Allen Iverson to Headline HoopsFest Perth 2026

The National Basketball League (NBL) has announced that NBA legend and Hall of Famer Allen “The Answer” Iverson will be the special guest headlining HoopsFest Perth 2026, a four-day festival celebrating basketball, culture, and entertainment.

Scheduled for January 15 to 18, the event’s return is backed by the Western Australian Government, strategically positioning Perth as a major host for global basketball spectacles.

Commenting on the announcement, and noting the importance of the Australian basketball landscape, Iverson, said: “Australia has become a big part of basketball’s global growth, with world-class talent, a thriving NBL, and the WNBL entering an exciting new era.”

“Events like HoopsFest show just how strong the future of the game is, not just here, but everywhere,” the 11-time NBA All-star said.E

Emphasising the government support crucial for scaling the event, NBL chief event and project officer, Alex Hamilton, added: “We are thrilled to be bringing HoopsFest back to Perth for a second consecutive year, building on the incredible success of the event.”

“Having a global icon like Allen Iverson join us only adds to the excitement.

“We are immensely grateful to the Western Australian Government, through Tourism WA, for their support in making HoopsFest 2026 possible,” Hamilton said. 

Iverson, an 11-time NBA All-Star, former league MVP, and member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, brings significant international prestige to the event, which is expected to attract thousands of interstate visitors. His participation highlights the growing global recognition of Australasian basketball leagues.

HoopsFest 2026 will feature full rounds of the NBL (Round 17) and the WNBL (Round 14) regular seasons, with games hosted at RAC Arena and other elite venues across the city.

The integration of full league rounds provides competitive action that directly impacts both premiership races.

The NBL is also debuting the HoopsFest Cup, a new national open-aged tournament with a prize pool of $50,000, aimed at engaging the grassroots community and providing a high-stakes competitive element alongside the professional matches.

Cultural engagement is maintained through the return of Sneakerland, Australia’s largest sneaker culture festival, and the free Fan Festival.

The major event hosting is part of the Western Australian Government’s strategy to attract out-of-state visitors and generate valuable tourism revenue during the January school holiday period.

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