G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa has revealed its full 2026 schedule, with another action-packed season of elite women’s basketball tipping off on Friday 25 September.
The reigning champion The Northern Group Tauranga Whai will open the season at home against the BNZ Kāhu at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, before the ProcureX Mainland Pouākai welcome the Southern Hoiho to Parakiore in Christchurch on Saturday 26 September.
The full 2026 season downloadable pdf schedule can be found here.
Opening weekend concludes on Sunday 27 September when the ANZCO Foods Tokomanawa Queens host the BNZ Kāhu at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua, providing an early renewal of one of the competition’s most hotly contested rivalries.
The 2026 competition will feature five teams contesting 30 games across a 10-round regular season, with fixtures primarily played from Friday through Sunday. Each team will play 12 regular-season games before the top four advance to the postseason.
Fans will not have to wait long for a rematch of the 2025 Grand Final, with the Mainland Pouākai hosting Tauranga Whai at Parakiore on Friday 9 October.
The matchup will provide the Pouākai with an early opportunity to test themselves against the defending champions following last season’s title decider.
The opening home games continue throughout the first three rounds. The Kāhu welcome the Hoiho to Eventfinda Stadium on Sunday 4 October, while the Hoiho begin their home campaign against the Tokomanawa Queens at the Edgar Centre on Sunday 11 October.
The schedule once again delivers regular basketball across Auckland, Tauranga, Porirua, Christchurch and Dunedin, giving fans throughout the country the opportunity to see New Zealand’s leading players compete alongside high-quality international talent.
General Manager of Leagues Maree Taylor says the 2026 schedule provides an exciting platform for the league to continue building momentum.
“Tauihi continues to grow with every season, and the 2026 schedule gives our athletes another outstanding stage on which to perform.
“We have worked to create a fan-friendly schedule, with the majority of games played across the weekend and strong matchups throughout all 10 rounds.
“From opening night in Tauranga through to the Grand Final in December, we are looking forward to delivering another competitive and entertaining season for supporters around the country.”
Round 5 will feature another Queens and Kāhu contest at Trusts Arena on Sunday 25 October, while The Whai and the Pouākai meet for a second time at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre on Saturday 31 October.
The regular season moves into its decisive stages in November, including a Friday night matchup between the Kāhu and Queens at Eventfinda Stadium on 20 November. The Whai and Pouākai meet in Tauranga the following evening.
The final round begins on Friday 27 November when the Southern Hoiho host the Kāhu in Dunedin. The Pouākai then welcome the Queens to Parakiore on Saturday 28 November, before the regular season concludes on Sunday 29 November with Tauranga Whai hosting the Kāhu in Tauranga.
A home Finals series returns in 2026, rewarding the competition’s highest-ranked teams for their regular-season performances.
The first semi-final will be hosted by the number one seed on Saturday 5 December, with the second-ranked team hosting the other semi-final on Sunday 6 December. The highest remaining seed will then host the Grand Final on Sunday 13 December.
Rapid League also returns for the 2026 season, tipping off exactly one hour before every Tauihi regular-season game and continuing to provide emerging players with an important pathway to elite-level basketball.
The full 2026 season downloadable pdf schedule can be found here.
