20
Jun
NBL26 Schedule
Ignite Cup: NBL launches in-season tournament
NBL introduces an in-season tournament called Ignite Cup while and HoopsFest stays in Perth in 2026
- NBL releases its 2025-26 fixtures: 165 games in 155 days
- Hoops heaven: 20 more games added to NBL26
- How to watch every 2025 NBL1 game live and free with Bounce Pass
The National Basketball League has introduced an in-season tournament for the 2025-26 season called the Ignite Cup.
The new in-season tournament will add 20 games to the NBL regular season schedule. The NBL released its 2025-26 schedule on Friday, June 20, 2025 featuring 165 games in just 155 days!
Ignite Cup games will count toward each team's regular season record, creating meaningful competition from the outset.
NBL Ignite Cup – Key Features
- 21 extra games locked in
- Record prize money: $400,000
- Wednesday night prime-time games
- Players receive 60% of winnings
- New points system: every quarter counts
- Every game impacts the regular season race
- Top two teams face off in the Ignite Cup Final
Ignite Cup Fixtures
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
- New Zealand Breakers vs Illawarra Hawks
- Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
- Tasmania JackJumpers vs Sydney Kings
- Perth Wildcats vs Brisbane Bullets
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
- Cairns Taipans vs Perth Wildcats
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
- Tasmania JackJumpers vs Perth Wildcats
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
- Illawarra Hawks vs Melbourne United
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
- Brisbane Bullets vs New Zealand Breakers
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
- Adelaide 36ers vs Illawarra Hawks
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
- New Zealand Breakers vs Sydney Kings
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
- South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
- Sydney Kings vs Adelaide 36ers
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
- Adelaide 36ers vs Cairns Taipans
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
- Cairns Taipans vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Melbourne United vs Cairns Taipans
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
- South East Melbourne Phoenix vs New Zealand Breakers
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
- Brisbane Bullets vs Adelaide 36ers
- Perth Wildcats vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
Tournament Structure and Format
The format introduces an new scoring system designed to reward consistent performance. Teams will receive:
- One point for each quarter they win
- Three points for winning the game
The tournament will reach its climax with a Grand Final in February. The two highest-ranked teams based on accumulated points will advance to this showcase event, which will coincide with the Andrew Gaze MVP and Awards night.
The Grand Final will stand apart from the regular season — unlike the preliminary tournament games, the championship match will not count toward regular season standings. This creates a true knockout final with nothing at stake but the trophy and prize money designated for the winner.
The NBL's move follows a similar innovation by the NBA, which introduced its own in-season tournament — the NBA Cup — ahead of the 2023-24 season. The NBA's tournament has been widely praised for creating high-intensity games during the regular season and offering teams an additional championship opportunity.
The introduction of the in-season tournament represents part of a broader expansion of the NBL calendar. Combined with the continuation of HoopsFest, the changes will increase each team's regular season schedule from 29 games in previous seasons to 33 games for the 2025-26 campaign.
With four additional games per team, the NBL is making a substantial commitment to growing the sport while providing value to basketball followers around the country.
"The Ignite Cup is a huge new chapter for the Hungry Jack's NBL,” NBL CEO David Stevenson told NBL.com.au.
“We’re building something that adds more competitive fire throughout the season, creates more blockbuster games, and brings fresh energy for our fans every single Wednesday night.
"It's high-stakes hoops — and we think fans are going to love it. With 55 sellout games last season, these new games bring new opportunities for NBL fans to see their teams more often.”
Preseason Movement: Blitz Heads to Canberra
In addition to the in-season tournament news, sources indicate the NBL is also finalising plans to hold the 2025 NBL Blitz in Canberra. This marks a change from the previous two years when the league's preseason tournament was hosted on the Gold Coast.
The tentative start date for the Blitz is August 28, 2025, giving fans in the nation's capital an opportunity to see all NBL teams in action before the regular season begins.
This move continues the NBL's strategy of taking elite basketball to different regions across Australia. Canberra, with its strong basketball community but no current NBL franchise, represents an ideal location to showcase their potential to the league of reacquiring a team.
HoopsFest back in Perth in 2026
HoopsFest has been moved to the summer school holidays in Perth, Western Australia in 2026 — and Bryce Cotton will be there.
Former Perth Wildcats superstar Cotton will be back in Perth potentially for the first time with the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday, January 18, 2026 to take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
