Playing the Championship in an iconic basketball environment like this will further establish it as a signature moment on the NBA calendar.”
The nearly century-old arena has a deep basketball legacy. It hosted the 1954 Indiana high school state championship game that inspired Hoosiers, while future NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson led Crispus Attucks High School to a state title there in 1955, making history as the nation’s first all-Black basketball state champion.
The NBA also announced that the championship weekend will include expanded basketball programming throughout Butler University’s campus, creating a festival atmosphere leading up to the title game.
The Emirates NBA Cup enters its fourth season in 2026 as the league continues to grow the annual in-season tournament.
