Thanksgiving week will bring 18 Division I basketball programs to Mexico for the 2026 Cancun Challenge, where a resort ballroom will become one of college basketball's busiest courts.
The annual tournament returns to the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya with eight men's teams competing Nov. 24-25 and 10 women's teams taking the floor Nov. 26-28.
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From NCAA Tournament veterans to programs hoping to make an early-season statement, the field offers plenty to follow. The men's Riviera Division features Charleston and Kennesaw State, while Minnesota, Oregon, Georgia and Kansas are among the women's tournament attractions.
Here's the full Cancun Challenge schedule, participating teams and storylines to watch.
Cancun Challenge 2026 Men's Basketball Schedule
The men's tournament features eight teams split between the Mayan and Riviera divisions. Each team will play twice in Mexico, with opening-round games determining Wednesday's championship and third-place matchups.
Tuesday, Nov. 24
Mayan Division
- Southeastern Louisiana vs. Northern Colorado - 12:30 p.m. ET
- North Dakota vs. Detroit Mercy - 3 p.m. ET
Riviera Division
- Eastern Michigan vs. Kennesaw State - 6 p.m. ET
- UTEP vs. College of Charleston - 8:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Nov. 25
Mayan Division
- Third-Place Game - 12:30 p.m. ET
- Championship Game - 3 p.m. ET
Riviera Division
- Third-Place Game - 6 p.m. ET
- Championship Game - 8:30 p.m. ET
The men's tournament also includes four campus-site crossover games, beginning Nov. 18 and continuing through Dec. 18.
Cancun Challenge 2026 Men's Campus-Site Games
The 2026 Cancun Challenge also features four men's crossover games played on college campuses across the United States. Each matchup pairs a team from the Mayan Division with a team from the Riviera Division.
Wednesday, Nov. 18
- Detroit Mercy at Eastern Michigan - 6:30 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 20
- Southeastern Louisiana at Kennesaw State - 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, Dec. 5
- North Dakota at UTEP - 2 p.m. MT / 4 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 18
- Northern Colorado at College of Charleston - 7 p.m. ET
These campus-site matchups complement the men's tournament games scheduled for Nov. 24-25 at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Mexico.
Cancun Challenge 2026 Women's Basketball Schedule
Ten women's teams will compete in two tournament formats. The four-team Mayan Tournament features a three-game round robin, while the six-team Riviera Tournament gives each team two games.
Thursday, Nov. 26
Mayan Tournament
- Oregon vs. Maryland Eastern Shore - 11 a.m. ET
- Georgia vs. Colorado - 1:30 p.m. ET
Riviera Tournament
- Kansas vs. Washington State - 4 p.m. ET
- Minnesota vs. Missouri State - 6:30 p.m. ET
- Cincinnati vs. Miami (Ohio) - 9 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 27
Mayan Tournament
- Colorado vs. Oregon - 11 a.m. ET
- Maryland Eastern Shore vs. Georgia - 1:30 p.m. ET
Riviera Tournament
- Washington State vs. Missouri State - 4 p.m. ET
- Miami (Ohio) vs. Kansas - 6:30 p.m. ET
- Cincinnati vs. Minnesota - 9 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 28
Mayan Tournament
- Colorado vs. Maryland Eastern Shore - 11 a.m. ET
- Georgia vs. Oregon - 1:30 p.m. ET
All times Eastern and subject to change.
Cancun Challenge 2026: Five Teams To Know
Minnesota Women's Basketball: Building On A Sweet 16 Run
Minnesota heads to Mexico after one of the program's most successful recent seasons.
The Golden Gophers finished 24-9 in 2025-26, reached the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 and went 13-5 in Big Ten play. They also finished No. 15 in the final Associated Press rankings.
Minnesota's two games in Cancun offer an early opportunity to build on that success. The Gophers open against Missouri State on Thanksgiving before facing Cincinnati on Friday night.
Last season's postseason run makes Minnesota one of the programs to watch in the Riviera Tournament.
Charleston Men's Basketball: The CAA Contender
College of Charleston has been a consistent presence near the top of the Coastal Athletic Association, and the Cougars will get an opportunity to test themselves outside conference play.
Charleston finished 21-11 in 2025-26, including a 14-4 conference record.
The Cougars open against UTEP on Nov. 24. The following day, they could face either Kennesaw State or Eastern Michigan in the Riviera Division championship or third-place game.
The Riviera Division should provide an early measuring stick for a Charleston program looking to contend for another CAA title.
Kennesaw State Men's Basketball: Riding March Madness Momentum
Kennesaw State arrives in Cancun following a season that ended on college basketball's biggest stage.
The Owls finished 21-13 in 2025-26 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth by winning the Conference USA Tournament.
Their opening matchup against Eastern Michigan will determine whether they advance to the Riviera Division championship game or compete for third place.
A possible meeting with College of Charleston would match two programs hoping to turn recent success into another postseason opportunity.
Miami (OH) Women's Basketball: The MAC Champions
Miami (Ohio) returns to the court after winning the 2026 Mid-American Conference Tournament and earning the league's automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
The RedHawks will face Cincinnati on Thanksgiving before meeting Kansas on Friday.
Both opponents offer opportunities for Miami to establish its identity against programs from power conferences before returning to MAC competition.
The Thanksgiving matchup with Cincinnati could be especially interesting, with the Bearcats also looking to build momentum early in the season.
Oregon Women's Basketball: Three Games, Three Days
Oregon won't have much time to settle into its surroundings.
The Ducks begin the Mayan Tournament against Maryland Eastern Shore on Thanksgiving before meeting Colorado on Friday and Georgia on Saturday.
Unlike the Riviera Tournament, the Mayan format requires teams to play three games in three consecutive days.
That schedule will test Oregon's depth, preparation and ability to adjust between opponents.
The final meeting with Georgia could have major implications for the tournament standings, depending on how both teams perform in their opening games.
What Men's Teams Are Playing In The 2026 Cancun Challenge?
Eight men's programs will participate in the Cancun Challenge.
Mayan Division
- Detroit Mercy
- North Dakota
- Northern Colorado
- Southeastern Louisiana
Riviera Division
- College of Charleston
- Eastern Michigan
- Kennesaw State
- UTEP
What Women's Teams Are Playing In The 2026 Cancun Challenge?
Ten women's programs are divided between the Mayan and Riviera tournaments.
Mayan Tournament
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Maryland Eastern Shore
- Oregon
Riviera Tournament
- Cincinnati
- Kansas
- Miami (Ohio)
- Minnesota
- Missouri State
- Washington State
Where Is The 2026 Cancun Challenge Being Played?
The 2026 Cancun Challenge will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Mexico.
The annual event transforms a resort ballroom into a basketball venue, with participating teams and traveling fans staying just steps from the court.
The men's tournament runs Nov. 24-25, while the women's tournament follows Nov. 26-28.
How To Watch The 2026 Cancun Challenge
The 2026 Cancun Challenge will stream on FloCollege, with games available through the FloSports app on supported devices.
Visit the FloHoops event schedule for upcoming matchups and streaming information.
Archived Footage On FloCollege
Video footage from all games will be archived and stored in a video library for FloCollege subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.
How To Watch College Basketball
Stream college basketball games on FloHoops and the FloSports app.
Don’t miss the latest college basketball action by bookmarking the FloCollege schedule page for the latest games.
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