Content Writer: Janice Chew • Monday, 26/08/2026 - 19:00:10 - PM
Tickets for the NBA China Games 2026 will go on sale on Wednesday, 12 August, bringing another major international sporting event to The Venetian Arena in Macao.
The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets will play two preseason games on 9 and 11 October 2026. Tickets will be available from 12pm China Standard Time through Cotai Ticketing, Taobao 88VIP, Trip.com and MPay.
Game tickets are priced from MOP/HKD 588 to MOP/HKD 24,888, while NBA Fan Day tickets start at MOP 488. The opening game will begin at 7:30pm on 9 October, followed by the second matchup at 5:30pm on 11 October.
Star Players and Entertainment
The event is expected to feature some of the NBA’s most recognisable players.
The Mavericks currently include nine-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving, 2025–26 Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and 2026 ninth overall draft pick Morez Johnson Jr.
Houston’s roster features two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant, two-time All-Star Alperen Sengun and NBA All-Defensive First Team member Amen Thompson.
Entertainment will extend beyond the games. K-pop group KiiiKiii is scheduled to perform during halftime, while Hong Kong singer and MIRROR member Keung To and K-pop artist EVAN, also known as HEESEUNG, are set to appear at NBA Fan Day. Rapper and actor MC Jin will host the event.
The wider programme will also include NBA House, youth basketball clinics and community activities organised through NBA Cares and Sands Cares. The games and supporting events are expected to reach audiences in more than 200 countries and territories.
What the Organisers Said
NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum said the previous Macao games demonstrated the “passion and enthusiasm” for the NBA among fans in China and across Asia.
He added that the league looks forward to welcoming the Mavericks and Rockets while connecting with fans, young players and the local community through the games and related activities.
Sands China President and CEO Grant Chum said the company is preparing another full week of sports, entertainment and community experiences following the success of the 2025 edition.
Houston Rockets Alternate Governor Patrick Fertitta highlighted the franchise’s longstanding connection with Chinese supporters, strengthened after the Rockets selected Yao Ming with the first overall pick in 2002.
More Than Two Basketball Games
For Sands China and Macao, the NBA China Games represent more than ticket revenue.
Sands China said the 2025 event generated approximately three billion social-media impressions across mainland China. Around 100 supporting activities were organised, including NBA House, community programmes, fan engagements and Macao’s first NBA flagship store.
This demonstrates the multiplier effect of a major sporting event. Visitors may arrive for basketball, but spending can extend to hotels, restaurants, retail, transport and other entertainment.
It also creates employment and commercial opportunities across event operations, hospitality, marketing, security, audiovisual production, merchandise, customer service and tourism.
Macao’s Event Economy Takes Shape
The NBA’s return forms part of a multiyear arrangement to stage preseason games in Macao. It also supports the city’s broader effort to expand its tourism economy beyond gaming.
The real value will therefore not be measured only by attendance inside the 14,000-seat Venetian Arena. It will depend on how effectively Macao converts international events into longer visitor stays, higher spending and sustainable opportunities for local businesses and workers.
By combining elite basketball, Asian entertainment and community engagement, the NBA China Games offer a strong example of how integrated resorts can use major events to support destination branding and economic diversification.
