TUSCALOOSA, AL – Visit Tuscaloosa and the Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) are proud to announce that Tuscaloosa has been selected as the host city for the 2026 and 2027 Alabama Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) Boys and Girls State Basketball Championships. The 2026 tournament will take place Friday, March 13 – Sunday, March 15, across PARA facilities and local school gyms.
Nearly 100 youth basketball teams from across Alabama are expected to compete in Tuscaloosa. Teams qualify for the State Championships by advancing through their local Parks and Recreation leagues. Following the success of last year’s ARPA Boys State Basketball Tournament—which welcomed more than 1,200 players, families, and fans to Tuscaloosa—the expanded championship will add approximately 40 girls’ teams to the competition in 2026. The estimate economic impact for the event exceeds $1 million.
“Visit Tuscaloosa is proud to once again partner with ARPA and PARA to serve as the host city for the 2026 and 2027 Boys and Girls State Basketball Championship,” said Kelsey Rush, President and CEO of Visit Tuscaloosa. “With the addition of girls’ teams joining the event, we expect the tournaments to be even bigger and better, bringing more visitors to Tuscaloosa while showcasing our community as a destination for youth sports.”
Natalie Norman, ARPA’s Youth Athletics Chair, echoed that excitement: “We are thrilled to bring the Boys and Girls State Basketball Championships to Tuscaloosa in both 2026 and 2027. Tuscaloosa’s outstanding facilities, dedicated partners, and proven success in hosting statewide tournaments make it the perfect home for this event. We look forward to welcoming teams from across Alabama for an unforgettable championship experience.”
As Tuscaloosa’s destination organization, Visit Tuscaloosa’s vision is to excel in illustrating the Tuscaloosa area as the South’s premier college town, celebrated for its storied legacy and hospitality. The organization is a community asset that stimulates economic growth and fosters resident pride through tourism and promotion efforts that inspire people to discover Tuscaloosa County. Visit Tuscaloosa’s efforts generate revenue for the community and consistently enhance the area’s public image as a dynamic place to live, work, play and visit.
