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The National Basketball League (NBL) claims record growth in attendance, broadcast audience and digital engagement for the 2026 regular season.
The numbers include 1.1 million fans attending games and audiences jumping across multiple broadcast platforms.
Sellouts for 58 games (including the Ignite Cup Final), up by seven on last season, is another stand-out figure.
Overall attendance rose 6% year on year.
Broadcast audiences grew strongly with live game streaming across ESPN channels and platforms recording a 20% increase in average audience compared with the previous season.
This follows a similar increase recorded at the end of NBL25.
The Ignite Cup Final delivered a 49% increase on the traditional Sunday 4.30pm timeslot on ESPN.
Free-to-air audiences saw a 22% increase in average audience on the 10 Network, again compared to last season.
Social media audiences approached two million followers and the NBL reported growth in its fan database.
NBL group CEO, David Stevenson said, “[We continue] to be the fastest growing sporting league in Australia.”
“When you combine the double-digit broadcast growth across multiple platforms, with tremendous uplift in attendance and sell-outs, the strength of the league is there for all to see.
“We are delivering tangible growth each year for our clubs and commercial partners while expanding our footprint domestically and internationally.”
The league also highlights other achievements for the season.
Four events connected with the first US, NBA game played in Australia –featuring the New Orleans Pelicans – attracted 60,000 to Melbourne Park.
The Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament also brought EuroLeague games to Australia for the first time, drawing capacity crowds in Melbourne and Sydney.
The HoopsFest in Perth attracted 35,500 attendees, a 25% increase on the previous year.
The Blitz pre-season tournament in Canberra drew 18,000 fans across five consecutive sold-out gamedays.
The Ignite Cup in-season tournament debuted and the Gold Coast final paid out $3000,000 to the winning team.
Internationally, the NBL expanded its broadcast footprint to more than 190 countries.
Every game is available live on ESPN via Disney+ and accessible in the US as well as Canada on the NBA App.
Several clubs recorded strong home crowd and membership results during the season.
Adelaide and Tasmania sold out all 16 of their home games. The 36ers extending their run to 37 consecutive sell-outs and the JackJumpers maintaining a perfect home record since entering the league in 2021.
Sydney and Melbourne also reported strong home attendance, with more than 160,000 fans at Qudos Bank Arena games and close to 140,000 attending Melbourne’s 16 home games.
South East Melbourne increased membership by 10%, while the New Zealand Breakers reported a spectacular 77% increase.
Stevenson said the league is now focused on the finals series and continued sponsorship wins.
“We are seeing the NBL step into a new phase of national and global impact.”
