Jr. NBA 3v3 Finals to return to Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square will host the Jr. NBA 3v3 Finals again this summer, with the London schools competition returning to the central London landmark on Thursday 9 July.
The free programme, run by London Marathon Events in collaboration with the NBA, is in its second year and is designed to get more children playing basketball across London schools.
Ten secondary school teams from across the capital will qualify for the Finals through borough and area competitions, earning the chance to play in Trafalgar Square on two courts, with games also shown on big screens.
A third court will be used for Jr. NBA development clinics for selected primary school groups, while the event will also include public fan activities, photo opportunities, basketball skills challenges, live music and entertainment.
The programme has expanded for 2026 after inspiring more than 9,000 pupils to play 3v3 basketball in 2025, when Trafalgar Square hosted the first basketball tournament to be played at the venue.
Primary schools will have their own Finals for the first time, with Years 5 and 6 teams competing at SportsDock, University of East London, on Friday 5 June. SportsDock was used as Team USA Basketball’s training venue during the London 2012 Olympics.
A wheelchair basketball pathway has also been added to the secondary school competition, with teams set to compete at the showpiece Finals. Wheelchair basketball clubs have received £19,980 in funding to support recruitment, coaching and preparation for four under-18 teams.
Neal Meyer, NBA Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, Europe and Middle East, said the return to Trafalgar Square reflected “the incredible momentum around basketball across London”.
“The growth of this programme in just its second year, from expanding to primary schools to welcoming even more wheelchair basketball teams, reflects our commitment to making the game accessible to every young person,” Meyer said.
Polly Irvine, Event Lead for Jr. NBA 3v3, said the popularity of 3v3 basketball in schools showed “the sky is the limit for its growth in the UK”.
“Last year, history was made when Jr. NBA 3v3 became the first basketball tournament ever to be played at Trafalgar Square and we are seeing more people take up the sport in schools,” Irvine said.
The content creator NBA 3X basketball tournament will also return with a new line-up, featuring a mixed elite 3v3 competition. The roster of participating creators will be announced later via NBA Europe’s social channels.
Primary and secondary school teams play 10-minute games on a one-hoop set-up, with three players from a squad of six on court at a time.
Secondary school area finals began this week and run from Monday 11 May to Friday 15 May, with primary school area competitions following from Monday 18 May to Friday 22 May.
Further information is available via the Jr. NBA 3v3 event website.
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