European Cups — 2025-26 Deep Overview & Storylines

EuroLeague

The 2025–26 EuroLeague season begins on 30 September 2025 and runs through to the Final Four in Athens, scheduled for late May 2026. This season is historic: the league expands from 18 to 20 teams, adding Dubai Basketball and Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv while ALBA Berlin exits. Long-term wild cards have been granted to Crvena Zvezda, Partizan, Valencia, and Virtus Bologna, giving them stability as permanent members of Europe’s top club competition.

The regular season increases to 38 rounds instead of 34, raising the stakes on consistency, roster depth, and travel. More double-round weeks mean teams will be tested physically and mentally, with fatigue management becoming as important as talent. Clubs with strong benches and effective rotation strategies will have the edge.

Managerial changes add intrigue: Anadolu Efes will be guided by Igor Kokoškov, Paris Basketball by Francesco Tabellini, and Žalgiris Kaunas by Tomas Masiulis. Stability and tactical clarity will be crucial as coaches adjust to the grind. Defending champion Fenerbahçe Beko carries the target on its back, while Real Madrid looks refreshed under new coach Sergio Scariolo. Traditional contenders Barcelona, Olympiacos, and Panathinaikos aim to reach the Final Four, with Panathinaikos especially motivated as it takes place in Athens.

The style of play continues to evolve. Expect more switchable defenses, rim protection, and reliance on clutch guard play. While three-point shooting remains vital, teams with size, rebounding, and defensive versatility will benefit from the extended schedule. The addition of Dubai and Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv also introduces new markets and fanbases, adding another layer of attention to the season.

In short, EuroLeague 2025–26 will be a grind of attrition and adaptability. Champions will not just be the most talented, but also the deepest, healthiest, and most disciplined across 38 demanding rounds.

10 Things to Watch in EuroLeague 2025–26

1. Depth and bench performance in a 38-game season.

2. Injury management and player rotations.

3. How Dubai Basketball and Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv adapt to the top level.

4. Coaching transitions in Efes, Paris, and Žalgiris.

5. Wild card teams proving their permanent status.

6. Travel challenges with a wider geographic map.

7. Clutch guard play vs forward mismatches in late games.

8. Defense and rebounding as swing factors.

9. National team windows and player availability.

10. The Athens Final Four giving Panathinaikos a potential “home advantage.”

EuroCup

The 2025–26 BKT EuroCup season tips off on 30 September 2025 and runs until the Finals in late April or early May 2026. The competition features 20 teams from 13 different countries, including both established returnees and fresh newcomers. Clubs such as London Lions and Śląsk Wrocław make their returns, while Panionios re-enters after more than a decade. Debutants like Baxi Manresa and Niners Chemnitz bring new energy to the competition.

The format remains: two groups of 10 teams, each playing a double round-robin (home and away). The regular season will finish by mid-February, followed by a knockout stage. The eighthfinals and quarterfinals are single-elimination games, while semifinals and finals will be played in a best-of-three format. This structure combines the drama of do-or-die matchups with the depth of multi-game series, ensuring the best teams rise to the top.

One of the most significant stakes: the EuroCup champion earns a promotion to the EuroLeague for the following season. That prize makes the tournament a high-stakes proving ground for clubs aspiring to reach Europe’s top tier. The competition is known for balancing veteran leaders with young players eager to showcase their talent, and this season should be no different.

Teams will also need to manage dual commitments with their domestic leagues. Balancing EuroCup intensity with local competition is often the difference between a good and great season. The expanded schedule also intersects with FIBA international windows, making depth crucial when key players leave for national duty.

With strong Spanish, French, Turkish, and German presences alongside hungry clubs from Eastern Europe, this season promises balance and unpredictability. Every game matters in the fight for playoff seeding, and the single-game elimination rounds mean upsets are always possible.

10 Things to Watch in EuroCup 2025–26

1. Impact of first-time participants like Manresa and Chemnitz.

2. Return of clubs like London Lions and Śląsk Wrocław.

3. Drama of single-elimination eighthfinals and quarterfinals.

4. Best-of-three semifinals and finals rewarding tactical adjustments.

5. The EuroLeague promotion spot as the ultimate prize.

6. Balancing domestic league duties with EuroCup travel.

7. FIBA window scheduling and its impact on rosters.

8. Contrasting styles across Spanish, French, German, and Eastern clubs.

9. Importance of home-court advantage in tight groups.

10. Upsets by underdogs that can reshape the bracket.

    
    

    
    

    

    
    

    Basketball Champions League

    
    

The 2025–26 Basketball Champions League begins with its Regular Season on 7 October 2025, following September qualifying rounds that decide the final group spots. This is the ninth edition of the BCL, organized by FIBA Europe. The competition maintains its mission of offering national champions and top domestic clubs a strong continental platform alongside EuroCup and EuroLeague.

The Regular Season will feature 32 teams, divided into eight groups of four. Each group plays a round-robin home-and-away schedule. The top teams advance directly to the Round of 16, while second and third place teams enter the Play-Ins (a best-of-three series) to fight for a place in the Round of 16. This structure ensures competitive balance and keeps the group stage meaningful deep into the schedule.

