Bringing five-day world-class basketball event to Oct. 7-11 Advancing tourism and sport synergies Driving Macao's economic diversification
MACAO, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sands China has long been committed to supporting the Macao SAR government's policy of promoting economic diversification –– by leveraging its extensive international network and integrated resort platforms to bring world-class sporting events to Macao, thereby helping reinforce the city's position as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. After drawing an enthusiastic response from audiences in Macao and around the world during its debut last year, The NBA China Games returns this year with two preseason games, Oct. 9 and 11 at The Venetian Arena of The Venetian® Macao, featuring a Texas matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets.
To further amplify the synergies between tourism and sports, Sands China and the National Basketball Association (NBA) are presenting a series of activities alongside The NBA China Games 2026. These include NBA Fan Day, NBA HOUSE, and “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week.” Together, these exciting offerings will help further elevate Macao’s reputation as a premier city destination for mega events, while strengthening its status as a “City of Sports” and injecting fresh momentum into the city’s economic diversification.
To further amplify the synergies between tourism and sports, Sands China and the National Basketball Association (NBA) are presenting a series of activities alongside The NBA China Games 2026. These include NBA Fan Day, NBA HOUSE, and “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week.” Together, these exciting offerings will help further elevate Macao’s reputation as a premier city destination for mega events, while strengthening its status as a “City of Sports” and injecting fresh momentum into the city’s economic diversification.
The NBA China Games 2026 will feature two preseason games between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena, with the first game set to take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, and the second at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11.
The NBA China Games 2026 will feature two preseason games between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena, with the first game set to take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, and the second at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11.
NBA Fan Day will take place at The Venetian Arena on Oct. 10, featuring appearances and interactions with NBA players and performances by popular Asian artists, offering fans an up-close experience of the energy and excitement of the NBA.
NBA Fan Day will take place at The Venetian Arena on Oct. 10, featuring appearances and interactions with NBA players and performances by popular Asian artists, offering fans an up-close experience of the energy and excitement of the NBA.
The expanded edition of NBA HOUSE Macao 2026 is coming Oct. 7-11 to Halls A and B of The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo. Open free of charge to the public from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day, the five-day festival brings together basketball, music and entertainment, fashion and retail, interactive technology, and specialty dining offerings for residents and visitors alike.
The expanded edition of NBA HOUSE Macao 2026 is coming Oct. 7-11 to Halls A and B of The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo. Open free of charge to the public from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day, the five-day festival brings together basketball, music and entertainment, fashion and retail, interactive technology, and specialty dining offerings for residents and visitors alike.
Co-organised by Sands China’s Sands Cares programme and NBA Cares, the “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026” will take place Oct. 7-11. The initiative brings NBA legends and current players into local communities, extending the reach of the sporting event to a broader cross-section of the Macao community.
To further amplify the synergies between tourism and sports, Sands China and the National Basketball Association (NBA) are presenting a series of activities alongside the games. These include NBA Fan Day, taking place at The Venetian Arena on Oct. 10, featuring appearances and interactions with NBA players and performances by popular Asian artists, offering fans an up-close experience of the energy and excitement of the NBA; NBA HOUSE, open to the public free of charge at Halls A and B of Cotai Expo at The Venetian Macao from Oct. 7 to 11, bringing together basketball, music and entertainment, fashion and retail, interactive technology, and specialty dining offerings in a five-day festival for residents and visitors; and the five-day "NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week," running from Oct. 7 to 11 at locations across the Macao community, extending the world-class basketball event to the community and school, engaging a broader cross-section of local society.
Together, these exciting offerings will help further elevate Macao's reputation as a premier city destination for mega events, while strengthening its status as a "City of Sports" and injecting fresh momentum into the city's economic diversification.
The NBA China Games 2026 | Two Preseason Games Set to Take the Court
The NBA China Games 2026 will feature two preseason games between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena, with the first game set to take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, and the second at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11.
The Mavericks currently feature 2016 NBA champion and nine-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving, 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, and 2026 No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr. The Rockets currently feature two-time NBA champion and 16-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant, two-time NBA All-Star Alperen Sengun, and 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive First Team member Amen Thompson.
Adding to the excitement on game day, South Korean Gen Z girl group KiiiKiii will take the stage during halftime, bringing dynamic performances and youthful energy that are sure to electrify the arena.
NBA Fan Day | Star-studded Asian Line-up to Deliver an Unforgettable Fan Experience
NBA Fan Day will be at The Venetian Arena at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 10, featuring a line-up of artists from across Asia. Performers will include K-pop star EVAN, also known as HEESEUNG, and Hong Kong singer-actor and MIRROR member Keung To, with rapper-actor MC Jin serving as host. Live performances will keep the energy high throughout the event, immersing audiences in the thrill of NBA basketball.
