Food Lion CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament Returns to Baltimore with Star-Studded Arena Lineup

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is bringing championship hoops and headline entertainment back to Baltimore as the 2026 Food Lion CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament takes over CFG Arena from February 24–28.

This year’s arena lineup promises high-energy performances from Grammy-nominated R&B powerhouse Marsha Ambrosius, chart-topping hip-hop artist K Camp, and rising vocal sensation Gabby Samone. Additional performances from Dria The Artist, Cadence Peace, MAPY, Jaydon, and acclaimed saxophonist Mike Phillips will keep the energy high throughout the week, especially during the highly anticipated semifinal and championship matchups on Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28.

A Week Where Basketball Meets Culture

The tournament tips off Tuesday, February 24 at 10 a.m. ET, featuring all 12 CIAA member institutions and 22 men’s and women’s championship games. But as Baltimore has come to know, CIAA week extends far beyond the hardwood.

Fan Fest, Career Expo and Education Day programming, community service initiatives, step shows, A-List performances, CIAA parties, the John B. McClendon Jr. CIAA Hall of Fame Breakfast, and town halls focused on education, health, financial wellness, and innovation transform the city into a hub of connection and celebration.

The conference’s rallying cry — “#FebruaryIsCIAA” — has become more than a slogan. It is a living, annual celebration of Black excellence, HBCU pride, and generational legacy.

An Economic and Cultural Powerhouse

Now in its fifth year in Baltimore, the CIAA Tournament has generated more than $100 million in economic impact for the city since relocating. Each year, approximately 100,000 alumni, students, families, and fans travel to Charm City to close out Black History Month at one of the most anticipated sporting events in the nation.

Beyond the fanfare, the tournament awards millions of dollars in scholarships to student-athletes, reinforcing its mission of shaping leaders on and off the court.

Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is the first and longest-running African American athletic conference in the United States and one of the most recognized conferences in NCAA Division II.

Baltimore on the National Stage

The tournament’s continued success is also a win for the city. Visit Baltimore, the official sales and marketing arm for Baltimore, continues to leverage marquee events like CIAA to drive tourism and economic growth. With millions of visitors annually and billions in visitor spending, CIAA week stands as one of the city’s premier economic drivers.

For tickets and the latest tournament information, visit CIAATournament.org and follow CIAA on social media platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram, and Twitch.