NextGen EuroLeague expands its reach with six venues

The Adidas NextGen EuroLeague is undergoing a significant transformation in its competitive structure. Euroleague Basketball has officially confirmed the new format that will govern the 2026-27 season, consolidating an expansion that reflects the growing interest of clubs and academies across Europe to participate in the most prestigious youth basketball league on the continent. This evolution responds to the demand from more teams wanting to access a competition that has proven to be a breeding ground for future stars of the sport.

The most relevant change introduces two pre-qualification tournaments as an entry point into the traditional qualifying system. These preliminary events, held in Rijeka from October 23 to 25, 2026, and in Vienna from November 27 to 29, 2026, will allow eight teams at each venue —including a representative from the adidas Select program— to compete for advancement to the qualifying tournaments. The winner from Rijeka will move on to the qualifying phase in Belgrade, while the champion from Vienna will access the tournament in Paris.

The Pre-Qualification Structure

The organization of these new phases falls to established institutions in European basketball. Kvarner from Croatia, in collaboration with the CEBA Academy, will host the first pre-qualification tournament in Rijeka. Vienna Basketball, for its part, will be responsible for the second phase in the Austrian capital. This geographical distribution aims to decentralize the competition and facilitate the participation of clubs from different regions of the continent.

The incorporation of these pre-qualifications responds to a clear strategy: to democratize access to a competition that has historically been selective. By expanding the number of stops, the NextGen EuroLeague acknowledges that European under-18 talent is not solely concentrated in the major traditional hubs, but is distributed across Europe. This openness particularly benefits teams from countries that have been historically underrepresented in the final phase.

The Four Qualifying Tournaments

They maintain their proven structure from previous editions, with eight teams at each venue —including an adidas Next Generation team— where the champions secure a spot in the final phase of 2027. The confirmed venues welcome back Munich after a year of absence, once again establishing FC Bayern Munich as the host. Bologna repeats for the second consecutive year with Virtus Bologna as the organizer, from January 21 to 23, 2027.

Paris will host the tournament for the second time, with Paris Basketball resuming its role as host after having done so in the 2023-24 season. This venue will include the winner of the pre-qualification tournament in Rijeka. Belgrade will close the qualifying calendar between April 2 and 4, 2027, solidifying its position as one of the most stable venues in the competition, with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet returning to the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall to receive the champion from Vienna.

The Final Phase and Its Format

The final phase system remains unchanged from previous editions. Eight teams —the four champions from the qualifying tournaments plus four invited teams— will compete in a group stage from Thursday to Saturday, leading up to the title match. An important regulatory detail: victories by the adidas Next Generation team do not count towards the standings in any phase, with the next best-ranked team securing the invitation spot or wild card.

This tested format guarantees balanced competitiveness and offers maximum visibility to the best young talents on the continent. The concentration of matches over the weekend facilitates media coverage and allows academies and clubs to closely follow the development of their prospects.

A Breeding Ground for World Stars

The NextGen EuroLeague has solidified its reputation as a breeding ground of excellence. Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Kristaps Porzingis, Jean Montero, Franz Wagner, Deni Avdija, and Domantas Sabonis are among the most notable names who participated in this competition before becoming key players in professional basketball worldwide. This list also includes Milos Teodosic, Vasilije Micic, Jonas Valanciunas, Nikola Mirotic, Donatas Motiejunas, Dario Saric, Hugo González, Egor Demin, Maxime Raynaud, Jeremy Sochan, and Goga Bitadze, all of whom have gone through these developmental phases.

The competition's track record shows that the under-18 European basketball identified in the NextGen EuroLeague possesses the quality necessary to compete at the highest professional levels. These success stories validate the competitive model and enhance the appeal of the competition for clubs, academies, and families of young players who see it as a platform for exposure and development.

With six stops now confirmed on the 2026-27 calendar, more young prospects than ever will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of those names that shine today in the NBA, EuroLeague, and other elite competitions. The expansion of the NextGen EuroLeague represents a renewed commitment from Euroleague Basketball to the development of young European talent, ensuring that the continent continues to produce world-class players for the coming decades.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, NextGen EuroLeague amplía su alcance con seis sedes