Overview

• Auditions opened in early August with owners invited to submit 60- to 90-second videos showcasing their dogs’ basic commands, age and basketball moves.
• Dogs must be purebred golden retrievers displaying athleticism and enthusiasm for basketball.
• Air Bud Returns is slated for summer 2026, delivering the first big-screen Air Bud film since 1998.
• Robert Vince, the franchise’s creator, returns to write and direct a meta-sequel about a 12-year-old who finds a vintage VHS and teams with a retriever to lead a misfit basketball team.
• Entrants are eligible to win Air Bud jerseys, signed merchandise and a trip to the film’s Los Angeles premiere.