As the countdown to tip-off begins, the 2026 Big V season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. From a bold new game ball to fresh teams entering the competition and structural changes designed to strengthen integrity and opportunity, we know there is going to be a buzz around season 2026.
Driven by a commitment to competitive balance, transparency and continued growth across the state, the updates for 2026 reflect the league’s focus on raising standards while creating more pathways for athletes and clubs. Here’s everything new, you need to know for 2026.
Big V New Ball
The new Big V Ball introduced for the 2026 season has turned eyes and skyrocketed all over social media since its reveal. Steering away from the common brown colour pallet the look of the Big V ball shows a point of difference and separation from other competitions. This new design, with the TF1000 Legacy material maintains its elite performance qualities. The ball was showcased at the recent Youth Qualification Series at Narrandjeri Stadium and Dandenong Stadium and couldn't have looked better.
New Teams in 2026
Clubs and Teams entering the Big V competition undertake multiple conversations with the league before acceptance and final division allocation. Where a club currently has teams in the competition, adding an additional team or re-entering a team is accepted by the league and entered in the lowest division. For 2026 the league welcomes back Mornington's Senior Women and introduces for the first time Shepparton's Senior Women.
The league for 2026 also welcomes Warragul to Big V with the entry and acceptance of their Senior Men. This is an exciting time for Warragul and the region, the league and Basketball Victoria look forward to what they can do on court.
2 Up - 2 Down
For years in the senior competitions, it has been the winner of the Grand Final promoted and the team who finished on the bottom of the ladder at the conclusion of the regular season is relegated. It has never been a simple task to make it to a grand final, let alone win it. There is always more than one team who is capable of promotion and competing in a higher competition. There too have been occasions where teams struggle year upon year finishing under 0.500 but don't finish last and therefore are not relegated. In the best interest of these teams a new pathway is implemented in the 2026 season and moving forward.
- - Promotion
The team that finishes top of the division ladder at the end of the regular season will earn promotion.
The team that wins the division championship via the Grand Final will also earn promotion.
In the event there is only one position available for promotion, priority will be given to the winner of the championship via the Grand Final.
- - Relegation
Regulation will be based on the final standings at the conclusion of the regular season. The two lowest placed teams on the ladder will be relegated.
In the event there is only one position available for relegation, then the lowest placed team will be prioritised for relegation.
Team Lists
Team lists in Big V have been developed in recent years to allow for more transparency and integrity in the competition. Where a squad list was provided there was no indication of what 12 players were going to suit up until teams arrived at the venue. The ability to scout, prepare a game plan and know who you were coming up against, it was a difficult task.
In ways to build integrity in the competition, in 2025 all teams were to submit a team list of 12 players who would suit up plus 1 emergency player. The emergency player listed was the one change a team could make leading into the game where no approval from the league was required. This allowed for more transparency in the league, allowing for coaches to scout a team list knowing who was going to suit up and who wasn't.
In 2026, the elite stream will remain with 1 emergency player while the development stream will expand the emergency player list from 1 to 3 players. This change allows more players in the development stream opportunity when injuries, personal circumstances or other reasons appear.
Points of Emphasis
The Points of Emphasis (POE) are decided on each year from observations of referee coaches, BV staff, and from feedback received from teams during the previous season. The purpose of the POE is to provide clarity for officials and teams on areas that the referee panel will be focusing on for the season.
This document is provided to all clubs and coaches in the competition allowing for those to read over these areas before the season commences. Below are the 4 areas of which the referee panel will be focusing on for the season.
1. Verticality
2. Dribbler protection in transition
3. Pace of game
4. Behaviour
Youth League Division Structures
For the third year, the Big V Youth Qualification Series held in February has provided more opportunities for teams in the development stream to move up and down competitions. Out of every series, there are teams who have taken the series by storm and promoted their way up to a higher competition. After the series, the Youth League Divisional Structures are confirmed for the upcoming season. Below is a list of each Youth League Competition.
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Youth Championship Women |
Youth One Women |
Youth Two Women |
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Altona Casey Dandenong Diamond Valley Eltham Geelong United Keilor Kilsyth Knox McKinnon Melbourne Nunawading Pakenham Ringwood Sandringham Waverley |
Albury Wodonga Ballarat Bellarine Bendigo Bulleen Camberwell Coburg Frankston Hume City Sunbury Western Port Whittlesea
|
Blackburn Chelsea Collingwood Darebin Hawthorn Mornington Sherbrooke Southern Peninsula Surfcoast Wallan Warrandyte Westgate Wyndham |
|
Youth Championship Men |
Youth One Men |
Youth Two Men |
Youth Three Men |
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Casey Dandenong Diamond Valley Eltham Frankston Geelong United Hume City Keilor Kilsyth Knox Melbourne Nunawading Pakenham Ringwood Sandringham Waverley |
Ballarat Bendigo Blackburn Bulleen Camberwell Coburg McKinnon Melbourne University Sunbury Westgate Wyndham |
Albury Wodonga Altona Chelsea Darebin RMIT Sherbrooke Wallan Warrandyte Western Port Whittlesea
|
Bellarine Collingwood Craigieburn Gippsland United Hawthorn Maccabi Melton Mornington Southern Peninsula Surfcoast |
