Players Era Festival 2026 in Las Vegas
The Players Era Festival 2026 brings 24 of the country’s top college basketball programs to Las Vegas for two bracket-style tournaments at Michelob ULTRA Arena and T-Mobile Arena.
See powerhouse programs including Kansas, Florida, Houston, Auburn, Michigan, Gonzaga, Alabama and Tennessee compete across eight days of early-season college basketball action.
Dates: November 17–28, 2026
Game Times: Times vary by date and session
Tickets: From $82
Venues: Michelob ULTRA Arena and T-Mobile Arena
Age Requirement: All ages welcome
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About the Players Era Festival 2026
College basketball’s biggest early-season matchups are coming to Las Vegas during the expanded Players Era Festival 2026.
The festival features two separate men’s college basketball tournaments and 24 participating teams. The Players Era 8 takes place November 17–19 at Michelob ULTRA Arena, followed by the Players Era 16 from November 24–28 at Michelob ULTRA Arena and T-Mobile Arena.
The 2026 format introduces bracket play and championship games, giving fans the opportunity to follow their favorite teams through meaningful early-season matchups.
Event Details
- Event: Players Era Festival 2026
- Sport: NCAA men’s college basketball
- Players Era 8 Dates: November 17–19, 2026
- Players Era 16 Dates: November 24–28, 2026
- Game Times: Times vary by date, venue and ticketed session
- Tickets: Starting at $82; prices vary by session
- Age Requirement: No age restriction
- Primary Venues: Michelob ULTRA Arena and T-Mobile Arena
- Michelob ULTRA Arena Address: 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89119
- T-Mobile Arena Address: 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89158
Each ticket applies only to the date, venue and session selected. A ticket for one session does not provide admission to games scheduled during a different session or at the other arena.
Players Era Festival Schedule
The following schedule provides the currently listed session times. Matchups after the opening rounds depend on tournament results and may be announced closer to each session.
Players Era 8 at Michelob ULTRA Arena
| Date | Session | Venue | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, November 17 | 12:00 p.m. Houston vs. Rutgers Florida vs. Notre Dame |
Michelob ULTRA Arena | From $102 |
| Tuesday, November 17 | 6:00 p.m. Kansas vs. UNLV West Virginia vs. Auburn |
Michelob ULTRA Arena | From $102 |
| Wednesday, November 18 | 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. | Michelob ULTRA Arena | From $102 |
| Thursday, November 19 | 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. | Michelob ULTRA Arena | From $115 |
Players Era 16 at Both Arenas
| Date | Session | Venue | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, November 24 | 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. | Michelob ULTRA Arena | From $128 |
| Tuesday, November 24 | 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. | T-Mobile Arena | From $171 |
| Thursday, November 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Michelob ULTRA Arena | From $82 |
| Thursday, November 26 | 12:30 p.m. | T-Mobile Arena | From $171 |
| Friday, November 27 | 10:00 a.m. | T-Mobile Arena | From $171 |
| Friday, November 27 | 12:00 p.m. | Michelob ULTRA Arena | From $115 |
| Saturday, November 28 | Championship time to be announced | Michelob ULTRA Arena | From $165 |
Schedule, matchups, session times, venues and prices are subject to change. Confirm the arena and session printed on your ticket before attending.
Players Era 8 Teams
The Players Era 8 takes place November 17–19 entirely at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The eight-team field includes:
- Auburn Tigers
- Florida Gators
- Houston Cougars
- Kansas Jayhawks
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
- West Virginia Mountaineers
The teams compete through bracket play, with the final two remaining programs meeting for the Players Era 8 championship.
Players Era 16 Teams
The Players Era 16 features two eight-team brackets competing November 24–28 at Michelob ULTRA Arena and T-Mobile Arena.
