Macau concessionaire Sands China Ltd and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have announced the launch of ticket sales to the “NBA China Games 2026 presented by Taobao 88VIP” at The Venetian Macao from this Wednesday 12 August.
Tickets will go on sale from midday China Standard Time at Cotai Ticketing, Taobao 88VIP, Trip.com and MPay.
This year’s China NBA Games will see the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets play two preseason games on Friday 9 and Sunday 11 October, supported by a star-studded lineup of artists from across Asia. These will include halftime performances by Gen Z group KiiiKiii, while Hong Kong singer-actor and MIRROR member Keung To and K-Pop star EVAN (a.k.a. HEESEUNG) will perform live at NBA Fan Day, which will be hosted by rapper-actor MC Jin.
Among the NBA players set to take part in the games are the Mavs’ 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, while 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.
Sands China noted that the “NBA China Games 2026 presented by Taobao 88VIP” will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media.
As the Official Integrated Resort Partner of NBA China, Sands China will serve as the co-host and Official Promoter of the games. Tickets start at MOP$588 for the games and MOP$488 for NBA Fan Day.
Last year’s NBA games between the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets at The Venetian Macao attracted huge attention and were deemed a roaring success by Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO, Patrick Dumont.
Industry analysts also credited the week for driving significant visitation to Sands China’s properties, while MGM China’s Kenneth Feng stated that the NBA’s return to Macau not only boosted Sands China’s business but proved beneficial for all six concessionaires by driving the overall tourism and entertainment industry.
That this year sees two Texas-based franchises head to Macau is perhaps unsurprising given that Dumont serves as Governor of the Dallas Mavericks and is majority owner of the franchise after he and the Adelson family purchased the team in 2023. He had stated after last year’s games that he planned to bring the Texas teams to Macau in 2026.
