2025–26 Basketball Champions League

Basketball Champions League
Season2025–26
DatesQualifying:
23–28 September 2025
Competition proper:
7 October 2025 – 10 May 2026
TeamsCompetition proper: 32
Total: 53 (from 30 countries)
2026–27

The 2025–26 Basketball Champions League will be the 10th season of the Basketball Champions League (BCL), a European professional basketball competition for clubs launched by FIBA.

Unicaja are the defending champions.[1]

Team allocation

A total of 53 teams from 30 of the 50 FIBA Europe member associations are set to participate in the 2025–26 Basketball Champions League.[2] The country ranking based on the country coefficients is used to determine the number of participating teams for each country:[3]

  • All countries, if they entered, each have at least one team qualify.[4]
  • The winners of the 2024–25 Basketball Champions League are given an additional entry if they do not qualify for the 2025–26 Basketball Champions League through their domestic league.[5]
  • The organiser may grant access to the League through the attribution of up to 4 invitations (wild cards) to the Regular Season or to the Qualification Rounds.[5]
  • If one or more clubs do not use their right to participate in the Basketball Champions League, the organiser may decide to allocate the respective place(s) to other clubs of the same or other country.[5]

Country ranking

.It takes into account their performance from 2022–23 to 2024–25.[6]

Country ranking for 2025–26 Basketball Champions League
Rank Country Coeff. Teams
1  Spain 97.70 4+1
2  Turkey 65.95 3+1
3  France 65.58 2+1
4  Israel 65.33 2+0
5  Greece 65.00 3+1
6  Germany 54.75 3+1
7  Czech Republic 49.50 1+0
8  Italy 43.92 2+1
9  Lithuania 38.00 1+1
10  Hungary 36.00 1+1
11  Portugal 34.00 1+1
12  Belgium 33.50 1+1
13  Bosnia and Herzegovina 31.00 1+0
14  Latvia 27.00 1+0
15  Poland 21.00 1+1
16  Serbia 9.50 1+0
17  Denmark 9.00 0+1
Rank Country Coeff. Teams
18  Slovakia 7.00 0+1
19  Switzerland 7.00 0+1
20  Estonia 6.00 0+1
21  Netherlands 5.00 0+1
22  Romania 5.00 0+1
23  Sweden 5.00 0+0
24  Cyprus 4.00 0+1
25  Finland 4.00 0+1
26  Kosovo 4.00 0+1
27  Great Britain 3.00 0+0
28  Austria 2.00 0+0
29  Ukraine 2.00 0+0
30  Georgia 2.00 0+1
31  Bulgaria 2.00 0+1
32  North Macedonia 1.00 0+1
33  Montenegro 1.00 0+1
34  Azerbaijan 1.00 1+0

Teams

The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round:

  • TH: Title holders
  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.: League positions of the previous season
Qualified teams for 2025–26 Basketball Champions League (by entry round)[2]
Regular season
Spain La Laguna Tenerife (3rd) Greece Promitheas Vikos Cola (4th) Israel Bnei Penlink Herzliya (5th) Latvia VEF Rīga (1st)
Spain Unicaja (4th)TH Greece Karditsa Iaponiki (5th) Italy Trapani Shark (3rd) Lithuania Rytas (2nd)
Spain Joventut Badalona (6th) Turkey Tofaş (5th) Italy Pallacanestro Trieste (6th) Poland Legia Warszawa (1st)
Spain Dreamland Gran Canaria (7th) Turkey Mersin (6th) Azerbaijan Sabah (1st) Portugal Benfica (1st)
Germany MLP Academics Heidelberg (3rd) Turkey Galatasaray (7th) Belgium Filou Oostende (1st) Serbia Spartak Office Shoes (2nd)
Germany Fitness First Würzburg Baskets (4th) France Cholet (5th) Bosnia and Herzegovina Igokea m:tel (1st)
Germany Alba Berlin (7th)[Note GER] France Le Mans (6th) Czech Republic ERA Nymburk (1st)
Greece AEK (3rd) Israel Hapoel Netanel Holon (4th) Hungary NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbányász (1st)
Qualifying rounds
Belgium Windrose Giants Antwerp (6th) France Élan Chalon (7th) Kosovo Trepça (1st) Portugal Porto (2nd)
Bulgaria Rilski Sportist (1st) Georgia (country) Kutaisi 2010 (1st) Lithuania Juventus (6th) Romania CSM CSU Oradea (2nd)
Cyprus Petrolina AEK Larnaca (1st) Germany Löwen Braunschweig (5th) Montenegro SC Derby (2nd) Slovakia Patrioti Levice (1st)
Denmark Bakken Bears (1st) Greece PAOK mateco (6th) Netherlands Heroes Den Bosch (1st) Spain UCAM Murcia (9th)
Estonia Kalev/Cramo (1st) Hungary Falco Szombathely (2nd) North Macedonia Pelister (6th) Switzerland Fribourg Olympic (2nd)
Finland Karhu Kauhajoki (2nd) Italy Pallacanestro Reggiana (7th) Poland Start Lublin (2nd) Turkey Bursaspor (10th)
Notes
  1. ^
    Germany (GER): Alba Berlin got a wild card.[7]

