Manila is set to become the global stage for streetball as the Red Bull Half Court World Finals comes to the Philippines for the first time on December 5, 2026.
National champions from 13 countries will gather in Manila to compete for the Red Bull Half Court title, bringing together 3-on-3 basketball, street culture, art, and the energy of the local basketball community.
The sixth season of Red Bull Half Court has already seen national competitions take place across countries including the Philippines, India, Egypt, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden, and Ukraine.
What to expect at the Red Bull Half Court World Finals in Manila
The 2026 World Finals will take players and fans to two very different sides of Manila.
The group phase will take place at Fort Santiago in Intramuros, giving the tournament a historic backdrop as teams compete for a spot in the Finals.
The competition will then move to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) for Finals day, where the remaining teams will battle for the championship.
The combination of Intramuros and BGC puts the tournament against two distinct Manila settings, from one of the city's historic landmarks to one of its modern business and lifestyle districts.
Who will compete in Manila?
National champions from 13 countries are expected to compete at the World Finals.
Several teams have already secured their places, including Team 911 from India, Team Sinatra from North Macedonia, and the Philippines' own JSKILLS, who won the men's national title.
For the women's competition, Pilipinas Aguilas will represent the Philippines.
Egypt will be represented by Team Hustlers and Bad Luck, while additional national champions will be confirmed as qualifying competitions continue.
Basketball personalities coming to Manila
The World Finals will also bring several recognizable names from the international basketball and streetball scene to the Philippines.
Streetball personality Grayson “The Professor” Boucher and shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews are set to join the event.
They will be joined by Polish Red Bull athlete and dunker Piotr “Grabo” Grabowski and Filipino dunking star David “Air David” Carlos, a FIBA 3x3 World Tour Dunk Contest winner.
The lineup adds a mix of streetball, shooting, and dunking talent to the competition.
What is Red Bull Half Court?
Red Bull Half Court is a 3-on-3 basketball tournament built around a fast-paced format. Games are limited to 10 minutes, with the first team to reach 21 points winning.
The competition also includes an additional scoring element: two special three-point circles positioned behind the regular three-point arc. This gives players another opportunity to score while adding a risk-and-reward component to the game.
During pool play, teams can also earn an “Own the Court” bonus based on their scoring performance, which can help determine advancement to the next stage.
The format is designed to keep games short and high-scoring, making it suited to the quicker rhythm associated with streetball.
Design a basketball court for Red Bull Half Court
The World Finals will also include a creative component for Filipino basketball and street-art fans.
Through Red Bull Design My Court, local designers, street-art enthusiasts, and basketball fans can submit designs for a basketball court they would like to see brought to life.
Submissions will be accepted from September 28 to October 21, 2026.
The initiative gives local creatives an opportunity to contribute to the visual identity of the event while combining basketball with street art and design.
Red Bull Half Court has held World Finals around the world
Manila becomes the latest host city for the Red Bull Half Court World Finals.
Since the tournament launched in 2021, previous World Finals have been held in Rome, Cairo, Belgrade, New York City, and Dubai.
The 2026 edition brings the global competition to the Philippines for the first time, putting Manila alongside those international host cities.
With basketball deeply embedded in Philippine popular culture, the Manila event will bring together local basketball fans and national champions from around the world for two days of competition, entertainment, and street culture.
The Red Bull Half Court World Finals takes place in Manila on December 5, 2026.
