GOLD COAST (Australia) – New Caledonia will take centre stage this June as host of the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League, marking only the second time Oceania has delivered the regional event following the success of the 2025 edition held during the Pacific Mini Games.

The tournament will bring together emerging 3×3 talent from New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, and Solomon Islands, offering a rare home‑region qualification pathway to the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2026.

As the sole qualification route to the U23 World Cup, the Nations League carries significant weight. Aside from automatic berths for hosts China and the 2025 World Cup champions (Lithuania men and Netherlands women), all remaining 18 teams per gender will earn their place based on their Nations League performance. For Oceania’s young athletes, many of whom are preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, this event provides both a competitive springboard and a meaningful development milestone.

FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins, said hosting the event in New Caledonia reflects the region’s growing commitment to 3×3 as a strategic priority.

“3×3 is one of the most powerful accelerators we have for emerging basketball nations,” Ms Jenkins said. “Hosting Youth Nations League in Oceania ensures our young players gain access to high level competition. It’s a direct investment in the next generation, and New Caledonia is the perfect host to carry that momentum forward.”

The 2026 edition also carries long term benefits beyond World Cup qualification. To further strengthen pathways, the best ranked National Federations at the U23 World Cup will receive preferential access to the FIBA 3×3 Pro Circuit (Men) and the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series in 2027. For Pacific nations building sustainable 3×3 programs, this creates a tangible link between youth development and professional opportunity.

Set against the turquoise lagoons and rich Kanak cultural heritage that define the archipelago, New Caledonia offers a uniquely vibrant backdrop for the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League. As one of the Pacific’s most dynamic sporting destinations, the territory blends world‑class facilities with a deep community passion for basketball, making it an ideal stage for emerging 3×3 talent.

For New Caledonia, hosting the event is both a sporting milestone and a community celebration. A representative from the New Caledonia Basketball Federation President, Thierry Durand said the event will energise local fans and inspire young players across the territory.

“To welcome the Youth Nations League is a proud moment for our basketball community,” Mr Durand said. “Our young athletes will compete on home soil, our volunteers and officials will gain invaluable experience, and our fans will see first hand what the future of 3×3 looks like. It’s more than a tournament, it’s a catalyst for growth.”

With Fiji’s men’s and women’s teams and Tonga’s women’s team deep in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, the timing of the Nations League offers a high performance lead in that aligns perfectly with their competitive calendar. For Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, the event provides a platform to accelerate youth development and strengthen national 3×3 structures.

The return of the Youth Nations League to Oceania underscores FIBA’s broader strategic objective, using 3×3 as a fast, accessible, and community driven format to elevate emerging basketball nations.

Hosting the event allows New Caledonia to showcase not only its natural beauty and warm hospitality, but also its growing commitment to youth sport, high performance pathways, and regional cooperation. For visiting teams and fans, the tournament promises an unforgettable mix of elite competition and Pacific charm, where the energy of 3×3 meets the spirit of an island community proud to welcome the region.

As the countdown to June begins, New Caledonia is poised to deliver an event that not only shapes qualification outcomes but also deepens the region’s long term investment in the sport.

GOLD COAST (Australia) – Oceania’s 3×3 development pathway continues to accelerate with the second FIBA Oceania 3×3 High Performance Camp, held on the Gold Coast.

Building on the momentum of the inaugural edition, this year’s camp brings together 20 female athletes, 10 coaches, and seven referees from across the region, supported through collaboration between PacificAus Sports, Olympic Solidarity, Commonwealth Sport, Griffith University, and the City of Gold Coast.

The camp directly supports the FIBA Global 3×3 Strategy, which prioritises strengthening high‑performance pathways, expanding the talent base, and elevating the standard of play across all regions. By bringing together emerging athletes, coaches, and referees from across the region, the program accelerates development in a discipline where Oceania continues to show rapid growth and competitive potential.

Athletes from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia have assembled for five days of intensive on‑court training, physical preparation, and education sessions designed to elevate their performance in the fast‑growing 3×3 discipline. Coaches from those nations, along with representatives from Vanuatu and Kiribati, are also participating in a dedicated development stream, while referees from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Palau are undertaking targeted officiating workshops and match play assessments.

This year’s camp arrives at a pivotal moment for the region.

Female athletes from Fiji, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea are in the final stages of preparation for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where 3×3 basketball will feature prominently. Meanwhile, emerging players from Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Tonga are gearing up for next month’s FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League – Oceania, which will serve as a key benchmark for the region’s rising talent.

Aligned with FIBA’s strategic priorities to empower National Federations and strengthen pathways in youth and women’s basketball, the camp provides a holistic development environment, combining high‑intensity training, competition scenarios, leadership development, and education around wellbeing, recovery, and the unique demands of 3×3.

“These camps are critical to building sustainable pathways for athletes, coaches, and referees in the 3×3 discipline,” FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins said.

“Every participant here is part of a growing movement that is reshaping what high‑performance basketball looks like in our region. The commitment of PacificAus Sports, Olympic Solidarity, Commonwealth Sport, and Griffith University allows us to deliver opportunities that simply wouldn’t exist without their support.

With a shared focus on long‑term development, the second FIBA Oceania 3×3 High Performance Camp continues to strengthen the region’s competitive foundations, ensuring that athletes, coaches, and referees in the region are equipped to excel on the international stage and contribute to the community and global growth of 3×3 basketball.

About PacificAus Sports

PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high performance coaching in Australia and internationally. The program supports a range of Pacific sports, including basketball, rugby league, rugby union, netball, football, AFL, cricket and Olympic/Paralympic sports, with funding split evenly between women and men.

PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’. The high-performance outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific. For more information about PacificAus Sports and its initiatives, visit www.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports on Facebook.