The 53rd annual Kingdom of the Sun high school boys basketball tournament is set to return to Vanguard High School over the winter holiday break, with championships being handed out just before the fireworks on New Year's Eve.
The 16-team invitational recently announced the teams and schedule on its website, led by the homestanding Knights.
Eight games will be played on opening day, Monday, Dec. 28, with winner's and consolation bracket matchups following on Dec. 29-30.
Dunk and 3-point contests are scheduled for Dec. 30 among the semifinals.
Consolation, fifth-place and third-place games lead to the title matchup at 3 p.m. on Dec. 31.
Ticket information and further details will be provided as the tournament approaches.
Parade held Oct. 10, 2026 in Ocala
2026 Kingdom of the Sun: Who's in the field?
Teams scheduled to participate in 2026 are:
Vanguard and North Marion from Marion County. The two rivals will square off in the next-to-last matchup of the opening round, scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 28.
Two out-of-state programs in Seneca High from Louisville, Kentucky, and Southwest Atlanta Christian from Georgia.
The rest are from Florida and include seven district champions from a season ago, as well as two others which qualified for the playoffs.
- Eustis
- FSUHS
- Godby (Tallahassee)
- Lake Howell
- Newberry
- San Jose Prep
- Seminole (Sanford)
- South Lake
- Viera
- West Orange
- Wildwood
- Zephyrhills Christian
2026 Kingdom of the Sun tournament schedule
Monday, Dec. 28
9 a.m.: West Orange vs. Newberry; 10:30: Viera vs. Seneca; Noon: Southwest Atlanta Christian vs. Lake Howell; 1:30 p.m.: South Lake vs. Zephyrhills Christian; 4: Eustis vs. Godby; 5:30: FSUHS vs. Seminole; 7: Vanguard vs. North Marion; 8:30: San Jose Prep vs. Wildwood.
Tuesday, Dec. 29
9, 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m.: Consolation quarterfinals.
4, 5:30, 7, 8:30 p.m.: Championship quarterfinals
Wednesday, Dec. 30
9, 10:30 a.m.: Knightsout Consolation games
Noon, 1:30 p.m.: Fifth-place semifinals
4 p.m. & 7 p.m.: Consolation semifinals
5:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.: Championship semfinals
Thursday, Dec. 31
10 a.m.: Consolation final
11:30 a.m.: Fifth-place game
1 p.m.: Third-place game
3 p.m.: Championship
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Kingdom of the Sun basketball tournament announces field, schedule for 2026
