2026 NZ Sal's NBL Schedule, Dates, Times, Venues for Every Round Game.

The road to Sal’s NBL 2026 Grand Final is officially mapped out, and it’s stacked with blockbusters from opening night right through to the Grand Final!!

The season opens as the Manawatū Jets host the Taranaki Airs on Thursday 9 April and runs through to Sunday 9 August Grand final, as the 2026 Sal’s NBL schedule locks in 15 regular-season rounds, rivalry nights, themed weeks as we roll towards the Grand Final. Check out some of the highlights you can look forward to this season.

The 2026 season is built around themed rounds that give the schedule clear identity and momentum from start to finish. It opens with Rivalry Round, immediately spotlighting local grudge matches to set the tone for the year.

ANZAC Week (Round 3) stands out as a marquee stretch, featuring a packed long weekend of games, including a triple-header on ANZAC Saturday and fixtures running through to Monday—one of the biggest showcase periods on the calendar.

Mid-season highlights include North vs South (Round 5), where island pride fuels playoff-like intensity, and Rivalry Redemption / Trade Week (Round 8), which revisits key matchups while teams make last-minute roster moves ahead of the trade deadline.

Community focus comes through in Inclusion Rounds (Rounds 11–12), celebrating accessibility and representation, while School Holiday Hoops (Rounds 2 & 14) targets families with earlier games and fan-friendly experiences.

The regular season wraps with Finals Countdown (Round 15), where every result has direct playoff implications.

Overall, these themed rounds add narrative layers to the season, ensuring consistent engagement for fans—from opening night through to the final push for postseason positioning.

NZ Sal's NBL Teams List 2026, Vennues, Stadiums, Every Club Head Coaches Name

The following 11 teams are competing in the 2026 season: 

Team — Arena — City — Head Coach

Auckland Tuatara — Eventfinda Stadium — Auckland — Cameron Gliddon

Canterbury Rams — Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre — Christchurch — Quinn Clinton

Franklin Bulls — Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre — Pukekohe — Dan Ryan

Hawke's Bay Hawks — Pettigrew Green Arena — Napier — Will Lopez

Manawatu Jets — Arena Manawatu — Palmerston North — Tony Webster

Nelson Giants — Trafalgar Centre — Nelson — Michael Fitchett

Otago Nuggets — Edgar Centre — Dunedin — Jeff Sparrow

Southland Sharks — Stadium Southland — Invercargill — Jonathan Yim

Taranaki Airs — TSB Stadium — New Plymouth — John White

Tauranga Whai — Mercury Baypark — Tauranga — Matt Lacey

Wellington Saints — TSB Bank Arena — Wellington — Aaron Young

 

 

How To Watch Sal’s NZNBL Game, TV Channel, Live Streaming, Broadcast Info

The 2025 Sal’s NBL season is here! Tip-off is set for Wednesday, April 9—don’t miss a moment of the action.

📍 In New Zealand? Tune in live on Sky Sport. Friday night games will also be streamed on TikTok, and Sunday games will be free-to-air on Sky Open!

🌍 Watching from overseas? Catch every game live on the FIBA YouTube channel.

🇺🇸 Watching from the U.S.? Select games will be available on ESPN.

ROUND 1 | RIVALRY ROUND

Thu April 9— Manawatū Jets vs Taranaki Airs — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

Fri April 10— Southland Sharks vs Otago Nuggets — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Sat April 11— Hawke’s Bay Hawks vs Tauranga Whai — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — Rodney Green Arenas, Napier

Sat April 11— Auckland Tuatara vs Franklin Bulls — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Sun April 12— Wellington Saints vs Manawatū Jets — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — TSB Arena, Wellington

Sun April 12— Nelson Giants vs Canterbury Rams — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

ROUND 2 | SCHOOL HOLIDAY HOOPS

DATE FIXTURE RAPID / NBL VENUE

Tues April 14— Taranaki Airs vs Hawke’s Bay Hawks — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Wed April 15— Otago Nuggets vs Nelson Giants — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Thu April 16— Franklin Bulls vs Southland Sharks — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre, Pukekohe

Fri April 17— Hawke’s Bay Hawks vs Manawatū Jets — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Rodney Green Arenas, Napier

Sat April 18— Tauranga Whai vs Taranaki Airs — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — TBC

Sat April 18— Auckland Tuatara vs Southland Sharks — 6:30PM / 7:30PM —
Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Sun April 19— Canterbury Rams vs Wellington Saints — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — TBC

