A fan celebrates Noches Éne•Bé•A in customized Clippers’ attire alongside Chuck the Condor during festivities hosted by the LA Clippers.
The NBA is celebrating the 20th season of Noches Éne•Bé•A during the 2025–26 campaign, marking two decades of recognizing the growing support and cultural influence of NBA fans and players across Hispanic communities in the United States and throughout Latin America.
What began as select teams wearing special uniforms for a themed game in March has evolved into a dynamic, season-long platform.
A Season-Long Celebration
A fan holds up a “Somos Clippers” sign during the LA Clippers ‘Noche De La Familia / Somos Clippers Nation’ celebration.
Beginning in 2025-26, Noches Éne•Bé•A will expand beyond its original March game night activation into a flexible, year-round initiative. The evolution enables teams to connect with Hispanic and Latino communities at multiple moments throughout the season, both locally in their home markets and regionally across Latin America.
The program’s growth reflects the organic ways fans express identity, pride and passion for the game.
Since the 2022–23 season, the word “somos,” Spanish for “we are,” has appeared on team warm-up shirts, underscoring a sense of shared belonging. Phrases like “Somos Los Hornets” illustrate how teams authentically engage their communities.
Building on that foundation, the phrase “Somos NBA” captures the spirit seen on those shirts and throughout Noches Éne•Bé•A celebrations, expressing unity and collective pride across cultures and borders in both Spanish and Portuguese.
Reflecting on How Fans Speak the Game
The Brooklyn Nets warm up in “Somos Os Nets” shirts pregame during ‘Noche Latina’ night.
League research shows that bilingual Latino and Hispanic fans often blend Spanish and Portuguese-language elements with team names in everyday conversation rather than translating them directly. It is common to hear “El Heat” when referencing the Miami Heat or “Los Spurs” when talking about the San Antonio Spurs.
That same cultural expression appears on digital platforms, where teams have embraced regionally inspired social handles such as @LosLakers for the Los Angeles Lakers and @OsCeltics for the Boston Celtics, which is the Celtics’ Portuguese-language account for Brazil.
Noches Éne•Bé•A reflects how fans already speak about and experience the league, not as a translation but as an authentic extension of identity.
Connecting Communities Across Borders
At its core, Noches Éne•Bé•A is about connection.
The platform enables teams to engage authentically:
- Local Latino and Hispanic communities in U.S. markets
- Fans throughout Latin America who identify with the culture, language and values of the program
Even as teams introduce country-specific initiatives such as Brazilian-themed nights, Noches Éne•Bé•A remains a unifying thread across markets.
2025–26 Noches Éne•Bé•A Activations
A live musical performance energizes this crowd ahead of the LA Clippers game, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the team’s Noches Éne•Bé•A festivities.
Each activation reflects its local community and the unique energy of its fanbase, celebrating culture, connection and a shared love for the game.
- Oct. 17 – Miami Heat: Dale HEAT Nights honoring Hispanic & Latin Heritage
- Oct. 24 – Portland Trail Blazers: Hispanic & Latine Heritage Celebration
- Nov. 2 – Phoenix Suns: Día de los Muertos (sponsored by Hornitos)
- Nov. 3 – LA Clippers: Mexican Heritage Night / Somos Clippers Nation (sponsored by Ticketmaster & Modelo; special ticket package available)
- Nov. 16 – San Antonio Spurs: Hispanic Heritage Night
- Dec. 28 – LA Clippers: Somos Clippers Nation
- Jan. 22 – Orlando Magic: Brazil Night
- Jan. 24 – Utah Jazz: Hispanic Heritage Night
- Jan. 30 – New York Knicks: Hispanic Heritage Night
- Feb. 21 – Chicago Bulls: Los Bulls Game (sponsored by Corona; windbreaker giveaway)
- March 5 – Phoenix Suns: El Valle Night (sponsored by Dos Equis)
- March 6 – Charlotte Hornets: Los Hornets Night (sponsored by Lunazul Tequila)
- March 9 – Oklahoma City Thunder: Hispanic Heritage Night
- March 13 – Houston Rockets: Noche Latina
- March 14 – LA Clippers: Noche de la Familia / Somos Clippers Nation (sponsored by Ticketmaster & Modelo)
- March 16 – Boston Celtics: Noche Latina
- March 20 – Denver Nuggets: Somos Los Nuggets Night
- March 21 – Dallas Mavericks: Los Mavs Night
- March 25 – Cleveland Cavaliers: Unidos Por Cleveland
- March 31 – Orlando Magic: Noche Latina
- April 3 – Philadelphia 76ers: Hispanic Heritage Night (sponsored by Corona)
- April 9 – Washington Wizards: Noche Wizards
Merchandise and Fan Engagement
Miami Heat “Somos El Heat” shirt from the Noches Éne•Bé•A collection.
Official Noches Éne•Bé•A merchandise, including “Somos” branded apparel and team-specific designs, is available at NBAStore.com and at participating team retail locations.
Twenty seasons in, Noches Éne•Bé•A continues to grow alongside the fans who inspire it, celebrating culture, language and identity while affirming a shared truth:
Somos NBA.
