NBA Cup final moves to Hinkle Fieldhouse for 2026-27 season

The NBA will hold the 2026-27 Emirates NBA Cup championship game at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Dec. 11. The arena, which seats about 9,100, is one of the oldest college venues in the country and has hosted prior NBA and WNBA games.

Venue selection and league goals League officials chose the site after seeking "storied college arenas" to host the final. NBA Head of Global Events Kelly Flatow said the venue offers "a special setting to capture the excitement and drama" of the championship. The decision ends a three-year run in Las Vegas, which hosted the first three in-season tournament finals.

Historical significance of the arena Hinkle Fieldhouse has hosted at least six U.S. presidents and served as the site of early U.S.-Soviet basketball games, circuses, tennis matches and ice shows. It also functioned as a military barracks during one period.

Boston Celtics basketball operations president Brad Stevens, who coached at the school, said the building "gets loud" during games. " Indianapolis native Oscar Robertson played there as a high school player when his team won state titles in 1955 and 1956.

Recent tournament results The Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023. Milwaukee claimed the title in 2024, and New York defeated San Antonio for the 2025 championship. The 2025 final served as a preview of the NBA Finals, which the Knicks also won against the Spurs.