The Round of 16 consists of four groups of four teams, again playing home and away. The top two in each group qualify for the quarterfinals. From there, the competition moves to best-of-three Quarterfinal Playoffs, culminating in the Final Four weekend in May 2026, hosted by a city yet to be announced. The Final Four format continues to be a highlight, bringing together fans, sponsors, and broadcasters in a festival atmosphere.

Clubs from across Europe bring a wide range of styles. Spanish ACB teams like Tenerife, Murcia, or Manresa usually bring discipline and experience. Greek clubs such as AEK or PAOK rely on defensive toughness and home-court atmospheres. Turkish teams like Galatasaray or Darüşşafaka play uptempo and physical, often powered by American guards. French sides like Strasbourg and Dijon emphasize athleticism and balanced rosters. Beyond that, Eastern European teams—such as Hapoel Jerusalem or clubs from Poland and Lithuania—add hunger and unpredictability.

What makes the BCL unique is its combination of national champions with strong domestic runners-up, giving smaller-market clubs the opportunity to test themselves against bigger names. The competition is known for producing breakout players who later jump to EuroLeague or the NBA, while also showcasing the tactical creativity of coaches working with tighter budgets.

The home-court factor in the BCL is massive. Arenas like Jerusalem’s Pais Arena, Thessaloniki’s PAOK Sports Arena, or Turkish venues can tilt games through noise and pressure. Given the shorter regular season groups, a single home loss can derail advancement

chances. That creates urgency in every game.

Financially, the BCL continues to grow, with FIBA pushing visibility across streaming and broadcast deals. The stability of the format and clear path from Regular Season to Final Four has helped the league carve its identity. While the EuroLeague remains the highest tier, the BCL has solidified itself as a respected competition that champions can aspire to win while boosting their domestic profile.

10 Things to Watch in BCL 2025–26

1. Qualifying rounds in September deciding the last group slots.

2. Spanish contenders like Tenerife and Murcia maintaining their consistency.

3. Greek teams (AEK, PAOK) aiming to leverage defensive identity and loud arenas.

4. Turkish clubs bringing speed and physicality with guard-heavy lineups.

5. French teams continuing to develop athletic wings and balanced depth.

6. Hapoel Jerusalem’s consistency, always a dangerous playoff team.

7. Impact of Play-In series, where second/third seeds fight for Round of 16 survival.

8. Quarterfinals best-of-three, testing coaching adjustments.

9. Final Four venue announcement, which will set the narrative for the spring climax.

10. Emerging stars, as the BCL has a track record of showcasing talent that later reaches EuroLeague or the NBA.

FIBA Europe Cup

The 2025–26 FIBA Europe Cup tips off in October 2025, following a series of qualifying rounds in September that determine the final group stage participants. The tournament serves as FIBA’s fourth-tier continental competition, below EuroLeague, EuroCup, and the Basketball Champions League (BCL). While it doesn’t carry the same glamour, it plays a vital role for ambitious clubs from smaller markets that want international experience, exposure, and a path to bigger stages.

The competition format begins with qualifying rounds involving dozens of clubs across Europe. Successful teams advance to the Regular Season, which is structured into groups of four. Each team plays home and away, with the top two advancing to the Second Round, which mirrors the same format. The top eight then progress to quarterfinals (two-legged ties), followed by semifinals and the Final, both also played over two legs. This structure rewards consistency, adaptability to different opponents, and the ability to win in hostile environments.

What makes the Europe Cup unique is its diversity. Clubs from countries without a strong presence in the EuroLeague or BCL—such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland—often find themselves competing against mid-level clubs from powerhouse nations like Italy, France, or Turkey. This creates fascinating clashes of style: smaller-market clubs relying on homegrown talent and a couple of import players versus deeper rosters with more resources.

The Europe Cup is often a stepping stone. Teams that succeed here often move up to the BCL or earn greater recognition in their domestic leagues. For example, past champions and finalists have used their Europe Cup runs to elevate their profiles, attract better players, and strengthen budgets. The tournament also serves as a showcase for players—many Americans and international prospects have used strong Europe Cup campaigns to earn contracts in higher competitions.

Financially, the Europe Cup doesn’t compare with the top leagues, but it is invaluable for building credibility and giving fans of smaller clubs the chance to see European opponents. It also spreads the game geographically: cities that rarely host top-tier continental basketball get a taste of international action. For fans in those markets, these games carry as much excitement as a EuroLeague night in Madrid or Istanbul.

The 2025–26 season will continue to build on this model, providing opportunity, exposure, and drama for dozens of clubs. Expect passionate atmospheres in smaller gyms, unpredictable upsets, and emerging talent catching the eye of scouts. While the Europe Cup isn’t about powerhouse clubs, it’s about ambition and growth—values that keep the competition meaningful year after year.

