Euroleague Basketball, the entity operating the EuroLeague and EuroCup, took another step toward expanding its competition calendar on Tuesday, June 9, as the Euroleague Commercial Assets Board reviewed plans for a new pre-season cup featuring four teams in a two-day format.
The proposed event could launch in either 2026 or 2027, with the board agreeing to finalize talks with potential host cities before a formal review and approval at the next ECA Board meeting.
The new pre-season competition comes as Euroleague Basketball continues to push forward on multiple fronts, including its broader three-year strategic plan, licensing structure, and commercial growth. President Dejan Bodiroga and CEO Chus Bueno told the board that the organization is moving with “confidence, ambition and unity.”
“The progress achieved across our strategic plan confirms the strength of our competitions, the commitment of our clubs and the growing appeal of our project among fans, partners, investors and basketball stakeholders,” Bodiroga and Bueno said in a joint statement.
The timing matters. Euroleague Basketball said the 2025-26 season delivered record performance and stronger interest from clubs and investors, creating momentum for new initiatives that can add value before the official season begins.
The board also continued discussions around the competition’s long-term structure, reaffirming the transition of current 10-year license holders into franchisees next season. It also approved license extensions for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, while talks with Real Madrid remain ongoing.
The pre-season cup would give EuroLeague clubs another high-profile event before the regular season starts, offering a short-format showcase that could attract attention from fans, partners, and host markets. In a European basketball landscape that continues to grow more commercial and more global, a compact event like this fits the league’s push for added value and visibility.
Xavi Puyada, Euroleague Basketball’s chief financial officer, said the league’s financial profile has improved markedly. “We are very satisfied with the financial progress and performance of the EuroLeague,” he said, pointing to record revenue, profit, and club distributions.
Puyada also said the organization expects more clubs to become sustainable in the coming years, adding that the new franchise structure should increase value and encourage further investment.
Alongside the pre-season cup planning, Euroleague Basketball also updated clubs on its expanded EuroCup project, which will grow to 32 teams next season.
