Myrtle Beach, S.C. · October 15, 2026 · By Thomas Beach Vacations
The 28th annual girls’ tournament brings 40 teams to town December 21 through 23, followed by the 46th annual boys’ Beach Ball Classic with 18 teams from December 27 through 30, plus a new showcase for four South Carolina programs.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — The Beach Ball Classic expects to welcome 58 high school basketball teams to Myrtle Beach this December, organizers announced this week, as one of the country’s longest-running holiday tournaments returns for its 46th boys’ edition and 28th girls’ edition.
The girls’ Beach Ball Classic runs December 21 through 23 with 40 teams, and the boys’ tournament follows December 27 through 30 with 18 teams, according to the announcement reported by WMBF. Boys’ games and the top girls’ bracket will be played at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, while the remaining girls’ brackets will be played at the John T. Rhodes Sports Center, with all bracket championship games held at the convention center.
New for 2026 is a Hometown Showcase featuring four South Carolina teams: Boiling Springs, Darlington, Myrtle Beach and Socastee. Chad Smith, president of the Beach Ball Classic, said the tradition continues in 2026 and that organizers could not be more excited to welcome fans back in December, noting that the event has brought elite high school basketball to Myrtle Beach for 46 years. The full tournament schedule is expected to be released soon.
The Boys’ Field: Two Brackets, Nine States
The boys’ traditional bracket features eight teams: Bishop O’Connell of Virginia, Bullis of Maryland, Calvary Christian Baptist of Louisiana, George Rogers Clark of Kentucky, Imhotep of Pennsylvania, Oak Ridge of Florida, Pace Academy of Georgia and Ridge View of South Carolina. A separate prep bracket brings six programs: Moravian Prep, Victory Christian and Winston-Salem Christian of North Carolina, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Springdale Prep of Maryland, and PHH Prep of Arizona.
The Beach Ball Classic has been a December fixture in Myrtle Beach since the early 1980s and has drawn nationally ranked programs and future college and professional players to the Grand Strand for more than four decades.
The Girls’ Field: 40 Teams From Nine States
The 40-team girls’ field is anchored by 26 South Carolina programs, among them Conway, Myrtle Beach, Socastee, St. James, Loris, Green Sea and Carvers Bay from the Grand Strand and the Pee Dee, along with Chapin, Goose Creek, Wando, James Island, Lugoff-Elgin, Richland Northeast, Keenan, Timberland, Westside and others from across the state. Out-of-state teams come from Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Alabama and Texas, including Bishop O’Connell and Paul VI of Virginia, Winter Haven and The First Academy of Florida, and Second Baptist of Texas.
| Event | Dates | Teams | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28th Girls’ Beach Ball Classic | Dec. 21–23, 2026 | 40 | Myrtle Beach Convention Center (top bracket and championships); John T. Rhodes Sports Center |
| 46th Boys’ Beach Ball Classic | Dec. 27–30, 2026 | 18 | Myrtle Beach Convention Center |
| Hometown Showcase | During the tournament | 4 (Boiling Springs, Darlington, Myrtle Beach, Socastee) | To be announced with the schedule |
Tickets and Planning a Holiday-Week Visit
Ticket details for 2026 have not been posted. In recent years, girls’ tournament tickets have been sold for about $10 per day, good for all games at all locations, and boys’ tickets for about $15 per day or $60 for a reserved seat for the week, with sales at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center box office at 2101 North Oak Street. Check the Beach Ball Classic website for 2026 prices once they are released.
The tournament lands in the middle of the holiday season, and the two sessions bracket Christmas, which makes the Beach Ball Classic a natural anchor for a family trip. Families following a team or simply looking for a reason to spend the holidays at the beach can pair the games with the Great Christmas Light Show at the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex, open through December 30, and New Year’s Eve on the Grand Strand. Our guide to Christmas and New Year’s at the beach covers the 2026 holiday calendar and where to stay.
The convention center is a short drive down Highway 17 from North Myrtle Beach, where guests can choose from oceanfront home rentals and oceanfront condos in Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach and Windy Hill, the section closest to Myrtle Beach. Teams and traveling families often book several condos in one building or a large house for the group; our family reunions and groups page explains how. For more ideas between games, see our guide to things to do in Myrtle Beach, and follow Grand Strand happenings on our local news page.
Following a team to the Beach Ball Classic, or looking for a holiday week by the ocean? Thomas Beach Vacations has been a family-owned part of North Myrtle Beach since 1962, and our oceanfront homes and condos have room for the whole traveling party. Explore rentals at www.northmyrtlebeachvacations.com or call our local team at (843) 273-3001.
Sources: WMBF (Oct. 14, 2026); Beach Ball Classic (beachballclassic.com) for prior-year ticket information. Dates, fields, venues and ticket prices are subject to change; confirm with the Beach Ball Classic before you go.