Everything you need to know about the Ignite Cup

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans could be Gold Coast bound, with the NBL confirming the final of the inaugural Ignite Cup will be staged in the city in February 2026.

The Ignite Cup, the NBL’s latest in-season tournament, provides the Taipans with another chance to chase silverware, adding four Wednesday night fixtures to the regular season schedule – two at home and two on the road.

The Taipans will host the Perth Wildcats on October 22 in Round 6 at the Cairns Convention Centre, before meeting SEM Phoenix in their flagship New Year’s Eve clash. 

They’ll then travel south for marquee matchups against the Adelaide 36ers on Christmas Eve in Round 14 and Melbourne United on January 7, 2026, in Round 16.

All results will count towards both the Ignite Cup standings and the regular season ladder. 

The top two teams will advance to the Ignite Cup Final, where they’ll compete for a record $400,000 in prize money, the largest prize pool in NBL history, split between players (60%) and clubs (40%).

NBL Chief Operating Officer and Head of Basketball Operations Vince Crivelli said the Ignite Cup will celebrate the best of Australian basketball.

NBL Chief Operating Officer Vince Crivelli:

"The city has become synonymous with major events and elite basketball, and we’re thrilled to showcase the culmination of this new in-season tournament here."

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said Gold Coast basketball is riding high and the Ignite Cup adds an exciting new layer to the season calendar.

Further details, including ticketing information and the full Finals program, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Fixtures:

Cairns Taipans v Perth Wildcats – October 22, 2025, Round 6, Cairns Convention Centre

Adelaide 36ers v Cairns Taipans – December 24, 2025, Round 14, Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Cairns Taipans v South East Melbourne Phoenix – December 31, 2025, Round 15, Cairns Convention Centre

Melbourne United v Cairns Taipans – January 7, 2026, Round 16, Red Energy Arena, Bendigo

* 14-game memberships include the New Year's Eve fixture, but exclude the October 22 game against Perth and the December 19 non-Ignite Cup game against New Zealand - see all included games here. 16-game memberships include all games.

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