Ignite Cup evolution heads to Canberra

The Hungry Jack's NBL announced on Monday that Canberra will host the Ignite Cup Finals and Andrew Gaze MVP Awards, thanks to a new partnership with the ACT Government.

AIS Arena will host a new twist on the concept, with the tournament now set to conclude with a four-team Ignite Cup Finals Series across two massive nights of basketball, with Semi-Finals on Friday, February 19 and a blockbuster decider on Sunday, February 21.

The Andrew Gaze MVP awards will be presented from the Great Hall in Parliament House, boosting the local tourism economy and promoting Canberra's unique and exclusive event locations.

It marks the first time the Awards have been presented outside Melbourne in more than a decade.

Canberra has shown a growing appetite for elite basketball, with the 2025 CODE Sports NBL Blitz selling out every day, the busiest week in the venue's history since its 2023 reopening.

The overwhelming fan response has helped pave the way for Canberra to host the next evolution of the Ignite Cup.

The Ignite Cup Finals add another critical major basketball event acquisition for Canberra, helping to deliver an economic boost to the Territory's tourism economy.

Alongside the ACT's $31.1m commitment to progress planning and detailed design for Canberra's new National Convention and Entertainment Centre, the 2027 Ignite Cup Finals also provide momentum towards a possible Canberra-based NBL team.

The Ignite Cup features 20 Wednesday night games with results counting towards the regular season ladder.

The inaugural Ignite Cup Final was won by the New Zealand Breakers, setting the tone for what has quickly become one of the standout events on the NBL calendar.

Four teams will advance to the Ignite Cup Finals series, where they'll compete for a share in $550,000 in prize money - the largest prize pool in League history.

"The Ignite Cup has quickly become one of the standout innovations in the NBL, bringing knockout intensity into the Hungry Jack's NBL regular season and creating must-watch basketball every Wednesday night," NBL Group CEO, David Stevenson said.

"Introducing a Final Four series and bringing it to Canberra is a fantastic evolution of the competition.

"Fans will experience a festival of basketball, with the best teams battling it out over one incredible weekend for the biggest prize pool in NBL history.

"Canberra has shown time and again that it embraces elite basketball.

"The incredible success of last year's sold-out CODE Sports NBL Blitz proved there's a huge appetite for the game, and we're excited to build on that momentum by bringing the Ignite Cup Finals and the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards to the nation's capital.

"We want to sincerely thank Chief Minister Andrew Barr and the ACT Government for their continued support and belief in the NBL, as we create marquee events together that showcase world-class basketball and deliver significant benefits for the ACT."

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"This is a slam dunk for Canberra and a great example of what's possible when we build strong, genuine partnerships with national sporting codes," ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.

"Bringing the 2027 Ignite Cup Finals and the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards to our city means the entire NBL family - from players, officials, and fans from every club - will be here for a full weekend.

"The Ignite Cup Finals will fill our hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars, supporting local jobs and giving our accommodation and hospitality sectors a fantastic boost.

"It is a strategic investment that supports not only our T2030 goal of growing visitor spend by $1 billion by 2030, but also our 2024 election commitment to work with the NBL on bringing elite men's basketball back to Canberra.

"This partnership shows we're well and truly in the game when it comes to that goal and we thank David Stevenson and his team at the NBL for their continued confidence in Canberra."

"Canberrans love their basketball, and it's great to see the NBL backing that in. What a fantastic outcome for the ACT," ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation Chris Steel added.

"Bringing the Ignite Cup Finals to Canberra will further enhance our city's reputation as the destination for major sporting events.

"Events like this inspire the next generation to get involved in the sport, and in February, Canberrans can watch their sporting heroes compete right here in their own city.

"Basketball in Canberra is only getting bigger; that's why we're also investing to expand the Belconnen Basketball Stadium to host bigger games on state-of-the-art courts."

Fans are encouraged to pre-register for tickets from the NBL Website, with the full Finals program to be released during the season.

The Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season tips off on September 19.

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