The Big 12 Conference has announced the student-athlete attendees for the 2026 Monster Energy Big 12 Basketball Media Days. The event is scheduled to be held at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center on Tuesday, Oct. 20 and Wednesday, Oct. 21.
A new format for the event will have each institution’s men’s and women’s basketball programs participating on the same day. Eight institutions will be featured each day to highlight the depth and strength of the league.
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the featured schools will include Arizona State, Baylor, Cincinnati, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Utah. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the lineup will consist of Arizona, BYU, UCF, Houston, K-State, Oklahoma State, TCU, and West Virginia.
The conference will introduce several enhancements for the 2026 event. This includes the launch of The Rotation, an original content series featuring interviews with student-athletes, coaches, and influential voices. This series will air live on the Big 12’s YouTube channel each day from 2 – 4 p.m. CT.
Media coverage will include on-site presence from ESPN, FOX, CBS, TNT, and NBC. Additionally, SLAM Magazine will be on-site to capture content for all 32 Big 12 programs for use during the 2026-27 season. New Era will also provide co-branded media gifts, including a hat customization bar for attendees.
The event will feature various broadcasts and moderations. ESPNU will air coverage from the main set from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT each day, with a simulcast on Big 12 Studios and BYUtv.
Commissioner Brett Yormark is scheduled to speak on the main stage at 10 a.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Former K-State guard and WNBA analyst Missy Heidrick will moderate the women’s Q&A sessions, while BYUtv’s Spencer Linton will host the men’s sessions. A feed of all press conferences and interviews will be available on ESPN+.
The conference reported significant recent success in both basketball programs. The Big 12 had eight teams selected to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, matching a league record from 2008. The men's side also saw eight teams qualify for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, including Arizona advancing to the Final Four.
In the 2026 NBA Draft, the conference saw a record 13 overall selections, including the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, respectively.
