As Shanghai's summer welcomes a major new sports and entertainment event, a new destination has arrived on the city's calendar. From August 23 to 30, the annual NBA Shanghai Basketball Festival takes over the city, bringing together high-level international basketball, an outdoor carnival, lifestyle pop-ups, player meet-and-greets and more.
A Historic First - G LEAGUE UNITED Makes China Debut Against the Shanghai Sharks
The biggest highlight of this year's event is a historic matchup: NBA G LEAGUE UNITED travels to China for the first time to take on CBA champions the Shanghai Sharks.
As part of the NBA's professional basketball system, G LEAGUE UNITED brings together some of the most promising emerging basketball talent in the United States and represents the next generation of the professional game. The Shanghai Sharks, meanwhile, are one of the CBA's established teams and a fixture of professional basketball in China, with decades of competition and numerous honors behind them.
More than a contest between the NBA's emerging talent and one of China's established professional teams, the games will bring together two distinct basketball styles, training systems and sporting cultures. The two matchups tip off at 7:15pm on August 28 and August 30, giving fans the chance to experience top-level international basketball while providing another platform for sporting and cultural exchange between China and the United States.
Meet the Stars - A Festival of Basketball Legends
The event will also feature a full program of fan activities, bringing together NBA legends, professional players from China and overseas, leading streetball players and well-known basketball personalities for a rare opportunity to meet fans face-to-face.
From August 24 to 27, some of China's leading basketball communities will compete in a series of friendly games, bringing grassroots players together on the court in a celebration of the sport. During the event, streetball personality Yang Zheng, known as the "King of Dongdan," and well-known bilingual basketball host Zhou Ling'an will make appearances, taking part in shooting challenges, on-court sessions, photo opportunities and other activities with fans.
On August 29, the outdoor carnival day will bring appearances from championship-winning Shanghai Sharks players, alongside the full roster of international players from NBA G LEAGUE UNITED. The program also includes cheerleading performances, parades, surprise player interactions, award presentations and photo opportunities, bringing professional players and fans closer together.
For the finale on August 30, NBA legend Duval will make a special appearance, sharing stories from his basketball career and meeting fans for autographs and photos. It's a chance to get up close with a basketball legend and take home a unique memory from the event.
An Outdoor Carnival - More Activities, Experiences and Giveaways
Alongside the professional games and player appearances, the festival will feature an immersive outdoor basketball carnival for all ages, open daily from 4:00 - 9:00pm from August 24 to 30. A range of interactive areas will bring basketball together with entertainment and lifestyle experiences.
At the NBA Starlight Court, a robotic arm will track shooting attempts, with prizes awarded through shooting leaderboards at various times throughout the day. Giveaways include Ja Morant signature-series basketball shoes and limited-edition Shanghai T-shirts. A lifestyle market will bring together independent creative brands and event merchandise, with visitors able to collect check-ins from eight vendors and complete an on-court activity to redeem limited-edition merchandise.
A dedicated viewing area will screen classic NBA Finals games throughout the week, revisiting some of the league's most memorable moments. Six specialty food trucks will operate throughout the day in the food and beverage area, with vouchers available to redeem for food.
Visitors can also enter daily prize draws through the Meta Zhenxuan WeChat Mini Program or by scanning the QR code on site, with signed Derrick Rose merchandise among the prizes.
Get Your Tickets
Tickets for the NBA Shanghai Basketball Celebration are now officially on sale. Fans can secure seats through official channels including the Juss Sports app, Meta Zhenxuan, Trip.com and Damai. Tickets are limited, require real-name registration and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
See you at Shanghai Indoor Stadium for a week of international basketball and summer festivities.
