2026 AHSAA State Tournament Pairings and Schedule Announced

The annual high school basketball championship tournament will take place in Birmingham.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has released the pairings and schedule for the 2026 state basketball tournament. The tournament will be held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center from March 4-7, 2026, featuring the top high school teams from across the state competing for the championship titles.

Why it matters

The AHSAA state tournament is one of the most anticipated high school sporting events in Alabama, drawing thousands of fans, players, and coaches to Birmingham each year. The tournament showcases the best talent in the state and determines the champions in each classification.

The details

The tournament will feature games in seven different classifications - 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A. The tournament will begin on Wednesday, March 4 with the first round games, followed by the semifinals on Friday, March 6 and the championship games on Saturday, March 7.

  • The 2026 AHSAA state tournament will take place from March 4-7, 2026.
  • The first round games will be played on Wednesday, March 4.
  • The semifinal games will be played on Friday, March 6.
  • The championship games will be played on Saturday, March 7.

The players

Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA)

The governing body for high school sports in the state of Alabama.

Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center

The venue that will host the 2026 AHSAA state basketball tournament in Birmingham, Alabama.

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What’s next

The tournament pairings and schedule will be finalized in the coming weeks, with teams across the state preparing to compete for the state championship titles.

The takeaway

The AHSAA state basketball tournament is a highly anticipated annual event that showcases the top high school talent in Alabama and determines the champions in each classification. The 2026 tournament will continue this tradition, bringing teams, players, and fans to Birmingham for an exciting few days of competition.