The CIAA Basketball Tournament will be held in Baltimore through 2029
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) tournament will be held in Baltimore through 2029, city and state leaders announced Wednesday.
The 2026 men's and women's basketball tournament will take place in Baltimore between February 24 and March 1, leaders said.
The extended contract builds on the tournament's five-year history in the city.
"Baltimore's leadership continues to demonstrate the importance of the CIAA to its community and culture," said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker. "They understand and value the event's impact, one that extends far beyond the game. It's inspiring to be seen, heard, and celebrated at such a pivotal time."
2025 CIAA Tournament
The 2025 CIAA tournament served as a tribute to female athletes, with a women's empowerment town hall and other events that focused on leaders in women's sports.
The oldest Black athletic conference in the U.S. moved its tournament from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Baltimore in 2021 and has a deal to remain in the city through 2026.
Economic impact of CIAA Tournament
The 2025 tournament brought an estimated 15,000 student-athletes and fans to the city in February.
In 2024, the event generated $32.5 million in the city and created 1,315 job opportunities, according to city leaders. The tournament also brought in $3.1 million in state and local taxes.
"In the last three years, the CIAA tournament has generated $109 million in total economic impact for Baltimore - and its continued presence will not only boost our economy but also advance our shared commitment to equity and opportunity for all Marylanders," Gov. Wes Moore said.
City tourism leaders and local businesses look forward to the economic boost each year.
Last year, Visit Baltimore created the Bop Pass, a free digital book that offered discounts at more than 40 local businesses, museums and restaurants. The initiatives aimed to highlight Black-owned businesses in the city.
"It gives us an opportunity to be on a larger platform and to showcase what we do as a local business, just not for the local people, but the people that are coming in and may not make it here," Travis Bell, founder of Black Acres Roastery, told WJZ last year.