TORONTO (March 6, 2026) - Canada Basketball is pleased to announce that the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 nominations are now being accepted.

Click here to submit a nomination to the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 today.

The deadline for nominations is March 27, 2026.

The Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame annually recognizes, honours, immortalizes, and enshrines the contributions of a diverse group of people to the development and advancement of basketball in Canada or internationally.

Since 1978, the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame has celebrated those who have contributed to the development and enhancement of basketball both in Canada and internationally.

This year marks the return of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony to its biennial format, with Hall of Famers being celebrated through a live event hosted every two years.

For the first time the ceremony will be held in Atlantic Canada, in partnership with the World’s Oldest Basketball Court located in St. Stephen, New Brunswick.  The only other time the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame was hosted outside of Ontario was in Vancouver in 2007. Canada Basketball will aim to host the 2028 induction ceremony again on the West Coast, prior to the LA 2028 Olympics.  

“As Chair of the Canada Basketball Awards & Recognition Committee, it is a tremendous honour to celebrate our first ever ceremony in Atlantic Canada,” said Paul Jones, Canadian sportscaster and Ontario Basketball Class of 2020. “Basketball’s roots in Canada run deep- from community recreation centers and school courts all the way to the global stage- and this reflects the strength of our game from coast to coast.

Hosting this celebration in New Brunswick reinforces our commitment to ensuring every region, every community, and every generation sees itself in our Hall of Fame. As we honour excellence, we also recognize the story of Canadian basketball belongs to the entire country. We look forward to celebrating our rich history of basketball and Canadian pride that unites us all through the wonderful game.”

The ceremony will tip-off the 5th annual The Archie Weekend, a signature fundraising event in support of the revitalization of World’s Oldest Basketball Court. The weekend’s festivities will include a celebrity golf tournament at Algonquin Golf Course in St. Andrews, an evening celebrating local culinary excellence and live entertainment, guided tours of the historic court in St. Stephen, and a youth clinic and 3x3 basketball tournament led by former Canadian Basketball national team members and celebrity guests.

“We are beyond excited to bring together sport, history, and community in this truly memorable celebration,” said Tom Liston, Chair of Fundraising for the World’s Oldest Basketball Court. “It’s going to be the event of the summer honouring basketball, the people who love it, and a historic court that is so very significant to us all.”

Hosting the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in New Brunswick will continue the connection between the local community and the history of the sport and the legacy of Canada Basketball.

“New Brunswick is proud to welcome Canada Basketball and the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame to Atlantic Canada for the first time,” said Susan Holt, Premier of New Brunswick. Hosting the induction ceremony alongside the historic World’s Oldest Basketball Court in St. Stephen is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the people who have shaped the game in Canada while showcasing our province’s rich basketball heritage and vibrant communities. We look forward to welcoming athletes, fans and visitors from across the country to experience this special celebration of sport.”

NOMINATION CRITERIA

Subject to the nomination criteria, any person is eligible for election as an Honoured Member of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame who has achieved an outstanding record of excellence in the following categories:

ATHLETES

Athletes are individuals who, while Canadian citizens, have participated as players at an elite level and have achieved outstanding and extraordinary success as a player in the sport of basketball at the amateur and/or professional level.

TEAMS

Teams are made up of athletes who represent Canada, a province, a municipality, or a Canadian organization or corporation that has accomplished outstanding or extraordinary results nationally and/or internationally that have brought prominence to the sport of basketball in Canada.

COACHES

Coaches are individuals whose tireless efforts and expertise in the development and training of basketball athletes have made an outstanding and extraordinary contribution to the sport of basketball in Canada and/or internationally.

OFFICIALS

Officials are individuals who have exhibited outstanding and extraordinary skill and expertise as referees, as evidenced by their participation at an elite level of competition, nationally and/or Internationally.

BUILDERS

Builders are individuals who have made outstanding and extraordinary contributions towards the promotion, development and advancement of basketball in Canada. Without restricting the generality of the foregoing may include administrators, officials, trainers, managers, coaches and doctors. Such contributions should be national in scope. Builders of officiating are individuals who have contributed significantly to the advancement of officiating, including but not limited to the training and development of basketball officials in a national and/or international capacity.

MEDIA

Media are individuals who have made a profound impact on the game of basketball in Canada through their storytelling, whether as photographers, journalists, broadcasters, digital media, and/or editorial.

For members of the media to be eligible for nomination, their contribution should be recognized nationally and as a trailblazer in their reporting. Media are exempt from specific timelines with respect to nomination.

Nominations will be accepted from the Canada Basketball Board of Directors, Canada Basketball Class A or Class B members in good standing, Canada Basketball Hall of Fame Selection panel or Veterans Committee members, and/or the general public.

All nominees must be Canadian citizens, residents of Canada for a minimum of three years, born in Canada, or made a distinguished contribution to the game of basketball in Canada.

Canada Basketball encourages nominations for all qualified individuals and teams. The organization is committed to equity and diversity and welcomes nominations for women, visible minorities, Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

In 2024, Allison McNeill (Coach), Karl Tilleman (Athlete), Carol Turney Loos (Athlete), and the 1979 FIBA Women’s World Cup Team (Team) were inducted into the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame as the Class of 2024. The induction celebration was held on August 16, 2025, at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.

Later that evening, the inductees were honoured on court during halftime of the Canada vs. Japan U23 Men’s game as part of GLOBL JAM 2025, providing a national stage to recognize their outstanding contributions to the game in Canada.

For more information about the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame and nomination requirements, click here.

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Media Contacts

Abby Albino, aalbino@basketball.ca, Canada Basketball

Holly Johnson, Holly Johnson Media and PR, hollyjohnsonpr@gmail.com