Vatan OZ/London (Avrupa Times)- The Board of Directors of Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) met on Friday, June 26, in Barcelona and approved a series of strategic and competition-related decisions, which will be submitted to the ECA General Assembly for ratification on July 7, 2026. The Board approved the 20-team lineup that will compete in the 2026-27 EuroLeague season, with Paris Basketball and Besiktas Istanbul receiving one-year wildcards.
The participating clubs are:
The clubs reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the EuroLeague to 24 teams for the 2027-28 season and agreed to continue evaluating competition formats that would accommodate this expansion while preserving the principle that every team plays every other team and ensuring greater integration within the broader European basketball calendar.
The Board also approved the extension of Real Madrid's ten-year license, following the completion of the corresponding process on Monday, June 22.
In addition, Euroleague Basketball CEO Chus Bueno updated the Board on the ongoing process to transform the current long-term club licenses into franchises, which is expected to be completed during the 2026-27 season. He also provided an update on the process to explore the allocation of future franchises, which will formally begin on July 1, 2026. The Board was informed of the significant interest received from multiple parties, including existing EuroLeague clubs as well as basketball organizations and investors representing new markets.
BKT EuroCup
The Board approved the final list of participating clubs for the 2026-27 BKT EuroCup season:
The competition format for the 2026-27 season was also confirmed. The Regular Season will feature four groups of eight teams, with the top sixteen teams advancing to the postseason. The playoffs will consist of Eighthfinals, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals, with all series played in a best-of-three format.
SuperCup
The Board approved the launch of the SuperCup, a new addition to the Euroleague Basketball competition portfolio. The inaugural edition is expected to take place on September 18 and 19, 2026. Further details regarding the competition format and participating teams will be announced in due course.
Competition Calendar
The Board approved the official calendar for the 2026-27 season, with the EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup set to tip off on September 24 and September 29, respectively.
2026-27 calendar
Financial Update
League management presented an update on the organization's financial performance, highlighting another year of sustained growth, including:
• More than 12% revenue growth compared to the 2024-25 season.
• A minimum of a 10% increase in club economic distributions for the 2026-27 season.
Competition By-Laws
The Board approved a series of proposed amendments to the competition By-Laws, which will also be submitted to the General Assembly for ratification. The proposed changes include:
• The removal of the High Remuneration Level from the Competition Balance Standards before its planned implementation in the 2027-28 season.
• Further improvements to player conditions under the EuroLeague Framework Agreement with the EuroLeague Players Association.
• An increase in the disciplinary sanction thresholds.
The ECA General Assembly will convene on July 7, 2026, to consider the ratification of the Board's decisions.
Chus Bueno, Euroleague Basketball CEO said:
"We are incredibly proud to bring together the best 52 clubs from across Europe in our competitions, representing the continent's most important basketball markets while continuing to open opportunities for emerging territories. The level of interest from clubs seeking to join our competitions has been extraordinary, reaffirming the strength of the Euroleague Basketball platform and the growing appeal of our long-term vision.
I would like to personally thank every club that has expressed its desire to become part of our family. While we have set the competition at 52 teams for this season to ensure the highest standards of quality and competitiveness, our expansion strategy is designed with the future in mind. We are building a platform that will welcome more clubs, more markets, and more fans, and I am confident that many of those who have shown interest today will have the opportunity to join us in the years ahead."
With regards to the franchise process, Bueno commented:
"We are thrilled by the strong level of interest we've seen in recent weeks from both clubs, investors and cities looking to become a EuroLeague franchise. They recognize that we have built a premium competition with the strongest club brands and fan bases in European basketball, backed by a proven business model with a fair asset valuation, a clear growth trajectory, and a unique ownership structure driven by the clubs themselves. They want to be part of that journey.
Since I joined the Euroleague and we implemented our new strategic vision and franchise plan, we have already validated a market valuation of €1.4 billion through offers received, doubling our valuation from last year. Based on the momentum we are seeing, we anticipate another doubling over the next two seasons, putting us on track to reach a €4 billion valuation within the next three to four years.
Last season, 37% of our shareholding clubs achieved financial sustainability. We expect that figure to exceed 70% within the next two to three years. This demonstrates that the traditional European basketball model is evolving into a more sustainable hybrid model, one that allows clubs to become financially stronger while preserving the competitiveness and sporting excellence that make European basketball unique."
On Euroleague Basketball’s strategic plan, he added:
“On July 7 in Barcelona, we will unveil our transformational vision for the future of European basketball to our shareholder clubs, leagues, and the media.
At the heart of this vision is EuroLeague+, a new digital platform designed to become the home of European basketball. EuroLeague+ will connect fans, clubs, and leagues through an integrated ecosystem of products and services, creating new opportunities for engagement, growth, and value across the sport.
With its beta version launching this September, EuroLeague+ represents a major milestone in our strategy to accelerate the digital transformation of European basketball and strengthen our connection with millions of fans around the world. These are truly exciting times for our sport."
