CHARLOTTE, NC (August 15, 2025) - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®), the nation's oldest historically Black athletic conference, is officially launching its biggest ticket deal of the year for the highly anticipated 2026 Food Lion CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Championship Tournament.

Beginning today  through September 1, fans can score $100 off All-Session General Admission tickets by using the promo code EARLY, part of the limited-time CIAA Early Bird Special. All tickets are available at  CIAATournament.org.

February is CIAA and fans are invited to "Come Home to Baltimore" and experience:

• 22 action-packed men's and women's basketball games

• The legendary Free 2-Day Fan Fest

• Education Day, Career Expo, Greek Night, Step Shows

• Official concerts, Day parties, celebrity sightings and much more!

From February 24 to February 28, 2026, the CIAA Basketball Tournament returns  to Baltimore and this year promises to be bigger than ever. CFG Bank Arena will come alive with the energy of alumni, students, athletes, the Divine Nine, and fans from across the country for an unforgettable celebration of HBCU excellence. This is more than a tournament,  it's a powerful gathering of culture, pride, tradition and legacy.

With the CIAA extending its winning partnership with Baltimore through 2029, the city stands as the official home of CIAA basketball, cementing Charm City as the heart of CIAA basketball where history is made, and the culture comes alive. To get tickets now, book hotels and get the latest information about the CIAA, visit theciaa.com. You can also like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram,  Twitch. 

About the CIAA

Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

About Visit Baltimore

Visit Baltimore is the official sales and marketing arm for the City of Baltimore. The 501(c)(6) non-profit organization generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors. In 2022, 26.7 million people visited Baltimore for overnight and day trips, spending a total of $3.7 billion to Baltimore's economy. For more information, please visit Baltimore.org.