NextGen EuroLeague Season to Take Place in Abu Dhabi

The NextGen EuroLeague season is set to take place in Abu Dhabi from February 27 to March 1, 2026, at the cutting-edge Space42 Arena, featuring eight of Europe’s top U18 basketball teams. This exciting tournament will see defending champions U18 Zalgiris Kaunas and record-holders U18 Real Madrid as the standout teams, battling for the chance to secure a spot at the prestigious adidas NextGen Finals, which will be held during the EuroLeague Final Four in Athens, Greece.

The other teams competing in Abu Dhabi include U18 Aris Thessaloniki, U18 AS Monaco, U18 Dubai Basketball, U18 Next Gen Team Abu Dhabi, U18 London Lions, and U18 Valencia Basket.

U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana has already earned its spot at the Finals, having triumphed in the Ulm qualifier. The winners of upcoming qualifiers in Bologna (March 13-15) and Belgrade (March 20-22) will also secure their places in Athens.

The tournament will be divided into two groups, with four teams each. The teams will face off in a round-robin format within their respective groups. The top teams from each group will advance to the championship match on March 1, with additional placement games determining the final standings.

Key Team Highlights:

• U18 Aris Thessaloniki: Competing for the third season in a row, the Greek side previously placed seventh at NextGen Munich with a 2-2 record. They also finished sixth in Abu Dhabi the year before.
• U18 Dubai Basketball: Also making its third appearance, Dubai has yet to secure a win at the NextGen tournament, finishing last in both the 2024 and Ulm qualifiers.
• U18 Monaco: Returning for its second appearance, Monaco will look to improve upon its winless performance in Paris 2024.
• U18 Real Madrid: The Spanish giants are eager to bounce back after a third-place finish at Munich last season, ending their 11-season streak of consecutive tournament wins. Real Madrid holds five continental titles (2015, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) and is seeking its sixth.
• U18 London Lions: Making their tournament debut, the London Lions are also competing in the BKT EuroCup for the third time this season.
• U18 Next Gen Team Abu Dhabi: Now in its fifth season, the team has a strong leadership core, including head coach Dogus Balbay and experienced assistants Massimo Bulleri and Kheeryoung Rhee.
• U18 Valencia Basket: Making their 10th appearance at NextGen, Valencia has consistently performed well, with two Final appearances in 2019 and 2021. After securing second place in Munich last year, they are aiming for another strong finish.
• U18 Zalgiris Kaunas: A powerhouse in the NextGen EuroLeague, Zalgiris is a 24-time participant and the reigning champion, having claimed the title in 2025 after a remarkable victory in Abu Dhabi.

The NextGen EuroLeague season promises to be an action-packed event as these young talents battle for glory and a coveted spot at the prestigious Finals in Athens.