- Australia's largest basketball festival, HoopsFest, secured for Perth until 2028 under a new two-year deal
- Renewed support from the Cook Labor Government through Tourism WA comes after two successful editions of HoopsFest in Perth
- Investing in events is part of the Cook Labor Government's economic diversification strategy to grow tourism and support local businesses and jobs
In a slam dunk for Perth, Australia's largest basketball festival, HoopsFest, has been secured by the Cook Labor Government until 2028 in a new two-year deal.
HoopsFest is expected to attract thousands of out-of-State visitors over the next two years and provide a significant boost to Western Australia's tourism and hospitality sectors.
WA will welcome all 10 National Basketball League teams and all nine Women's National Basketball League teams to RAC Arena for HoopsFest, with regular in-season games set to feature as part of the event format over the next two years.
HoopsFest was a winning event in 2026, with more than 35,500 attendees who generated more than $6.1 million in economic impact for the State.
As part of the new two-year deal, HoopsFest will bring sport clinics, open training sessions, grassroots activations and the 'Adopt-a-Club' Program to WA, benefiting Perth's basketball clubs and community. The free Bounce Nation Fan-Zone will also return, creating a vibrant, family-friendly hub featuring player appearances and live interactive activities for fans to enjoy.
Since its inception in 2024, the event has continued to grow each year, featuring an NBA Legends lineup including Carmelo Anthony, Kenny "The Jet" Smith, and Allen "The Answer" Iverson, alongside the introduction of Sneakerland and the inclusion of the HoopsFest Cup in 2026, further elevating the festival's international recognition and prestige.
Supporting HoopsFest Perth forms part of the Cook Labor Government's economic diversification strategy by building a stronger tourism and events sector, supporting local tourism and hospitality businesses, and creating jobs for West Australians.
Find out more at hoopsfest.com.au
As stated by Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:
"I'm thrilled the Cook Labor Government has secured HoopsFest for Perth until 2028, with the event promising to be an unforgettable celebration of basketball for both visitors and locals to enjoy.
"The Cook Labor Government's investment in this event is all part of our broader economic diversification strategy to strengthen the tourism sector and support local jobs and businesses, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing what's in store over the next two years.
"This is yet another opportunity to showcase Western Australia on a national stage as a premier host for world-class events and build on our reputation as the fastest-growing events destination in the South East Asia region."
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"HoopsFest has produced real benefits for Western Australia and securing the event for another two years is a great result for our local basketball community.
"By supporting major events like HoopsFest, we're bringing elite basketball to the suburbs through the success of initiatives like last year's HoopsFest Adopt-A-Club program.
"We have a long and proud history of basketball in this State through the Perth Wildcats and Perth Lynx, and HoopsFest provides another opportunity to showcase that passion."