ROUND 3 | ANZAC WEEK

Thu April 23— Hawke’s Bay Hawks vs Canterbury Rams — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Rodney Green Arenas, Napier

Fri April 24— Otago Nuggets vs Tauranga Whai — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Sat April 25— Franklin Bulls vs Canterbury Rams — 12:30PM / 1:30PM — Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre, Pukekohe

Sat April 25— Manawatū Jets vs Auckland Tuatara — 3:30PM / 4:30PM — Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

Sat April 25— Nelson Giants vs Wellington Saints — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Sun April 26— Southland Sharks vs Tauranga Whai — 1:00PM / 2:00PM — ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Mon April 27— Taranaki Airs vs Franklin Bulls — 1:00PM / 2:00PM — TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Mon April 27— Wellington Saints vs Auckland Tuatara — 4:00PM / 5:00PM — TSB Arena, Wellington

ROUND 4

Thu April 30— Wellington Saints vs Taranaki Airs — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — TSB Arena, Wellington

Fri May 1— Otago Nuggets vs Manawatū Jets — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Sat May 2— Tauranga Whai vs Franklin Bulls — 12:30PM / 1:30PM — TBC

Sat May 2— Nelson Giants vs Taranaki Airs — 3:30PM / 4:30PM — Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Sat May 2— Hawke’s Bay Hawks vs Auckland Tuatara — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Rodney Green Arenas, Napier

Sun May 3— Canterbury Rams vs Otago Nuggets — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — TBC

Sun May 3— Southland Sharks vs Manawatū Jets — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

ROUND 5 | NORTH VS SOUTH

Thu May 7— Taranaki Airs vs Southland Sharks — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Fri May 8— Franklin Bulls vs Nelson Giants — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre, Pukekohe

Sat May 9— Tauranga Whai vs Canterbury Rams — 12:30PM / 1:30PM — TBC

Sat May 9— Hawke’s Bay Hawks vs Otago Nuggets — 3:30PM / 4:30PM — Rodney Green Arenas, Napier

Sat May 9— Manawatū Jets vs Southland Sharks — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

Sun May 10— Auckland Tuatara vs Nelson Giants — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Sun May 10— Wellington Saints vs Franklin Bulls — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua

ROUND 6

Wed May 13— Franklin Bulls vs Manawatū Jets — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Franklin Pool & Leisure, Pukekohe

Thu May 14— Southland Sharks vs Auckland Tuatara — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Fri May 15— Tauranga Whai vs Manawatū Jets — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — TBC

Sat May 16— Taranaki Airs vs Wellington Saints — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — TSB Hub, New Plymouth

Sat May 16— Otago Nuggets vs Auckland Tuatara — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Sun May 17— Canterbury Rams vs Southland Sharks — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — TBC

Sun May 17— Nelson Giants vs Hawke’s Bay Hawks — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

ROUND 7

Thu May 21— Southland Sharks vs Wellington Saints — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Fri May 22— Manawatū Jets vs Canterbury Rams — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

Sat May 23— Franklin Bulls vs Hawke’s Bay Hawks — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — Franklin Pool & Leisure, Pukekohe

Sat May 23— Auckland Tuatara vs Tauranga Whai — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Sun May 24— Nelson Giants vs Otago Nuggets — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Sun May 24— Taranaki Airs vs Canterbury Rams — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — TSB Hub, New Plymouth

Mon May 25— Wellington Saints vs Hawke’s Bay Hawks — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua

ROUND 8 | RIVALRY REDEMPTION / TRADE WEEK

Fri May 29— Taranaki Airs vs Manawatū Jets — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Sat May 30— Tauranga Whai vs Hawke’s Bay Hawks — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — TBC

Sat May 30— Canterbury Rams vs Nelson Giants — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — TBC

Sun May 31— Franklin Bulls vs Auckland Tuatara — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre, Pukekohe

Sun May 31— Otago Nuggets vs Southland Sharks — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Mon June 1— Manawatū Jets vs Wellington Saints — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

ROUND 9

Date — Matchup — Time / Time — Venue

Wed June 3— Auckland Tuatara vs Canterbury Rams — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Thu June 4— Hawke's Bay Hawks vs Nelson Giants — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Rodney Green Arenas, Napier

Fri June 5— Otago Nuggets vs Franklin Bulls — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Sat June 6— Tauranga Whai vs Nelson Giants — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — TBC

Sat June 6— Taranaki Airs vs Auckland Tuatara — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Sun June 7— Wellington Saints vs Otago Nuggets — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — TSB Arena, Wellington

