Seven Spanish youth programs will compete in the 2026-27 adidas NextGen EuroLeague, featuring a redesigned format that adds preliminary qualification rounds across Europe, according to a report by Gigantes del Basket. The continental under-18 competition brings together 40 programs from 15 countries, divided between direct entries into the qualifying tournaments and new pre-qualifying stages.
Forty Youth Programs Target the Continental Title
The tournament structure splits the 40 participating clubs into two distinct entry tiers. Twenty-six programs secure direct access to the four main qualifying tournaments, while the remaining 14 start their campaigns in the newly introduced pre-qualification rounds. The overall field comprises 17 youth sections tied to EuroLeague clubs, 10 representing BKT EuroCup organizations, and 13 independent clubs and basketball academies.
Rijeka and Vienna host preliminary qualifying rounds
Action begins in Rijeka, Croatia, running from October 23 to 25, 2026. Host side Kvarner CEBA Academy welcomes Split Basketball from Croatia, Bosna BH Telecom from Bosnia and Herzegovina, FMP Belgrade from Serbia, Tofas Bursa from Turkey, Spanish entrants Pablo Laso Academy and Zentro Basket Madrid, and an adidas Select Program team. The winner of the Rijeka tournament advances directly to the qualifying stage in Belgrade.
Vienna, Austria, stages the second pre-qualifying round from November 27 to 29, 2026. Vienna Basketball hosts a group featuring the Abu Dhabi Wildcats, Cholet Basket, the London Lions, Neptunas Klaipeda, Orange1 Bassano, Veolia Towers Hamburg, and another adidas Select Program squad. The victor in Vienna claims a spot at the Paris qualifying stop.
Four Cities Stage Main Qualifying Tournaments
The main qualifying circuit opens in Germany from January 7 to 9, 2027, with FC Bayern Munich serving as host. Munich welcomes Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Spanish clubs Joventut Badalona and Valencia Basket, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Panathinaikos Athens, Pole France INSEP Paris, and the NextGen Team Munich.
Virtus Bologna hosts the second qualifying group from January 21 to 23, 2027. The Italian club entertains domestic rival Umana Reyer Venice, Aris Thessaloniki, Besiktas Istanbul, ratiopharm ulm, Real Madrid, Zalgiris Kaunas, and the NextGen Team Bologna.
Paris Basketball takes over hosting duties for the third qualifying tournament from February 26 to 28, 2027. Armani Olimpia Milan, Dubai Basketball, Spanish duo FC Barcelona and Kids&Us Manresa, Olympiacos Piraeus, NextGen Team Paris, and the Vienna pre-qualification winner make up the field.
Belgrade concludes the qualifying phase from April 2 to 4, 2027, hosted by Crvena Zvezda Belgrade. Local sides Mega Super Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade join Dolomiti Energia Trento, Hapoel Tel Aviv, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, NextGen Team Belgrade, and the winner of the Rijeka pre-qualifying event.
The Path to the Final Four and Beyond
The winner of each of the four main qualifying tournaments secures a berth in the final phase of the 2027 adidas NextGen EuroLeague. Four additional invited teams round out the eight-club field for the championship tournament.
Seven Spanish youth programs join 2026-27 competition
How many Spanish teams are participating in the 2026-27 competition?
Seven Spanish youth programs are confirmed for the tournament. Pablo Laso Academy and Zentro Basket Madrid start in the pre-qualification round in Rijeka, while Joventut Badalona, Valencia Basket, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Kids&Us Manresa enter directly into the main qualifying tournaments.
When and where does the opening tournament of the season take place?
The season opens with the first pre-qualification tournament in Rijeka, Croatia, running from October 23 to 25, 2026, hosted by the Kvarner CEBA Academy.
How are the 40 competing teams distributed across club tiers?
Seventeen of the participating teams are youth sections of EuroLeague clubs, 10 belong to BKT EuroCup organizations, and the remaining 13 come from independent clubs and specialized academies.
What do the winners of the pre-qualification tournaments earn?
The winner of the Rijeka pre-qualifying round earns a spot in the Belgrade qualifying tournament, while the winner of the Vienna pre-qualifying round advances to the Paris qualifying stop.
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