Referees

A total of 54 officials are set to work on the 2025–26 season in Basketball Champions League:[8] After the 2024–25 season, twelve referees were replaced by new ones. Newcomers are marked by *.

Round and draw dates

The schedule of the competition will be as follows.[9][10]

Schedule for 2025–26 Basketball Champions League
Phase Round Draw date First leg Second leg Third leg
Qualifying rounds 2 July 2025 19–25 September 2025
Regular season Round 1 7–8 October 2025
Round 2 14–15 October 2025
Round 3 21–22 October 2025
28–29 October 2025
Round 4 4–5 November 2025
11–12 November 2025
Round 5 18–19 November 2025
9–10 December 2025
Round 6 16–17 December 2025
Play-ins 6 January 2026 8 January 2026 13–14 January 2026
Round of 16 Round 1 20–21 January 2026
Round 2 27–28 January 2026
Round 3 3–4 February 2026
Round 4 10–11 February 2026
Round 5 10–11 March 2026
Round 6 17–18 March 2026
Play-offs Quarter-finals 20 March 2026 31 March–1 April 2026 7–8 April 2026 14–15 April 2026
Final Four Semi-finals 8 May 2026
Final 10 May 2026

Qualifying rounds

The 24 teams will face in three qualifying round tournaments, one of which belong to the Champions Path, which contains the domestic league champions, and the other two to the League Path, which contains the rest of the teams that vie for qualify to the regular season. In each path, teams will be seeded ordered by the club ranking and by the country ranking for clubs that have not yet participated in the competition. The three winners of the finals will then qualify for the regular season and will join the 29 directly qualified teams in the main draw. The rest of the teams will qualify, if they apply, to the FIBA Europe Cup.

Draw

The draw for the qualifying rounds was held on 2 July 2025 at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.[11]

Champions path

Pot 1
Team Pts
Denmark Bakken Bears 9
Slovakia Patrioti Levice 7
Pot 2
Team Pts
Netherlands Heroes Den Bosch 5
Estonia Kalev/Cramo 5
Pot 3
Team Pts
Kosovo Trepça 2
Bulgaria Rilski Sportist 2
Pot 4
Team Pts
Georgia (country) Kutaisi 2010 1
Cyprus Petrolina AEK Larnaca 1

League path

Pot 1
Team Pts
Spain UCAM Murcia 111
Hungary Falco Szombathely 41
Italy Pallacanestro Reggiana 39
Greece PAOK mateco 35
Pot 2
Team Pts
Turkey Bursaspor 14
Switzerland Fribourg Olympic 7
Finland Karhu Kauhajoki 3
Romania CSM CSU Oradea 3
Pot 3
Team Pts
Lithuania Juventus 2
Belgium Windrose Giants Antwerp 2
France Élan Chalon 65.58
Germany Löwen Braunschweig 54.75
Pot 4
Team Pts
Portugal Porto 34.00
Poland Start Lublin 21.00
North Macedonia Pelister 1.00
Montenegro SC Derby 1.00

Tournament 1

The tournament 1 will be played on September 21–25, 2025.

 
Quarter-finals
September 21–22
Semi-finals
September 23
Final
September 25
 
          
 
 
 
 
Slovakia Patrioti Levice 90
 
 
 
Cyprus Petrolina AEK Larnaca 69
 
Slovakia Patrioti Levice 81
 
 
 
Estonia Kalev/Cramo 69
 
Estonia Kalev/Cramo 93
 
 
 
Bulgaria Rilski Sportist 84
 
Slovakia Patrioti Levice (2OT) 100
 
 
 
Denmark Bakken Bears 98
 
Denmark Bakken Bears 84
 
 
 
Georgia (country) Kutaisi 2010 81
 
Denmark Bakken Bears 82
 
 
 
Netherlands Heroes Den Bosch 77
 
Netherlands Heroes Den Bosch 80
 
 
Kosovo Trepça 68
 

Source: FIBA

Tournament 2

The tournament 2 will be played on September 19–23, 2025.

