The Big Game: Gortat Team vs. NATO Team Air Force 2026 at Atlas Arena
Łódź will be filled with basketball excitement, military equipment, and all-day attractions for families.
The next edition of the Gortat Team Big Game will take place on June 13 at Atlas Arena.
The game is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m.
The Gortat Team's Big Game in Łódź – sports, celebrities, and a military picnic
From 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in front of Atlas Arena, in the parking lot between Atlas Arena and Sport Arena,
there will be a picnic featuring a military equipment display. The event will combine a sports spectacle,
family attractions, the presence of soldiers, and charitable activities.
The Big Game is a spectacular basketball match in which a team of all-star players invited
by Marcin Gortat takes on a team of soldiers. Twelve games have been played so far.
The soldiers have won five times, while Gortat’s team has secured seven victories.
Last year, the all-stars triumphed with a score of 67–64.
New for 2026: The NATO Team Air Force takes to the floor for the first time
This year’s edition will feature a significant change. Instead of the Polish Army team, the court will host the NATO Team Air Force
. This is a symbolic gesture marking the 25th anniversary of Poland’s membership in NATO
.
The military team will include NATO Air Force personnel, including fighter pilots
stationed in Poland. The NATO Air Force Team will be supported by, among others, personnel
from the 23rd Tactical Air Base in Mińsk Mazowiecki.
Who will play for the Gortat Team in 2026?
Every year, Marcin Gortat invites well-known figures from the worlds of sports,
film, music, and the internet to join his team. In 2026, the following individuals, among others, will take the court alongside the former NBA player,
:
- Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski
- Tomasz Fornal
- Piotr Żyła
- Piotr Kuberski
- Mateusz Damięcki
- Wojciech Mecwaldowski
- Karol "Friz" Wiśniewski
- Bedouins
- Lexy Chaplin
- Janusz Chabior
- Adam “AJ” Josef Modzelewski
Military equipment display and family-friendly activities in front of Atlas Arena
Starting at 12:00 p.m., there will be a military equipment display in front of Atlas Arena.
The military picnic and family activity zone will run until 8:00 p.m.
This is an opportunity to see Air Force equipment up close and meet soldiers
from various countries stationed in Poland. The event’s program also includes a parade,
which will march down Piotrkowska Street.
The Big Game: Gortat Team vs. NATO Team Air Force – Key Information
- Date: June 13, 2026
- Venue: Atlas Arena in Łódź
- Start of the picnic and military equipment display: 12:00 p.m.
- Gates open at 3:00 p.m.
- Kickoff: 5:00 p.m.
- End of the event: around 8:00 p.m.
Proceeds from ticket sales will be allocated to the statutory purposes of the MG13 Foundation,
which supports young athletes.
Auction closed – the winner will play with the stars
In 2026, a spot on the Gortat Team could be secured through an auction.
The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, paid 13,200 PLN for the chance to play
against the NATO Team Air Force.
All proceeds from the auction will go to the Cancer Fighters Foundation to support people fighting
cancer.
A tribute to the pilots and thanks for “Operation Heart”
This year’s event will honor the Polish pilots who tragically lost their lives:
Lt. Col. Maciej “Slab” Krakowian, and Lt. Col. Robert “Killer” Jeł.
Marcin Gortat will also thank the pilots participating in "Operation Heart,"
who transport organs for transplantation.
Tickets for the Big Game at Atlas Arena
Tickets for the Gortat Team vs. NATO Team Air Force showdown are still available online at
on the Atlas Arena website.
