Hoopfest 2026 takes over Downtown Spokane this Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28. This is the largest 3 on 3 outdoor basketball tournament in the world, and it happens every year on the streets surrounding Riverfront Park. Here is exactly what to expect, where to go, and how Hoopfest affects daily life in Spokane this weekend.
What Is Spokane Hoopfest
- Spokane Hoopfest is the largest 3 on 3 outdoor basketball tournament in the world, hosted annually in Downtown Spokane
- The event spans 45 city blocks and uses 450 courts
- Over 6,000 teams and approximately 25,000 players participate each year
- Attendance has surpassed 250,000 spectators in recent years, including 2023 and 2024
- The Spokane Hoopfest Association office is located at 421 West Riverside, Suite 115, Spokane, WA 99201
The City of Spokane has nicknamed itself Hooptown USA because of this event, a name that reflects how deeply Hoopfest is tied to Spokane's community identity.
Hoopfest 2026 Dates and Location
- Dates: Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28, 2026
- Location: Parkwide and Downtown Spokane, centered around Riverfront Park
- Cost to attend as a spectator: Free
- Team check in and packet pickup: Riverfront Park at the Plaza
- Source: City of Spokane official event calendar (my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontspokane)
How Hoopfest Affects Getting Around Downtown Spokane This Weekend
Hoopfest closes 45 city blocks of Downtown Spokane to vehicle traffic for the entire weekend. If you live or work near the downtown core, plan your route in advance.
- Streets surrounding Riverfront Park and the downtown core will be closed to cars both days
- Parking near downtown Spokane will be significantly more limited than a typical weekend
- Walking and biking are the most reliable ways to move through the event area
- If you live in a downtown Spokane neighborhood, expect crowds and noise both Saturday and Sunday during daytime hours
A Real Example: Watching Hoopfest From Riverfront Park
Picture a Spokane family living near South Hill who wants to spend Saturday at Hoopfest. They park outside the closure zone, perhaps near the Spokane Convention Center, and walk into Riverfront Park on foot. Once inside the festival footprint, they can watch games at any of the 450 courts, grab food from vendors set up throughout the blocks, and stop by Nike Center Court, historically one of the most popular viewing spots for high level games.
Hoopfest by the Numbers
- 6,000 plus teams compete each year
- 25,000 approximate total players
- 450 courts spanning 45 city blocks
- 225,000 plus fans attend annually
- Hoopfest weekend generates an estimated 47 million dollar economic impact for the Inland Northwest every June since 1990, according to the Spokane Hoopfest Association
- The Spokane Hoopfest Association has donated more than 1.6 million dollars to area charities since 1990
- The organization has built or renovated more than 27 outdoor basketball courts in Spokane area neighborhoods
For comparison, that 47 million dollar weekend economic impact is larger than many entire annual tourism budgets for cities the size of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, just 30 minutes east of Spokane. This is one reason Hoopfest weekend is considered one of the biggest economic events of the year for the Spokane region.
Hoopfest History in Spokane
- The first Spokane Hoopfest took place June 30 and July 1, 1990
- The inaugural event hosted 2,009 players on 512 teams
- Co founders Rick Betts and Jerry Schmidt combined two separate community efforts, one rooted in 3 on 3 basketball tradition and one focused on raising funds for Special Olympics
- In 2019, MultiCare Inland Northwest contributed 1 million dollars to fund a new basketball complex and Hall of Fame in Riverfront Park, securing a 10 year sponsorship of Hooptown USA
- NBA star Kevin Durant made an unannounced appearance at Nike Center Court in 2017
Hoopfest has run every year on the last weekend of June since 1990, making it one of the longest running and most consistent community traditions in Spokane, alongside events like the Spokane Lilac Festival and Bloomsday.
What Visitors and Locals Should Know Before Heading Downtown
- Spectating is free. No ticket is required to walk the courts and watch games.
- Bring cash or a card for food trucks and vendor shopping throughout the event footprint
- Wear comfortable shoes. The festival spans 45 city blocks, and most visitors walk significant distances between courts.
- Eastern Washington's high desert climate means late June afternoons in Spokane can get hot and dry. Bring water and sun protection.
- Hotels and short term rentals in Downtown Spokane and Spokane Valley book up quickly for Hoopfest weekend
Hoopfest and the Spokane Real Estate Market
Large annual events like Hoopfest reinforce why Downtown Spokane and nearby neighborhoods remain in high demand for buyers who want walkable access to the city's biggest community events.
- Properties in Downtown Spokane and Kendall Yards offer walking distance access to Riverfront Park and the Hoopfest footprint
- South Hill remains one of the most established and sought after neighborhoods near the downtown core
- Spokane's community identity, built through events like Hoopfest, the Lilac Festival, and Bloomsday, is one of the most cited reasons out of state buyers choose Spokane over other Pacific Northwest cities
Plan Your Hoopfest Weekend in Spokane
Hoopfest 2026 runs Saturday, June 27 through Sunday, June 28 across 45 city blocks of Downtown Spokane. Attendance is free. Expect downtown street closures, heavy foot traffic, and one of the most energetic weekends Spokane sees all year.
Reach out to Rios and Co Real Estate if you are curious about what living near events like Hoopfest looks like in Downtown Spokane or South Hill.