Sun June 7— Southland Sharks vs Franklin Bulls — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

ROUND 10

Fri June 12— Taranaki Airs vs Tauranga Whai — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Sat June 13— Nelson Giants vs Southland Sharks — 12:30PM / 1:30PM — Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Sat June 13— Hawke's Bay Hawks vs Franklin Bulls — 3:30PM / 4:30PM — Rodney Green Arenas, Napier

Sat June 13— Otago Nuggets vs Canterbury Rams — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Sun June 14— Auckland Tuatara vs Wellington Saints — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Sun June 14— Manawatū Jets vs Tauranga Whai — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

ROUND 11 | INCLUSION ROUND

Wed June 17— Nelson Giants vs Manawatū Jets — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Thu June 18— Southland Sharks vs Taranaki Airs — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Fri June 19— Canterbury Rams vs Tauranga Whai — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — TBC

Sat June 20— Auckland Tuatara vs Hawke's Bay Hawks — 3:00PM / 4:00PM —
Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Sat June 20— Otago Nuggets vs Taranaki Airs — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Sun June 21— Franklin Bulls vs Wellington Saints — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre, Pukekohe

Mon June 22— Hawke's Bay Hawks vs Southland Sharks — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Rodney Green Arenas, Napier

ROUND 12 | INCLUSION ROUND

Wed June 24— Tauranga Whai vs Southland Sharks — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — TBC

Thu June 25— Manawatū Jets vs Otago Nuggets — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

Fri June 26— Wellington Saints vs Nelson Giants — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — TSB Arena, Wellington

Sat June 27— Taranaki Airs vs Otago Nuggets — 3:30PM / 4:30PM — TSB Hub, New Plymouth

Sat June 27— Franklin Bulls vs Tauranga Whai — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre, Pukekohe

Sun June 28— Canterbury Rams vs Hawke's Bay Hawks — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — TBC

Sun June 28— Nelson Giants vs Auckland Tuatara — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

ROUND 13

Wed July 1— Southland Sharks vs Canterbury Rams — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Thu July 2— Hawke's Bay Hawks vs Taranaki Airs — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Rodney Green Arenas, Napier

Fri July 3— Canterbury Rams vs Manawatū Jets — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — TBC

Sat July 4— Tauranga Whai vs Auckland Tuatara — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — TBC

Sat July 4— Otago Nuggets vs Wellington Saints — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Sun July 5— Nelson Giants vs Franklin Bulls — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

ROUND 14 | SCHOOL HOLIDAY HOOPS

Thu July 9— Canterbury Rams vs Taranaki Airs — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — TBC

Fri July 10— Franklin Bulls vs Otago Nuggets — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre, Pukekohe

Fri July 10— Tauranga Whai vs Wellington Saints — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — TBC

Sat July 11— Manawatū Jets vs Hawke's Bay Hawks — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

Sat July 11— Southland Sharks vs Nelson Giants — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Sun July 12— Wellington Saints vs Canterbury Rams — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — TSB Arena, Wellington

Sun July 12— Auckland Tuatara vs Otago Nuggets — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Mon July 13— Manawatū Jets vs Nelson Giants — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

Wed July 15— Taranaki Airs vs Nelson Giants — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Thu July 16— Otago Nuggets vs Hawke's Bay Hawks — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Fri July 17— Auckland Tuatara vs Manawatū Jets — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Sat July 18— Southland Sharks vs Hawke's Bay Hawks — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Sat July 18— Wellington Saints vs Tauranga Whai — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — TSB Arena, Wellington

Sun July 19— Canterbury Rams vs Auckland Tuatara — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — TBC

Sun July 19— Franklin Bulls vs Taranaki Airs — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre, Pukekohe

ROUND 15 | FINALS COUNTDOWN

Wed July 22— Tauranga Whai vs Otago Nuggets — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — TBC

Thu July 23— Hawke's Bay Hawks vs Wellington Saints — 6:00PM / 7:00PM — Rodney Green Arenas, Napier

Fri July 24— Manawatū Jets vs Franklin Bulls — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

Sat July 25— Wellington Saints vs Southland Sharks — 3:00PM / 4:00PM — TSB Arena, Wellington

Sat July 25— Nelson Giants vs Tauranga Whai — 6:30PM / 7:30PM — Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Sun July 26— Auckland Tuatara vs Taranaki Airs — 2:00PM / 3:00PM — Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Sun July 26— Canterbury Rams vs Franklin Bulls — 5:00PM / 6:00PM — TBC

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