Cancun Challenges Announces Full 2026 Schedule

24 games will be played by 18 teams

FORT COLLINS, CO – Tournament officials with the Cancun Challenge college basketball tournament have finalized the field and schedule for the men’s and women’s tournament.

Powered by Triple Crown Sports, the 2026 event marks the 21st edition of the women's tournament and the 19th for the men. Players and fans will once again be just steps from their rooms to the converted ballroom that hosts the competition at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.

The men's tournament runs Nov. 24-25 with all eight programs confirmed, featuring one cross-play game in the U.S. plus two bracket play games in Mexico. Detroit Mercy, North Dakota, Northern Colorado and Southeastern Louisiana make up the Mayan Division. College of Charleston, Eastern Michigan, Kennesaw State and UTEP are set for the Riviera division.

On the women's side, the event runs Nov. 26-28. Colorado, Georgia, Oregon and Maryland Eastern Shore make up the Mayan Tournament field that operates as a four-team, three-game round robin. Cincinnati, Kansas, Miami(OH), Missouri State, Minnesota and Washington State are locked into the six-team Riviera Tournament, which plays two games in Mexico.

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MEN’S SCHEDULE

U.S. GAMES

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Tuesday, Nov. 17

Detroit Mercy @ Eastern Michigan, time TBD

Friday, Nov. 20

Southeastern Louisiana @ Kennesaw State, time TBD

Saturday, Dec. 5

North Dakota @ UTEP, time TBD

Friday, Dec. 18

Northern Colorado @ College of Charleston, time TBD

MEXICO GAMES

Tuesday, Nov. 24

Southeastern Louisiana vs. Northern Colorado, 12:30 p.m. ET

North Dakota vs. Detroit Mercy, 3 p.m. ET

Eastern Michigan vs. Kennesaw State, 6 p.m.ET

UTEP vs. College of Charleston, 8:30 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Nov. 25

Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 12:30 p.m. ET

Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3 p.m. ET

Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 6 p.m. ET

Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 8:30 p.m. ET

WOMEN’S SCHEDULE

Thursday, Nov. 26

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Mayan Tournament
Oregon vs. University of 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 OH, 9 p.m. ET

Friday, Nov. 27

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Mayan Tournament
Colorado vs. Oregon, 11 a.m. ET
University of Maryland Eastern Shore vs. Georgia, 1:30 p.m. ET

Riviera Tournament
Washington State vs. Missouri State, 4 p.m. ET
Miami OH vs. Kansas, 6:30 p.m. ET
Cincinnati vs. Minnesota, 9 p.m. ET

Saturday, Nov. 28

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Mayan Tournament
Colorado vs. University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 11 a.m. ET
Georgia vs. Oregon, 1:30 p.m. ET

Fan packages are available for those looking to make a week of it — warm weather, world-class resort amenities and high-level college basketball all in one place: FanPackages – Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

About Triple Crown Sports
Based in Fort Collins, CO., Triple Crown Sports has been producing youth, high school and college events for more than 40 years. TCS runs the postseason WNIT basketball event and produces the men’s and women’s DI Cancun Challenge tournaments in November. Triple Crown’s PV College Challenge features more than 10 of the top DI college softball teams in the country each year in Puerto Vallarta, MX. Anchored by the 1,200-team Colorado 4th of July event, TC Fastpitch tournaments draw the nation’s finest club programs, and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes. TCS produces two of the largest youth baseball events in the world with the 800-team OmahaSlumpBuster during the College World Series and the 800-team Arizona Spring Championships during MLB Spring Training. The Triple Crown Volleyball NIT has become the top-recruited club volleyball event in the country each February when 680 teams compete in Kansas City, MO.

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