The 2026 Illinois vs. Houston NCAA men’s basketball game was played at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Where exactly the game was held

  • Venue: Toyota Center
  • City/State: Houston, Texas
  • Context: This was a Sweet 16 matchup in the NCAA Tournament, with Houston hosting the South Region games near its home campus.

Quick game details

  • Matchup: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Houston Cougars (NCAA Tournament – South Region, Sweet 16).
  • Result: Illinois won 65–55 and advanced to the Elite Eight to face Iowa.

So to answer your headline-style question directly:
The Houston–Illinois game was played at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.