Basketball icons launch biggest tour in team history

• World-famous Harlem Globetrotters bring centennial celebration to Australia and New Zealand in June and July 2026
• NBL Group partnership continues for fifth tour since 2018, following record 120,000 attendees in 2024
• Premium fan experiences include new Magic Pass and VIP Bench Tickets for unprecedented access

The legendary Harlem Globetrotters will tip off their historic 100 Year Tour across Australia and New Zealand in mid-2026, celebrating a century of basketball entertainment excellence.

The world-renowned basketball entertainers announced their centennial tour will visit Australia's premier venues in June and July 2026, marking the most significant celebration in Globetrotters history. From Perth's western shores to Hamilton's North Island stages, fans across both nations will witness 100 years of jaw-dropping moves and basketball artistry.

Tickets are now. The comprehensive tour includes Australia's major metropolitan centres - Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne - before crossing the Tasman Sea for performances in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, and Hamilton. Additional regional stops throughout Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria ensure basketball enthusiasts nationwide can experience this once-in-a-century spectacle.

NBL Partnership Delivers Record Success

NBL Group CEO David Stevenson highlighted the strengthening partnership between Australian basketball and the global icons, emphasising the tour's impact on growing the game locally.

"We are incredibly proud to have partnered with the Harlem Globetrotters since 2018 and to now be bringing their historic 100 Year Tour to Australian and New Zealand fans," Stevenson said.

The partnership has delivered exceptional results, with more than 120,000 fans attending Harlem Globetrotters shows across the region in 2024 alone. This represents the fifth collaborative tour since the relationship began, built around entertaining, inspiring, and developing basketball at grassroots level.

"The Globetrotters aren't just elite athletes, they're global role models and entertainers, and we're thrilled to once again play a part in delivering these awe-inspiring performances to fans here in Australia and New Zealand," Stevenson added.

Century of Basketball Innovation

The 100 Year Tour celebrates the Globetrotters' unprecedented contribution to basketball culture worldwide. From breaking the NBA colour barrier with alumni like Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton joining the New York Knicks, to showcasing future Hall of Famers including Wilt Chamberlain and Connie Hawkins, the organisation has consistently pushed boundaries.

Legendary entertainers Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon captivated sell-out crowds for decades, whilst the team pioneered opportunities for women in professional basketball. As the first team to globalise basketball, they earned recognition as 'Ambassadors of Goodwill' through their worldwide impact.

The current roster of elite men and women maintains this excellence, holding an unprecedented 60-plus Guinness World Records, including eighteen set last year - more than any team in any sport. Their gravity-defying dunks and game-changing tricks continue captivating audiences against their renowned rivals, The Washington Generals.

Premium Fan Experience Options

The centennial tour introduces enhanced fan engagement opportunities, including the all-new Magic Pass offering pre-game access and player meet-and-greets. VIP Bench Tickets provide the ultimate experience, allowing fans to sit courtside with either the Globetrotters or Generals throughout the entire game.

For the first time, the team will debut their commemorative 100 Year jerseys, honouring a century of global impact. Additional surprises include the Golden Basketball by Spalding and an unforgettable fifth Quarter Autograph session, available free for all attendees.

The tour represents more than entertainment - it's a celebration of basketball's cultural significance and the Globetrotters' role in inspiring generations of players and fans. Australian and New Zealand basketball communities will witness history in the making as these global ambassadors bring their centennial celebration to the region.

With regional stops ensuring widespread accessibility, the 100 Year Tour promises to be the most comprehensive Globetrotters experience ever delivered across Australia and New Zealand, cementing their status as basketball's most beloved entertainers.