HoopsFest Perth Smashes Crowd Records with 25% Growth

The National Basketball League (NBL) has announced a record-breaking success of HoopsFest Perth 2026, reporting a 25% increase in attendance year-on-year.

The four-day festival, which took over Western Australia from 15–18 January, drew more than 35,500 fans through the gates of RAC Arena and community venues, cementing the event’s status as the premier fixture on the Australian basketball calendar.

The decision to move to January school holiday period proved a masterstroke for the organisation.

Highlights included a total sell-out for Friday night’s NBL/WNBL double-header, which saw the Perth Wildcats overcome the Illawarra Hawks in front of a capacity crowd.

Noting that the event exceeded all internal projections, NBL Group CEO, David Stevenso, said:  “The fact we’ve smashed last year’s record by an incredible 25 per cent shows significant growth and is a credit to everyone involved.” 

The program was bolstered by the global presence of NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, who served as the festival’s official ambassador.

Beyond the elite competition, the festival expanded its grassroots footprint through the HoopsFest Cup at Warwick Stadium, where 220 players competed for a $50,000 prize pool.

Simultaneously, the Bounce Nation Fan Zone at Forrest Place integrated sneaker culture and “dance battles,” creating a recognisable hub for the sport’s lifestyle elements.

For Tourism Western Australia and the Cook Government, the event represents a vital economic driver.

Following the $6.1 million impact generated by the inaugural 2024 edition, early data suggests the 2026 festival attracted thousands of interstate and international visitors, assisted by the presence of scouts from 15 NBA teams.

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