EuroLeague and EuroCup 2026-27 Team Lists and Start Dates Confirmed

EuroLeague and EuroCup have confirmed their team rosters for the 2026-27 season following a board meeting in Barcelona on June 26. The EuroLeague season is set to begin September 24, while the EuroCup starts September 29, with a new Supercup tournament scheduled for September 18-19.

Who is competing in the 2026-27 EuroLeague?

The board officially announced 20 teams for the upcoming tournament. Paris Basketball and Istanbul’s Besiktas received one-year named invitations, with Besiktas replacing Monaco, which will move to the EuroCup.

The roster includes shareholders Anadolu Efes, ASVEL, Baskonia, Emporio Armani Milano, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Fenerbahce, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, and Zalgiris Kaunas. Other participants include Crvena Zvezda, Dubai, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Paris, Partizan, Real Madrid, Valencia, and Virtus Bologna.

Did You Know? Real Madrid’s ten-year license was extended after all required procedures were completed on Monday, June 22.

What structural changes are coming to the league?

Clubs have committed to expanding the EuroLeague to 24 teams starting with the 2027-28 season. Officials are currently evaluating formats that maintain the principle of every team playing each other while integrating with the broader European basketball calendar.

General Director Chus Bueno informed the board that long-term club licenses are being transformed into franchises. This transition is expected to finish during or after the 2026-27 season, with a distribution study officially starting July 1, 2026.

How will the EuroCup be organized?

The board confirmed the final list of clubs for the 2026-27 EuroCup season. Klaipėda’s Neptūnas and Panevėžys’ Lietkabelis received long-term licenses under a 3+2 formula, while Šiauliai earned a one-season right to compete.

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The competition will feature teams including Monaco, Aris, Bahçeşehir, Derthona, Budućnost, Cedevita Olimpija, Breso Burgo JL, Dolomiti Energia, Hapoel Jerusalem, La Laguna, Sarthe Basket, Lions, Niners, PAOK, Ratiopharm, Skyliners, Turk Telekom, U-Banca Transilvania, and Umana Reyer. One-year participants include Botevgrad, Roma Basketball Club, Maxima Roma, Manresas, Naples Basket, Zelli Riga, Seawolves Rostock, Šiauliai, Ślask Wrocław, Tofaš Bursa, and Burgos.

The regular season will split teams into four groups of eight. The top 16 clubs will advance to a playoff bracket consisting of round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final, with all series played as best-of-three.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the 2026-27 basketball seasons start?
The EuroLeague season begins September 24, and the EuroCup begins September 29.

Which teams received one-year invitations for the EuroLeague?
Paris Basketball and Besiktas were granted one-year named invitations.

What is the format for the EuroCup playoffs?
The top 16 teams will compete in a series of rounds (round of 16 through the final) where each series is decided by the best of three matches.

How do you think the shift to a franchise model will affect the competitiveness of European basketball?