INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis will help crown an NCAA men’s basketball champion next year when it hosts the Final Four for the ninth time. The road to the championship will end at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indianapolis-based Section 127 collaborated with the NCAA on the design of the logo for the 2026 Final Four. The goal is to tell a story that’s representative of the NCAA and the city.
“The rich heritage of basketball in Indiana was a huge inspiration for us as we were designing it,” said Tyler Rump, senior account director for Section 127.
The shape of the logo was inspired by the center court in Market Square Arena in 1980. That’s when Indianapolis hosted its first Final Four.
“Any time somebody looks at it, we want them to say and know this is Indiana. This is basketball,” said Gina Lehe, vice president of communications for the NCAA.
The colors are blue, orange and yellow, which represent Indiana sunsets. The Indianapolis flag is also portrayed in the middle of the logo.
“We really want it to speak to the community,” Lehe said. “When I first saw this, it did just that. It said, ‘Indiana, the cradle of basketball,’ what we’re known for.”
The logo will be on the court, buildings, social media and more as the NCAA looks ahead to 2026. The Final Four in Indianapolis is scheduled for April 4 and 6 of 2026. Indianapolis was also named the host city of the 2028 NCAA women’s Final Four and the 2029 NCAA men’s Final Four.