The event will offer a variety of fan engagement activities, featuring Mavericks and Rockets players, entertainment and mascots. Highlights include a skills challenge, three-point contest, shooting stars challenge, and a slam dunk show featuring professional dunkers –– giving fans the opportunity to experience the energy of NBA basketball up close.
NBA HOUSE | An Expanded One-stop NBA Basketball Carnival
Intensifying the liveliness, the expanded edition of NBA HOUSE Macao 2026 is coming Oct. 7-11 to Halls A and B of The Venetian Macao's Cotai Expo. The five-day experience is open to the public free of charge from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. As a major fan engagement platform for The NBA China Games 2026, this year's edition gathers nearly 30 renowned global brand partners and exhibitors, creating a one-stop, vibrant basketball carnival featuring specialty dining, music and entertainment, fashion and retail, interactive technology and party experiences. The event will extend the momentum of the games to the broader community while further enriching Macao's sports tourism offering.
NBA HOUSE will feature an extensive programme of activities, with NBA legends Ray Allen, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Jeremy Lin, Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion, Cuttino Mobley, Mitch Richmond, Luis Scola, and P.J. Tucker, along with Chinese basketball star Ding Yanyuhang, headlining the event and interacting with fans on-site, giving the public the opportunity to meet some of basketball's legendary figures in person.
In addition, Asian stars KiiiKiii and SB19 will deliver electrifying performances, while EVAN and MIRROR member Keung To will make special appearances for live performances, bringing added star power and further elevating the pulsating atmosphere at NBA HOUSE.
The venue will feature a range of interactive experiences and exhibition zones, including exclusive themed zones dedicated to the Mavericks and the Rockets, photo opportunities with NBA trophies on display, and "NBA Inside the Game powered by AWS" – an interactive shooting experience on a smart digital LED court.
The newly upgraded Merchandise Village will also return to NBA HOUSE this year, bringing together the NBA Store, NBA Atelier, and merchandise from the two participating teams and a range of official partners at Halls A and B of The Venetian Macao's Cotai Expo. Fans can explore an extensive selection of official NBA products, collectibles and lifestyle apparel, including a customization lab. Another highlight will be the expanded themed food and beverage area, which will cover more than 1,500 square metres and combine local favourites with authentic Texas cuisine, offering fans a flavourful and diverse dining experience.
Two viewing parties will also be held during the event, where fans can get together to enjoy the world-class basketball matches in a lively atmosphere.
"NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week" | Exemplifying Sands Cares Spirit
Co-organised by Sands China's Sands Cares programme and NBA Cares, the "NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026" will take place Oct. 7-11. Featuring five themed activities, namely Youth Day, Tip-off, School Day, Health and Wellness Day, and the Community Basketball Carnival, the initiative takes NBA legends and current players to visit local communities, providing Macao residents of all ages and backgrounds with valuable opportunities to learn, interact and be inspired.
By bringing a world-class basketball event into the local community, the Impact Week aims to inspire positive youth development, foster social inclusion and promote greater awareness of physical and mental well-being. Through these meaningful outreach activities, it seeks to champion the values of care, healthy living and sportsmanship.
With broad participation from across the community, the Impact Week fully demonstrates Sands China's longstanding commitment to the spirit of Sands Cares and its dedication to growing alongside and serving the Macao community. By harnessing the synergies arising from major sports tourism events, the initiative not only supports Macao's economic diversification, but also unites charitable efforts from across regions to foster a more caring and inclusive community in Macao, while demonstrating the vitality and impact of Macao's "Tourism+" strategy.
For the latest arrangements for The NBA China Games 2026 and related events, as well as registration information for selected performances, please visit NBAChinaGames.com. Macao residents, visitors and basketball fans alike are invited to join the vibrant line-up of activities and experience this spectacular celebration that blends basketball, entertainment, tourism and leisure, and community engagement.
Schedule of The NBA China Games 2026 Event Series
Event
Date & Time
Location
The NBA China Games
2026
Game 1
October 9 (Fri)
7:30 p.m.
The Venetian Arena
Game 2
October 11 (Sun)
5:30 p.m.
NBA Fan Day 2026
October 10 (Sat)
3:30 p.m.
NBA HOUSE
Open to the public free of
charge
October 7-11 (Wed-Sun)
11 a.m. - 10 p.m. *Select session: invitation only
Halls A and B of The Venetian Macao's Cotai Expo
NBA Cares x Sands Cares
Community Impact Week
2026
October 7-11 (Wed-Sun)
Various locations across Macao community and The Venetian Macao
About Sands China Ltd. Sands China Ltd. (Sands China or the Company) is incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 1928). Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company's integrated resorts on the Cotai Strip comprise The Venetian® Macao, The Plaza® Macao, The Parisian® Macao and The Londoner® Macao. The Company also owns and operates Sands® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company's portfolio features a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at The Venetian Arena, The Londoner Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre, The Londoner Theatre and Sands Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company's Cotai Strip portfolio has the goal of contributing to Macao's transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).
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