The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s girls and boys basketball state tournaments return to the Dayton area for a sixth consecutive year in 2026.
University of Dayton Arena, which has hosted the tournaments since 2021, will once again serve as the site for all seven girls and boys state championship games as well as several semifinal games both weekends.
Wright State University’s Nutter Center will host eight girls and 10 boys semifinals, while Vandalia Butler High School will also host a pair of girls state semifinals matchups.
All three sites boast long-standing relationships with the OHSAA. UD Arena first hosted the boys basketball state tournament in 1986 and 1987 and has hosted OHSAA district and regional tournaments through the years.
The Nutter Center has hosted the OHSAA girls volleyball state tournament every year but one since 1991, and in 2025 hosted basketball state semifinal games for the first time.
Vandalia Butler’s Student Activity Center boasts a capacity of 4,500 and is a traditional postseason basketball site.
The facility regularly hosts district and regional contests (including two boys and two girls regional tournaments in 2026), and it was a state semifinal site in 2025. In 2020, the girls volleyball state tournament was held at the arena.
“We are so grateful for the partnerships we’ve developed at UD, Wright State and Vandalia Butler,” said OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute. “Southwest Ohio and the Dayton area are basketball hotbeds, and we are proud to see our state tournaments conducted in these first-class facilities located in highly supportive communities.”
“One of the things that makes UD Arena truly unique is the timing of the OHSAA girls and boys state basketball tournaments, which take place the weekends immediately before and after the NCAA First Four,” said UD Arena Executive Director Scott DeBolt. “Because of that, we are able to deliver a ‘big event’ feel that most state tournaments don’t experience. Teams use the same locker rooms that are used during the NCAA First Four.
“We provide a full postgame press conference setup with elevated dais, lighting, and professional audio. The expanded courtside media area mirrors what is used during the NCAA Tournament, and many areas of the arena — including team entrances, the ramp, and courtside — are carpeted.
“All of these elements help create an atmosphere that feels special, memorable, and championship-level for the teams and their fans.”
The 13,000-seat UD Arena annually hosts the NCAA First Four during the week between the OHSAA girls and boys state tournaments, and the arena has hosted more NCAA Tournament games than any other facility in the country.
UD Arena opened in 1969 and underwent a $75 million renovation that was completed in 2019.
Dayton’s men’s and women’s basketball teams annually lead the Atlantic 10 Conference in attendance; the men’s team has averaged over 13,000 fans per home game every year since 2022 and regularly ranks among the top 35 programs in attendance in NCAA Division I.
“UD Arena was built more than 50 years ago to serve the community, and it was designed specifically for basketball — something we believe we execute extremely well,” DeBolt said. “When the opportunity arose during COVID to host OHSAA state tournament games, we saw it as a natural fit and a meaningful addition to our programming.
“Partnering with the OHSAA allows us to extend the arena’s mission by providing high school student-athletes, their schools, and their communities with a first-class basketball experience in a premier basketball venue.”
Wright State’s Nutter Center is a versatile 10,000-seat facility that hosts events ranging from A-list concerts to high school commencements and has the ability to convert the floor to an ice surface. KISS, Cirque du Soleil, The Harlem Globetrotters, Jay-Z, Elton John and Disney On Ice are just a few of the acts that have featured at the Nutter Center.
“The Nutter Center is unique because it combines the scale and professionalism of a major arena with the welcoming feel of a collegiate campus,” said Joe Dick, Wright State’s Associate Director of Facilities and Operations. “We offer ample seating, excellent sightlines, modern locker rooms, and the technical infrastructure needed for championship-level production.
“Beyond the building itself, our location is a huge advantage—easy highway access, strong hotel capacity nearby, and plenty of parking make the experience smooth for teams and fans traveling from across the state. Add in an experienced event staff that understands the importance of these moments, and it creates an environment worthy of a state championship.”
For more than three decades, the OHSAA and Nutter Center have collaborated to put on first-rate postseason events in volleyball and basketball. In fact, the past three girls volleyball tournaments rank as the three highest-attended in the event’s 51-year history.
“The partnership with the OHSAA is extremely valuable and built on shared goals,” Dick said. “Both organizations are committed to providing student-athletes with a first-class championship experience while maintaining the integrity and tradition of high school athletics. Over the years, this collaboration has grown through trust, communication, and consistency. We understand the standards the OHSAA expects, and they know they can rely on the Nutter Center to deliver a well-run, memorable event. It’s a relationship that benefits the athletes, schools, and fans—and one we’re proud to continue.”
The 2026 OHSAA girls basketball state tournament is set for March 12-14 [FULL SCHEDULE], while the boys tournament follows March 19-22 [FULL SCHEDULE].