Euroleague Basketball confirmed that the 2026–27 EuroLeague season will continue with a 20-team, round-robin structure following a board meeting held in Barcelona on Tuesday, April 14. The decision was part of a broader review of competition structure, financial distribution, and long-term planning.
The organization stated that “The Board confirmed its commitment to maintaining a 20-team, round-robin format for the 2026–27 EuroLeague season,” while also outlining future planning directions.
Alongside format continuity, the league reiterated its intent to “explore expansion opportunities in the near future,” with more than 10 clubs and markets reportedly expressing interest in joining future cycles.
Member clubs also reviewed proposed improvements to travel and health conditions raised by the EuroLeague Players Association, with discussions centered on implementation at both league and club levels.
A new pre-season initiative was also endorsed, involving a potential competition between EuroLeague and EuroCup champions, aimed at strengthening the competitive calendar structure.
The EuroCup system also received updates, including reinforcement of merit-based qualification rules, with at least 10 teams entering through domestic league performance. Multi-annual licensing structures were also supported for selected clubs.
A major financial update was approved, described as “first major update in over two decades,” referring to the league’s revised economic distribution model.
The new framework introduces two main distribution pools, including a broadcast-related system where licensed clubs retain a majority share of domestic broadcast revenues, while the remaining portion is distributed equally among clubs.
The second pool is tied to sporting results, fan engagement metrics, and historical performance, with a portion distributed equally among licensed teams to maintain structural balance across the competition.
The board also advanced plans toward a permanent franchise-style model expected to be completed by the 2026–27 season, replacing the current long-term licensing system.
According to the update, the league and its clubs are valued at €3.2 billion, with projections indicating potential growth following implementation of the new economic and structural framework.
Euroleague Basketball also confirmed ongoing discussions with the NBA regarding the “NBA Europe” concept, while reaffirming continued engagement with external stakeholders on potential cooperation models.
The current 2025–26 standings show Olympiacos leading the regular season, followed closely by Valencia and Real Madrid in a tightly contested top tier, reflecting the competitive balance that the league aims to preserve under the confirmed format.
