International Youth Basketball Championships 2026 Showcases Youth Basketball Potential and Drives Thailand's Sports Tourism

Thailand is set to come alive again with the International Youth Basketball Championships 2026 (IYBC 2026), an international competition gaining significant attention across Asia. Now in its fourth year, the tournament has grown from its initial launch in 2023 with 40 teams from 4 countries to an anticipated 70-75 teams with 800-1,000 youth athletes aged 12-18. The IYBC was initiated by a collaborative group of Thai youth basketball parents, with a clear goal of creating a platform for young athletes to develop skills, gain international experience, and build friendships across countries. The event is supported by the Basketball Association of Thailand and certified by FIBA ASIA. Expected participating countries and economic zones include Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Guam (USA), and Thailand. The non-profit project aligns with government policies on youth sports development, sports tourism, and promoting Thailand's soft power through sports. Beyond athlete development, IYBC 2026 is expected to stimulate economic activity by generating revenue from travel, accommodations, and associated activities for athletes and their delegations. Chupis Chutitham, Senior Director of the 2026 International Youth Basketball Championships, noted, "We are currently receiving significant interest and registration requests from international teams, reflecting the growing confidence in the quality of the IYBC platform, which is emerging as one of the most notable youth basketball tournaments in the Asia-Oceania region."