HOUSTON, Texas – The road to the Final Four will travel through Houston again.

The NCAA announced Wednesday that Houston has been selected to host the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Regional at Toyota Center. Houston, which will host the 2023 Final Four, was due to host the 2020 Regionals that were cancelled due to the pandemic.

In addition, the NCAA also announced Houston would host the 2024 Division III Football Championship – the Stagg Bowl – and the 2025 Women’s Division III Golf Championships.

This will be the seventh time the Men’s Division I Regional has been played in Houston dating back to 1973, but the first time it will be held in Toyota Center.

“Once again, Houston proves that we are a great city to host major sports events,’’ said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “We have world-class venues, hotels, and great amenities to welcome the teams, officials, and fans who will travel here. I thank the NCAA for selecting Houston as a host city for the 2026 Regional, the 2024 Stagg Bowl and another Division III Women’s Golf Championship.”

These three championships add to the tradition Houston has of hosting not only big events like the Super Bowl, but also a vast array of NCAA Championships. In addition to the 2023 Final Four, which will be held at NRG Park, Houston will host the 2024 College Football Playoff.

“We have a great history of hosting not just Final Fours and Men’s Regionals, but NCAA events at every level, ‘’ said Harris County – Houston Sports Authority CEO Janis Burke.

“We are so proud to welcome back the Regionals as well as the Division III Women’s Golf Championship and add the Division III Football Championship. These championships enhance our current schedule and give us the opportunity to put on first-class events for these talented student athletes. We can’t wait to get to work.’’

The 2020 Regional was sold out prior to being cancelled due to COVID-19. Now, the 2026 Regional will be the first held there. Previous Regionals were held at Hofheinz Pavilion (1973), NRG Stadium (2008, 2010, 2015) and The Summit (1980, 1986).

“Toyota Center is thrilled to be chosen to host the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Regional,” said Doug Hall, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Toyota Center. “For us to be able to bring such a premiere sports event back to Houston is a huge honor.

“Toyota Center and the city of Houston were very excited about the 2020 NCAA Men’s Regional before the pandemic hit. Tickets were completely sold out and our team was in the final stages of putting on a spectacular event. We can’t wait to give Houstonians another chance to see college basketball at its highest level. The planning starts now.”

The Stagg Bowl will make its Houston debut at BBVA Stadium.

We are excited for the opportunity to bring another championship event to Houston and BBVA Stadium with the 2024 Stagg Bowl,” said Juan Rodriguez, Executive Vice President/General Manager, BBVA Stadium. “We’ve proudly been the home of Texas Southern Football since 2012 and are looking forward to helping to create lifelong memories for the student-athletes and their families, schools, alumni and fans.’’

The addition of the 2025 Women’s Division III Championships marks the sixth time since 2015 that the city will host a women’s NCAA Golf Championship. Houston hosted the Division III Championships at Bay Oaks Country Club in 2017 and 2019 and is scheduled to host it again in 2022. Houston also hosted the 2018 Division II Women’s Championships.

The events also enhance Sports Authority partnerships with the University of Houston and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. UH will serve as the host institution for the Regional, while MH-B is the host institution for both the Stagg Bowl and Division III Golf.

Forty-three states plus the District of Columbia were selected to host at least one NCAA championship event, with California garnering the most, with 34. Texas was second with 30, while North Carolina totaled 28, followed by Pennsylvania with 27 and Ohio with 25.

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