GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For the first time in fifty years, the best high school basketball teams across the state of Florida will journey to the Bold City of Jacksonville in hopes of claiming a high school basketball state championship. In partnership with both the University of North Florida Athletics Department and the Jacksonville Sports Foundation, the 2026 Florida High School Basketball State Championships will take place over the next three weeks at CSI Companies Court at UNF Arena. This first week of action will consist exclusively of the Rural Class.
 
Built within a final four style format within each classification, the first week of the championship event will consist of semifinal games on Tuesday, February 24^th in both genders, followed by Championship title games for the Rural Class on Friday, February 27^th. Each of the teams advancing to this week’s games did so after winning their respective Region over the past two weeks. 

For this week’s competing teams, we have no defending champions from 2025 still in the mix. Of the qualifying boys’ teams for this year’s event, only Williston has had recent state championship success, formerly winning the Class 1A State Championships in 2023 & 2024. Crossroad Academy (Quincy) and Trenton will each be seeking their school’s first ever basketball state championships, while Ponce de Leon is in search for their first boys basketball title since 1972. Similar on the girls side, only Jay has previously won a championship - doing so twice back in 1995 & 1996 in the former Class 2A. The remaining final three teams of Blountstown, Hilliard and Williston will all seek their history defining moment to claim their school’s first state title.  

General Admission tickets are currently on sale and available via GoFan for an advanced purchase rate of $15.00 per day, and a day of price of $18.00. Premium, reserved ticketing options are available and will include additional amenities. For a complete event schedule, state series brackets, as well as additional event information, please see below or visit the girls or boys basketball sport page(s).
 
Class Rural State Championship Game Schedule*

Friday, February 27

• Girls Class Rural State Championship, 6:00 p.m.
  • Defending champion: Wildwood
• Boys Class Rural State Championship, 8:00 p.m.
  • Defending champion: Hawthorne

*For a complete schedule, including all the semifinal matchups taking place, please visit the Girls or Boys Basketball brackets page.

Know Before You Go:
Where: CSI Companies Court at UNF Arena (University of North Florida in Jacksonville)
When: Tuesday, February 24^th & Friday, February 27^th      
Host: University of North Florida Athletics
Brackets & Championship Schedule: 

• Boys:  Class Rural
• Girls:  Class Rural

Facility Information:  Spectator Information | Clear Bag Policy
Admission: $15 per day if purchased in advance, and $18 if purchased day of via GoFan

• Limited number of Premium VIP ticket options available each day

Parking: fee included in the cost of admission (Parking in Lot 18)
Official Merchandise: Team IP
Lodging: click here
Live Webcasts: NFHS Network