Players Era 16 Bracket One
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Louisville Cardinals
- Maryland Terrapins
- Oregon Ducks
- San Diego State Aztecs
- St. John’s Red Storm
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
Players Era 16 Bracket Two
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Baylor Bears
- Creighton Bluejays
- Gonzaga Bulldogs
- Kansas State Wildcats
- Miami Hurricanes
- Michigan Wolverines
- TCU Horned Frogs
The two bracket winners are scheduled to meet in the championship game on November 28 at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Opening-Round Players Era 16 Matchups
Opening-round games scheduled for November 24 include:
- Louisville vs. Texas Tech
- St. John’s vs. Oregon
- Tennessee vs. Maryland
- San Diego State vs. Iowa State
- Gonzaga vs. Kansas State
- Baylor vs. Alabama
- Michigan vs. Creighton
- TCU vs. Miami
Later-round matchups will be determined by results from the opening games.
Why You Should Attend
- See 24 prominent college basketball programs in Las Vegas
- Choose from afternoon and evening ticketed sessions
- Watch meaningful bracket play and championship games
- See nationally ranked programs and potential professional prospects
- Cheer for UNLV during the Players Era 8
- Attend games during Thanksgiving week in Las Vegas
- Experience college basketball at two major Strip arenas
Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay
Michelob ULTRA Arena is located inside Mandalay Bay Resort on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip.
The arena hosts basketball, professional sports, concerts and other major entertainment events. It serves as the exclusive venue for the Players Era 8 and shares Players Era 16 games with T-Mobile Arena.
Address:
Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay
3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89119
T-Mobile Arena
T-Mobile Arena is located near Park MGM and New York-New York on the Las Vegas Strip.
The arena is home to the Vegas Golden Knights and regularly hosts basketball, hockey, boxing, UFC events, concerts and other major productions.
Address:
T-Mobile Arena
3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89158
Parking and Transportation
Parking arrangements depend on the arena printed on your ticket. Do not assume that parking near one venue will be convenient for a session at the other arena.
Review the Vegas4Locals Las Vegas Parking Fees Guide before driving.
- Michelob ULTRA Arena: Use designated parking facilities at Mandalay Bay, Luxor or other nearby properties.
- T-Mobile Arena: Parking is available at Park MGM, New York-New York, ARIA and other nearby resorts.
- Event parking rates and validation policies vary.
- Reserve parking in advance when possible.
- Allow additional travel time during Thanksgiving week.
- Rideshare and taxi service are available near both venues.
Know Before You Go
- Check the venue, date and session printed on your ticket.
- Individual sessions may include more than one basketball game.
- A session ticket does not necessarily provide all-day admission.
- Arrive early for parking, security screening and mobile-ticket verification.
- Review the bag policy for the specific arena you are visiting.
- Save mobile tickets to your phone before arriving.
- Matchups after the opening round depend on tournament results.
- Participating teams, game times and venues may change.
- All ages are welcome, but every guest may require a ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:When is the Players Era Festival 2026?
A: The Players Era 8 runs November 17–19, followed by the Players Era 16 from November 24–28, 2026.
Q:Where is the Players Era Festival held?
A: Games take place at Michelob ULTRA Arena inside Mandalay Bay and T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip.
Q:How many teams are participating?
A: The festival includes 24 teams: eight in the Players Era 8 and 16 in the Players Era 16.
Q:How much are Players Era Festival tickets?
A: Current session tickets start at approximately $82. Prices vary according to the date, venue, session and seating section.
Q:Does one ticket provide admission to every game?
A: No. Tickets are sold by date, arena and session. Confirm exactly which games are included before purchasing.
Q:Is the Players Era Festival appropriate for children?
A: Yes. There is no listed age restriction, although every guest may require a ticket.
Q:When is the championship game?
A: The Players Era 16 championship is scheduled for November 28 at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The game time remains subject to announcement.
Get Players Era Festival Tickets
Choose your preferred date, arena and session to see elite college basketball programs compete during the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.
View Players Era Festival Tickets
Ticket prices, fees, seating inventory, session times, venues, participating teams and matchups are subject to change. Confirm all information with the ticket provider before purchasing.
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