This move brings one of the premiere high school sporting events in the state to Northeast Florida for the first time in nearly 50 years. The UNF Arena provides a modern, fan-friendly venue that will showcase Florida’s top basketball talent on a championship caliber stage.

“We’re thrilled to begin this new chapter for our basketball state championships at the University of North Florida,” FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon said. “The UNF Arena is a first-class facility, and Jacksonville offers an exciting opportunity to expand the reach and impact of this event.”

The UNF arena seats more than 5,100 fans and has hosted a variety of NCAA events, concerts, and community programs.

The 2026 FHSAA Basketball State Championships are scheduled for Feb. 24-27 (Rural) and March 5-14 (1A-7A). More information on tickets will be announced in the coming months.

For updates, please visit FHSAA.com or follow the FHSAA on X and Instagram at @FHSAA.

Media Contact:
Jessica Eley
Administrator of Public Relations
Florida High School Athletic Association
Phone: 352-681-3045 ext. 350
Email: jeley@fhsaa.org


About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association supervises and regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public, private and charter schools. The organization also recognizes and honors academic achievement among student-athletes at over 850 middle, junior and senior high schools statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, it is the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.