The 2026-27 Euroleague will repeat the competition format of the current year: 20 teams and a suffocating round-robin regular season with 38 days that will be followed by a play-in as in recent editions, quarter-final playoffs and a Final Four. This was approved this Tuesday afternoon at the meeting held in Barcelona by the participating clubs.
Another option was to expand the teams that took part in the competition to 22 and make two conferences. The system was more complicated and had pros and cons: the number of matches was reduced… but also television and box office income. It has been decided to opt for the same calendar as this year although, in a summer without national team tournaments – there are FIBA Windows – we will try to start the competition earlier to avoid so many weeks of double days.
The competition system is already known, but not all the teams that will participate. Some names are in the air, including that of Real Madrid, the biggest fish in the European basketball pond and which the NBA is also trying to convince for the tournament it intends to launch in 2027.
The Euroleague is confident that the whites will end up signing, although they continue to extend the deadlines they are given. Time is starting to run out and they should make a decision shortly.
The other two teams that were pending signing with Fenerbahce and ASVEL. With the Turks there is also optimism that they will continue in the competition, while the French have already been considered lost for a long time after a clear approach to FIBA.
