The highly anticipated 2026 Red Bull Half Court World Finals are officially heading to the Philippines, bringing the world’s most fast-paced 3-on-3 basketball tournament straight to Manila. Scheduled for December 5, 2026, the massive event will see national champions from all over the globe battle it out for the world title in an ultimate festival of basketball, urban art, and street culture.
Basketball is a literal way of life in Manila, and this year’s tournament is tapping directly into that raw local passion. The 2026 World Finals are set to bridge the old and the new, bringing elite streetball action to the historic grounds of Fort Santiago in Intramuros before shifting gears to the ultra-modern streets of BGC.
In the lead-up to the main event, organizers are launching the Red Bull Half Court Design My Court competition, inviting local artists, creators, and hoops fans to pitch their dream basketball court designs. The winning concept will be painted directly onto the tournament canvas, with the submission window open from September 28 through October 21, 2026.
The Red Bull Half Court World Finals are making their Philippine debut, landing in a country where hoops are played on nearly every street corner. Because basketball is an essential element of everyday life in local communities, Manila is a natural host city for the event.
Paul Gudde, Red Bull Half Court Global Sports Director, said: “Manila is built for this format. It’s a city where basketball isn’t just watched, it’s lived. Bringing the World Finals here is about connecting the global 3on3 community with a place that truly understands what playground basketball is all about.”
The World Finals are set to take place across two vastly different locations within Manila.
The battle for the Finals begins in the heart of Manila’s heritage. The group stage will take place at Fort Santiago—a celebrated citadel inside the iconic walled district—where teams must earn their ticket to day two of the competition.
Championship day shifts the action to Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a striking contrast to day one. The surviving squads will face off in one of Manila’s most vibrant, ultra-modern commercial hubs to decide who walks away with the global crown.
Global basketball royalty is also descending upon Manila for the event. Legendary streetballer Grayson “The Professor” Boucher and master shooting trainer Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews will be in attendance. Joining them are elite dunkers Piotr “Grabo” Grabowski, a world-class Red Bull athlete from Poland, and home-court hero David “Air David” Carlos, a celebrated FIBA 3×3 World Tour Dunk Contest champion.
Grayson “The Professor” Boucher said “The Philippines is one of my favorite countries to visit because the fans love basketball/streetball culture. I can’t wait to come over for the Red Bull Half Court World Finals to do some park takeovers and see the best 3v3 streetball teams from around the globe. I know the Manila crowd is going to be a vibe and the World Finals out there is gonna be a movie.”
World-Renowned Shooting Coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews, global ambassador for the event, said “I have been to Manila multiple times and am always impressed by the level of passion for basketball that the athletes have. In particular, there’s a huge appreciation for the art of shooting in Manila. Coming back for Red Bull Half Court is going to be special, you’ve got national champions from around the world coming to compete and represent their countries. I know we’re going to see some great athletes competing at the highest level.”
Spanning qualifiers from Sweden to South Africa, the sixth edition of the tournament has narrowed the field down to national champions from 13 countries. These top streetball squads are now locked in to face off at the World Finals in Manila.
Championship spots are rapidly filling up ahead of the Manila showdown. From India, men’s champions Team 911 clinched their ticket out of Chandigarh, while Team Sinatra booked their passage as North Macedonia’s top squad from Skopje. The host nation will be fiercely represented by men’s champions JSKILLS and women’s powerhouse Pilipinas Aguilas. Rounding out the early roster are Egypt’s Team Hustlers and Bad Luck, with more international champions joining the grid as the final qualifying rounds conclude.
Red Bull Half Court features an accelerated format of 3on3 basketball where matches have a 10-minute limit and the first team to reach 21 points secures an immediate victory. During pool play, the team accumulating the highest total score earns the “Own the Court” bonus to help secure advancement to the next round. You can read more about the tournament rules on Red Bull.
Adding an extra layer of strategy, the tournament features two designated three-point scoring circles positioned behind the arc. This creates a high-stakes, risk-reward dynamic where teams can quickly shift the momentum of the game.
Since its inception in 2021, the tournament has left its mark on some of the world’s most iconic backdrops, from the historic streets of Rome, Cairo, and Belgrade to the urban landscapes of New York City and Dubai. Now, the stage is set for the global streetball phenomenon to write its next unforgettable chapter in Manila.
