RAPID CITY — South Dakota’s biggest basketball tournament is expanding. 

In 2026, the Lakota Nation Invitational will expand to 64 total teams — 32 boys and 32 girls basketball teams, bumping up from the current 48-team format. 

Lakota Nation Invitational President Chuck Wilson confirmed the expansion on Wednesday, citing interest from multiple teams to join the multi-cultural event over four days. 

“We’ve had requests from teams wanting to get into the LNI, and the only way we can do that is obviously to expand,” Wilson said. “All of the teams that we have at LNI currently did not want to give up contracts. They didn’t want to leave. So in order for us to accommodate the new additions, we had to make that choice.”

Wilson said five schools — Rapid City Central, Rapid City Stevens, Hot Springs, Bennett County and Wyoming Indian School — have signed contracts to join the Lakota Nation Invitational next season. LNI officials are still working to secure three more teams, with Wilson saying the board of directors have reached out to multiple in-state schools. 

“We are going to reach out to a lot of schools, and anybody that is interested,” Wilson said. 

Wilson said the challenges with the expansion will be finding enough workers and officials to accommodate the 64-team tournament. 

The Lakota Nation Invitational began in 1976 in Pine Ridge. Three years later, the tournament moved to Rapid City to accommodate the large crowds. It’s evolved with more basketball teams, sports, activities and events scattered throughout the week. 

In addition to basketball, the event features traditional Lakota hand games, knowledge and language bowls, a student art show, and many more activities.

Despite the addition of more basketball teams, Wilson doesn’t feel 64 total teams is too many. 

“Our goal is to bring people together, and basketball is a good attractor and adding the local schools is going to help our attendance, too,” Wilson said. “I just think a lot of people enjoy this tournament, and want to be a part of it.”

This year, LNI is playing games at Rapid City’s Summit Arena, the Ice Arena, Barnett Center and nearby Rapid City Central High School. Wilson said the tournament will continue to utilize the courts to accommodate the action. 

Currently, basketball is separated into a 16-team bracket and an eight-team bracket. Wilson said next year’s format hasn’t been determined yet, but two 16-team brackets is the preferred format. 

Wilson has been on the LNI board of directors for around 20 years, and said the expansion will continue to make it a premier attraction for all involved. 

“It’s something our kids talk about,” Wilson said. “This is the place to be for them. Obviously a state tournament is something they all want to be at, too. But LNI is right there.”