The 2026 Players Era Festival is an upcoming early-season college basketball tournament. It is the third edition of the Players Era Festival and the first with ESPN as the broadcaster. The tournament is set to expand to 24 teams, featuring an eight-team tournament from November 17–19 named the Players Era 8 and a separate 16-team tournament on Thanksgiving weekend from November 24–28 dubbed the Players Era 16, with each championship going back to a bracketed elimination event.
Teams Players Era 8
Team Most Recent Appearance Best FinishAuburn 2025 Consolation Game (2025)Floridafirst appearance –Houston 2025 4th (2024)Kansas 2025 3rd (2025)Notre Dame 2025 Consolation Game (2025)Rutgers 2025 Consolation Game (2025)UNLV 2025 Consolation Game (2025)West Virginiafirst appearance –
Players Era 16
Team Most Recent Appearance Best FinishAlabama 2025 2nd (2024)Baylor 2025 Consolation Game (2025)Creighton 2025 Consolation Game (2025)Gonzaga 2025 2nd (2025)Iowa State 2025 Consolation Game (2025)Kansas Statefirst appearance –Louisvillefirst appearance –Maryland 2025 Consolation Game (2025)Miami first appearance –Michigan 2025 Champion (2025)Oregon 2025 Champion (2024)San Diego State 2025 3rd (2024)St. John's 2025 Consolation Game (2025)Tennessee 2025 4th (2025)TCU first appearance –Texas Tech first appearance –
Bracket Players Era 8
Players Era 16 The 16-team bracket is structured as two 8-team brackets along with consolation rounds to determine first through eighth place finishes for each. The champion of each bracket will play a final Player Era 16 championship game to determine the overall champion. Bracket 1 All games to be played at Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bracket 2 All games to be played at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Grand championship Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
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