 
Quarter-finals
September 19
Semi-finals
September 21
Final
September 23
 
          
 
 
 
 
Greece PAOK mateco 79
 
 
 
Montenegro SC Derby 67
 
Greece PAOK mateco 73
 
 
 
Turkey Bursaspor 92
 
Turkey Bursaspor 81
 
 
 
Germany Löwen Braunschweig 74
 
Turkey Bursaspor 77
 
 
 
Belgium Windrose Giants Antwerp 58
 
Italy Pallacanestro Reggiana 99
 
 
 
North Macedonia Pelister 87
 
Italy Pallacanestro Reggiana 78
 
 
 
Belgium Windrose Giants Antwerp 81
 
Romania CSM CSU Oradea 71
 
 
Belgium Windrose Giants Antwerp 79
 

Source: FIBA

Tournament 3

The tournament 3 will be played on September 20–24, 2025.

 
Quarter-finals
September 20
Semi-finals
September 22
Final
September 24
 
          
 
 
 
 
Spain UCAM Murcia 100
 
 
 
Poland Start Lublin 84
 
Spain UCAM Murcia 81
 
 
 
Lithuania Juventus 71
 
Finland Karhu Kauhajoki 89
 
 
 
Lithuania Juventus 103
 
Spain UCAM Murcia 88
 
 
 
France Élan Chalon 96
 
Hungary Falco Szombathely 79
 
 
 
Portugal Porto 83
 
Portugal Porto 79
 
 
 
France Élan Chalon 100
 
Switzerland Fribourg Olympic 80
 
 
France Élan Chalon 107
 

Source: FIBA

Regular season

The regular season will be played by 32 teams divided into eight groups of four in which 29 teams receive direct spots plus the three qualifying round tournaments winners. The regular season will begin on 7 October and will conclude on 17 December 2025. In each group, teams will play against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format where the eight group winners from each regular season group will qualify directly to the round of 16. Moreover, the second-placed and third-placed will qualify to the play-ins, where the series winners will qualify for the round of 16, while the remanining last-placed teams will be eliminated after the regular season.

A minimum of 18 countries will be represented in the regular season which will involve up to nine domestic league champions. Continental powerhouses like Alba Berlin, Joventut Badalona and Dreamland Gran Canaria will join the league after their previous stage in Euroleague Basketball competitions,[12][13][14] others like Karditsa Iaponiki, Mersin and Trapani Shark will make their debut appearance in international competitions.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification VIL HDB PRO WAR
1 Lithuania Rytas 6 4 2 564 534 +30 10 Advance to round of 16 116–90 98–79 93–85
2 Germany MLP Academics Heidelberg 6 3 3 502 507 −5 9 Advance to play-ins 92–83 82–62 67–74
3 Greece Promitheas Vikos Cola 6 3 3 481 507 −26 9 111–95 89–83 72–85
4 Poland Legia Warszawa 6 2 4 468 467 +1 8 77–79 83–88 64–68
Source: FIBA

Group B

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification ALB CHA NYM SAB
1 Germany Alba Berlin 6 5 1 549 483 +66 11 Advance to round of 16 76–81 94–78 106–82
2 France Élan Chalon 6 5 1 539 513 +26 11 Advance to play-ins 91–100 97–84 84–71
3 Czech Republic ERA Nymburk 6 1 5 512 546 −34 7 75–88 95–97 93–65
4 Azerbaijan Sabah 6 1 5 486 544 −58 7 76–85 87–89 105–87
Source: FIBA

Group C

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification CJB CHO HOL BUR
1 Spain Joventut Badalona 6 6 0 531 455 +76 12 Advance to round of 16 91–73 97–95 94–67
2 France Cholet 6 3 3 539 524 +15 9 Advance to play-ins 87–89 92–103 109–77
3 Israel Hapoel Netanel Holon 6 3 3 531 521 +10 9 65–81 92–94 84–74
4 Turkey Bursaspor 6 0 6 441 542 −101 6 68–79 72–84 83–92
Source: FIBA

Group D

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification LLT TOF TPS HER
1 Spain La Laguna Tenerife 6 4 2 519 474 +45 10 Advance to round of 16 80–70 80–83 108–85
2 Turkey Tofaş 6 3 3 495 511 −16 9 Advance to play-ins 64–81 99–93 90–86
3 Italy Trapani Shark 6 3 3 521 516 +5 9 78–84 89–91 101–88
4 Israel Bnei Penlink Herzliya 6 2 4 509 543 −34 8 94–86 82–81 74–77
Source: FIBA

