Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament to return to United Center in 2026

CHICAGO — The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will return to Chicago in 2026.

Choose Chicago, the Chicago Sports Commission and the United Center, in conjunction with the Big Ten, announced that the tournament will be held at the the United Center from March 11-15, 2026.

This will be the 12th time the United Center has hosted the tournament, the last time in 2023.

“I am thrilled to welcome the Big Ten Conference back to Chicago for the 2026 Big Ten Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament,” Choose Chicago Interim President and CEO Rich Gamble said in a news release. “Marquee sporting events like this are great opportunities to showcase our city, and we look forward to working with the United Center and all of our local partners to show Big Ten athletes, coaches and fans an incredible time in Chicago.”

“We look forward to partnering with the city of Chicago as they host the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament,” Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti said in the release. “Chicago will be an exciting postseason opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches and fans, both locally and from across the country.”

Last year’s Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, won by the University of Illinois , was held in Minneapolis. The 2025 Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

While the men’s tournament returns to Chicago in 2026, the women’s tournament will be in Indianapolis again.

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