10 Things to Watch in FIBA Europe Cup 2025–26

1. Qualifying rounds drama — lower-budget clubs fighting for their spot in the main draw.

2. National diversity — representation from 20+ countries, creating unique matchups rarely seen elsewhere.

3. Underdogs at home — small gyms and passionate fans often tilt games against stronger rosters.

4. Player showcases — young internationals and import guards often use the Europe Cup to earn BCL or EuroCup contracts.

5. Travel strain — long trips across Europe test squad depth and budgets.

6. Polish and Romanian contenders — traditionally strong in this competition, looking for another deep run.

7. Scandinavian presence — clubs from Denmark or Finland often bring discipline and 3-point heavy offenses.

8. French and Italian mid-table clubs — these teams use the Europe Cup as a way to keep rosters sharp and competitive.

9. Knockout rounds drama — the two-legged format keeps margins thin; away points become decisive.

10. Future stars — the competition’s reputation for being a launching pad makes scouting here especially valuable.

    
    

European North Basketball League

The 2025–26 European North Basketball League (ENBL) season tips off on 23 September 2025, with regular-season pool play running through 11 February 2026. This will be the league’s biggest edition to date: 27 teams from 17 countries split into three pools of nine, with each team playing eight pool games (four home, four away). The top 16 advance to the playoffs; the Eightfinals are single-elimination, followed by two-leg aggregate quarterfinals, and a Final Four on 21–23 April 2026 to crown the champion.

CSO Voluntari enter as the defending champions, now led by head coach Dan Ioan, aiming to defend their title after a breakout year. The league again features strong British representation: the Newcastle Eagles under Marc Steutel and the Bristol Flyers coached by Andreas Kapoulas, both intent on converting domestic momentum into continental wins. Alongside them are established ENBL names like Donar Groningen (Netherlands), BK Opava (Czech Republic), Spartak Pleven (Bulgaria), and Valmiera Glass ViA (Latvia). A Croatian qualifying path determines two entrants, adding competitive tension before the first official tip.

With only eight pool games, margins are razor thin: a single slip at home can derail a campaign. That scarcity, plus single-game Eightfinals, produces genuine jeopardy — one off night can end a season. Conversely, the two-leg quarterfinals reward tactical discipline and road scoring, and the Final Four weekend has quickly become a showcase for intense atmospheres across Central and Eastern Europe.

This year’s expanded footprint amplifies the logistics game. More countries and longer trips mean deeper rotations and smarter recovery. For many clubs, ENBL is a platform to elevate their brand, test roster builds, and give fanbases a European experience they don’t always get at home. It’s also become a reliable talent escalator: emerging guards and versatile wings often use strong ENBL runs to springboard into higher tiers.

Overall, ENBL 2025–26 is set up for variety — different budgets, styles, and travel realities colliding in high-leverage games. Expect packed gyms, upsets, and a few breakout stars who will be on bigger stages a year from now.

10 Things to Watch in ENBL 2025–26

1. Voluntari’s title defense under Dan Ioan — can the champions repeat with a new voice on the sideline?

2. Newcastle Eagles’ next step — consistency across the pool stage is the target for Marc Steutel’s group.

3. Bristol Flyers’ growth curve — Andreas Kapoulas brings a seasoned group looking for deeper playoff traction.

4. Croatian qualifiers — two coveted spots set the tone before pool play even starts.

5. Travel & schedule stress — 17 countries = heavy mileage; depth and recovery matter.

6. Protecting home court — eight pool games mean small mistakes carry big consequences.

7. Eightfinals volatility — one-and-done games guarantee drama and upsets.

8. Aggregate quarterfinals — away scoring and two-game strategy separate the savvy from the rest.

9. Emerging prospects — expect guards/wings to use ENBL as a launching pad to BCL/EuroCup.

10. Final Four spectacle (Apr 21–23, 2026) — venue atmosphere and knockout intensity will shape the season’s finale.

    
    

    Closing Word

    
    

    The 2025–26 European basketball season promises something for everyone. At the top, the EuroLeague stretches to 20 teams, demanding more depth and consistency than ever. The EuroCup offers clubs the golden ticket of promotion. The Basketball Champions League gives national champions and underdogs a platform to shine. The ABA League remains the Balkan factory of talent and fierce rivalries. The FIBA Europe Cup spreads the game to new corners, giving ambitious clubs international credibility. And the ENBL grows into a true continental bridge for emerging teams across Central and Eastern Europe.

    Together, these six leagues form the backbone of European club basketball: different levels, different styles, but united by passion, rivalries, and the dream of going higher. From the bright lights of Athens at the EuroLeague Final Four to packed gyms in places like Voluntari, Bristol, or Zadar, the journey will be full of storylines worth following.

    The 2025–26 season is not just about crowning champions — it’s about watching the next stars rise, clubs build their legacy, and fans across Europe create unforgettable atmospheres. Buckle up: it’s going to be a season that defines the next chapter of European basketball.

European basketball never sleeps — from the EuroLeague to ENBL, every league tells a part of the story. Stick with us all season for coverage, scouting insights, and updates.

— DannyZHoops