Group E

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification GSM WUE TS IGO
1 Turkey Galatasaray MCT Technic 6 5 1 534 474 +60 11 Advance to round of 16 89–83 79–80 94–82
2 Germany Fitness First Würzburg Baskets 6 4 2 480 452 +28 10 Advance to play-ins 74–99 78–63 70–68
3 Italy Pallacanestro Trieste 6 2 4 501 519 −18 8 90–91 77–90 115–90
4 Bosnia and Herzegovina Igokea m:tel 6 1 5 452 522 −70 7 65–82 56–85 91–76
Source: FIBA

Group F

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification AEK OLA PAT VEF
1 Greece AEK Betsson 6 5 1 494 431 +63 11 Advance to round of 16 91–77 99–88 95–64
2 Hungary NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbányász 6 3 3 451 439 +12 9 Advance to play-ins 80–69 84–54 77–76
3 Slovakia Patrioti Levice 6 3 3 461 467 −6 9 69–71 73–71 85–69
4 Latvia VEF Rīga 6 1 5 411 480 −69 7 53–69 76–62 73–92
Source: FIBA

Group G

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification UNI MSK KAR OOS
1 Spain Unicaja 6 6 0 575 435 +140 12 Advance to round of 16 97–66 115–84 102–80
2 Turkey Mersin 6 4 2 415 404 +11 10 Advance to play-ins 77–100 81–73 84–76
3 Greece Karditsa Iaponiki 6 2 4 461 519 −58 8 55–72 72–80 82–78
4 Belgium Filou Oostende 6 0 6 563 656 −93 6 73–89 86–104 93–95
Source: FIBA

Group H

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification DGC SPA MSB SLB
1 Spain Dreamland Gran Canaria 6 6 0 518 425 +93 12 Advance to round of 16 77–62 73–68 87–63
2 Serbia Spartak Office Shoes 6 3 3 469 462 +7 9 Advance to play-ins 83–93 74–73 99–69
3 France Le Mans 6 2 4 484 460 +24 8 88–90 76–61 89–69
4 Portugal Benfica 6 1 5 429 553 −124 7 61–98 74–90 93–90
Source: FIBA

Play-ins

The Play-ins will take place from 6 to 14 January 2026. The teams classified in second and third place in their respective groups of Basketball Champions League, went to the Play-ins. The winners will advance to the round of 16. First legs will be played on 6 January, second legs on 8 January and if required, third legs will be played on 13–14 January.

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
MLP Academics Heidelberg Germany 0–2 Czech Republic ERA Nymburk 63–72 71–78
Tofaş Turkey 2–1 France Cholet 89–75 86–105 84–82
Hapoel Netanel Holon Israel 1 Italy Trapani Shark 38–51
Élan Chalon France 2–0 Greece Promitheas Vikos Cola 93–78 92–82
Fitness First Würzburg Baskets Germany 2–1 Slovakia Patrioti Levice 89–92 74–56 92–71
NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbányász Hungary 1–2 Italy Pallacanestro Trieste 62–82 89–80 86–87
Mersin Turkey 0–2 France Le Mans 65–92 83–113
Spartak Office Shoes Serbia 0–2 Greece Karditsa Iaponiki 82–89 75–84

Notes:

^1 According to Article 14.5.4 of the Basketball Champions League Competition Regulations, a club that loses any game by forfeit or by default in the Play-Ins and the Play-Offs shall lose the series.[15]

Round of 16

The Round of 16 will take place from January 20 until March 18, 2026. The groups will be formed by the winners of each Regular Season Group and by eight Play-Ins winners. The 16 teams will be divided in 4 groups, 4 teams each. The first two of each groups advance to the quarter-finals.

Group I

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification GSM MSB VIL HOL
1 Turkey Galatasaray MCT Technic 4 3 1 352 337 +15 7 Advance to quarter-finals 83–90 Mar 17 86–81
2 France Le Mans 4 3 1 355 334 +21 7 81–94 78–72 Mar 17
3 Lithuania Rytas 4 2 2 369 346 +23 6 85–89 Mar 11 106–81
4 Israel Hapoel Netanel Holon (E) 4 0 4 345 404 −59 4 Mar 9 85–106 98–106
Updated to match(es) played on February 11, 2026. Source: Round of 16 Standings
(E) Eliminated

