NextGen EuroLeague confirms 40-team lineup for 2026-27
Euroleague Basketball has announced the 40-team lineup for the 2026-27 adidas NextGen EuroLeague, featuring youth academies from 15 countries. The season will include two new pre-qualifying tournaments leading into four main qualifying events.
Why it matters
This tournament is a primary pipeline for developing elite European basketball talent for professional leagues and the NBA.
Clubs and academies from 15 countries will compete across six tournaments, with two new pre-qualifiers opening the season
The 2026-27 adidas NextGen EuroLeague will feature 40 Under-18 programs from 15 countries, Euroleague Basketball announced.
Twenty-six teams will enter the four Qualifying Tournaments directly, while another 14 will begin in two new Pre-Qualifying Tournaments. The field includes the junior sections of 17 EuroLeague clubs, 10 EuroCup clubs, and 13 other clubs and academies.
The season tips off in Rijeka, Croatia, on October 23-25. Host Kvarner CEBA Academy will face Split Basketball, Bosna BH Telecom, FMP Belgrade, Tofas Bursa, Pablo Laso Academy, Zentro Basket Madrid and an adidas Select Program team. The winner will advance to the Belgrade qualifier.
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