London is set to become the centre of basketball culture this July as the 2026 Jr. NBA 3v3 Finals return to Trafalgar Square, bringing together the capital’s best young basketball talent alongside some of the UK’s biggest content creators and entertainers.
Taking place on Thursday 9 July, the free event will transform one of London’s most recognisable landmarks into an outdoor basketball arena, celebrating youth sport, street culture and community with live entertainment, interactive fan experiences and competitive basketball throughout the day. The programme has already inspired more than 9,000 young people to get involved in basketball since launching in 2025 and returns even bigger for its second year.
DJ AG Headlines a Day of Basketball and Entertainment
Leading the entertainment is London favourite DJ AG, who will bring his trademark energy courtside throughout the finals before taking part in the evening’s NBA 3X Creator Tournament.
Joining him are some of the UK’s biggest online personalities including Darkest Man, Harry Pinero, Elz the Witch and The Royal Guard, who will captain teams in the creator competition in partnership with Foot Locker.
The tournament aims to showcase the growing connection between basketball, music, fashion and digital culture while introducing even more young fans to the sport.
London’s Best Young Basketball Players Take Centre Court
Following months of qualifying tournaments across the capital, secondary school students aged 13 to 16 (Years 9–11) will compete in the prestigious one-day finals in front of spectators in the heart of London.
The Jr. NBA 3v3 programme is organised by London Marathon Events in collaboration with the NBA UK, with support from the Mayor of London.
Designed to encourage greater grassroots participation, the initiative has rapidly become one of London’s largest youth basketball programmes.
Fans Can Enjoy Interactive NBA Experiences
Visitors won’t just be watching basketball.
Throughout the day, Trafalgar Square will feature a wide range of free fan experiences, including:
- The Foot Locker Dome Drop, where participants race to collect flying tickets for exclusive prizes.
- An NBA arcade complete with basketball shooting games.
- Sneaker customisation experiences.
- Photo opportunities with the iconic Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
- Live DJs and entertainment across three basketball courts.
- Wheelchair basketball showcases highlighting the sport’s growing accessibility.
An official NBA mascot will also make a special appearance, bringing the atmosphere of an NBA game to central London.
Building Excitement for NBA Manchester Game 2027
The event also helps build momentum towards the historic NBA Manchester Game 2027, which will see the New Orleans Pelicans face the San Antonio Spurs at Co-op Live on 17 January 2027.
With basketball participation continuing to grow across the UK, events such as the Jr. NBA Finals demonstrate the NBA’s long-term commitment to developing the sport beyond North America.
Date: Thursday 9 July 2026
Location: Trafalgar Square
Jr. NBA 3v3 Finals: 9:30am – 4:45pm
NBA 3X Creator Tournament: 5:00pm – 7:45pm
Admission: Free