Group J

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification AEK ALB TOF KAR
1 Greece AEK Betsson (Q) 4 4 0 359 305 +54 8 Advance to quarter-finals 88–80 Mar 11 88–73
2 Germany Alba Berlin (Q) 4 3 1 327 318 +9 7 Mar 17 69–60 84–80
3 Turkey Tofaş (E) 4 1 3 333 335 −2 5 90–93 90–94 Mar 17
4 Greece Karditsa Iaponiki (E) 4 0 4 294 355 −61 4 62–90 Mar 10 79–93
Updated to match(es) played on February 10, 2026. Source: Round of 16 Standings
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group K

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification CJB UNI CHA WUE
1 Spain Joventut Badalona 4 3 1 340 309 +31 7 Advance to quarter-finals 71–66 107–75 Mar 10
2 Spain Unicaja 4 2 2 338 318 +20 6 Mar 16 111–82 90–85
3 France Élan Chalon 4 2 2 328 370 −42 6 85–77 Mar 9 86–75
4 Germany Fitness First Würzburg Baskets 4 1 3 323 332 −9 5 83–85 80–71 Mar 16
Updated to match(es) played on February 11, 2026. Source: Round of 16 Standings

Group L

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification DGC LLT NYM TS
1 Spain Dreamland Gran Canaria 4 3 1 304 281 +23 7 Advance to quarter-finals 72–70 Mar 16 71–77
2 Spain La Laguna Tenerife 4 3 1 327 289 +38 7 Mar 11 104–80 84–82
3 Czech Republic ERA Nymburk 4 1 3 290 325 −35 5 64–67 55–69 Mar 10
4 Italy Pallacanestro Trieste 4 1 3 314 340 −26 5 70–94 Mar 16 85–91
Updated to match(es) played on February 11, 2026. Source: Round of 16 Standings

Individual awards

MVP of the Group Phase

Player Club Ref.
Gabon Chris Silva Greece AEK Betsson

Team of the Group Phase

Player Team Ref.
Spain Ricky Rubio Spain Joventut Badalona
Cameroon Jeremiah Hill France Élan Chalon
United States Will Cummings Turkey Galatasaray MCT Technic
Australia Jack White Turkey Mersin
Gabon Chris Silva Greece AEK Betsson

MVP of the Play-ins

Player Club Ref.
United States Brandon Jefferson Greece Karditsa Iaponiki

Team of the Play-ins

Player Team Ref.
United States Brandon Jefferson Greece Karditsa Iaponiki
Canada Nate Darling France Élan Chalon
United States Charles Thompson Germany Fitness First Würzburg Baskets
United States Jahmi'us Ramsey Italy Pallacanestro Trieste
Lithuania Marek Blaževič Turkey Tofaş

References

  1. ^ "Final Four MVP Carter leads Unicaja to back-to-back BCL titles". www.fiba.basketball. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Basketball Champions League Season 10 lineup announced". www.championsleague.basketball. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Basketball Champions League Presentation - Access List Principles". www.championsleague.basketball. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Basketball Champions League Regulations". Basketball Champions League. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Competition Regulations 2024-25 (PDF). FIBA. 31 May 2024. p. 5. Retrieved 19 June 2024. The Organiser may grant access to the BCL through the attribution of up to four (4) invitations to the Regular Season or to the Qualification Rounds.
  6. ^ "Country coefficients 2024–25". bcl-access-list.fiba.webpont.com. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  7. ^ "ALBA BERLIN to compete in the Basketball Champions League in 2025-26". www.fiba.basketball. 7 May 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Referees". Basketball Champions League.
  9. ^ "Competition System - Basketball Champions League | FIBA Basketball". www.championsleague.basketball. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  10. ^ "2025-26 Regulations" (PDF). assets.fiba.basketball. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  11. ^ "All you need to know ahead of BCL Season X draw". www.championsleague.basketball. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  12. ^ Sim, Josh (8 May 2025). "Alba Berlin swap EuroLeague for Fiba's BCL as NBA Europe looms". SportsPro. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Joventut Badalona reportedly considers joining FIBA Basketball Champions League". basketnews.com. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Gran Canaria officially joins BCL". basketnews.com. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Statement following game between Hapoel Netanel Holon and Trapani Shark". Basketball Champions League. January 6, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  16. ^ "The missing ingredient: Chris Silva named MVP of the Group Phase". Basketball Champions League. December 30, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  17. ^ "Team of the Group Phase: Hill, Rubio, Cummings, White, Silva". Basketball Champions League. December 29, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  18. ^ "The Barometer: Brandon Jefferson named MVP of the Play-Ins". Basketball Champions League. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  19. ^ "Team of the Play-Ins: Jefferson, Darling, Thompson, Ramsey, Blazevic". Basketball Champions League. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 17, 2026.