Euroleague Season Overview 2025-26

The Euroleague 2025-26 regular season will begin on September 30 and end on April 17. Then, the playoffs will begin, and at the end of May, the Final Four will take place in Athens. The Final Four will be played at the Panathinaikos Arena in Athens, which has a capacity of just over 18,000 spectators.

This year, the Euroleague title will be defended by Istanbul’s Fenerbahce, coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius, which triumphed last year after a seven-year hiatus.

Fenerbahce won the Euroleague for the last and first time in 2016-17. This was the third consecutive Euroleague Final Four in which the defending champions failed to retain their title – Panathinaikos, Real Madrid, and Anadolu Efes had won the league before that.

The number of teams participating in the 2025-26 Euroleague season has increased. This year, 20 teams will compete in the league, up from 18.

Compared to last year’s participants, only Alba Berlin is no longer in the league and will compete in the FIBA Champions League this year. Valencia is returning to the Euroleague, while Hapoel Tel Aviv and BC Dubai are preparing for their debut.

These changes are important for Euroleague predictions, as new and returning teams can impact the season’s outcomes and betting odds.

The Euroleague changed its format in the 2016-17 season, switching to a league system where all teams play each other. Since then, 18 teams have played in the league, and this year the number is set to increase to 20.

The increased number of teams also increases the number of games played – teams will now play 38 games (19 at home and 19 away), and the number of double weeks is also increasing.

Almost all of the same teams as last year remain in the league. Alba Berlin is replaced by Hapoel Tel Aviv, the winner of the European Cup, while BC Dubai and Valencia have received wild cards. Spain will have the most teams in the Euroleague – 4.

All teams playing in the 2025-26 season:

• Turkey: Anadolu Efes, Fenerbahce
• Monaco: AS Monaco
• Spain: Baskonia, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Valencia
• Serbia: Crvena Zvezda, Partizan
• UAE: BC Dubai
• Italy: EA7 Emporio Armani, Virtus
• Germany: Bayern
• Israel: Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Tel Aviv
• France: Asvel, Paris Basketball
• Greece: Panathinaikos, Olympiacos
• Lithuania: Žalgiris

The increased number of Euroleague teams means that we will be able to watch even more games every week. Now, teams will play 38 games in the regular season, followed by the playoffs, the final four, and the final.

Although the number of teams has increased, the format remains unchanged. The top 6 teams will automatically qualify for the TOP 8. The teams in 7th and 8th place will play each other for 7th place, and the losing team will face the winner of the 9th and 10th place match.

The winners of these games will take 8 place and will play against the team that won the regular season in the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals are played to 3 wins, and the winners of the pairs advance to the final four.

The 2 new teams that have joined the Euroleague did not extend the regular season dates, but simply increased the number of double weeks. The first week of the Euroleague will feature a double-header, with the first round played on September 30-October 1 and the second on October 2-3.

The regular season will end on April 17. The playoffs will begin just a few days later, with the quarterfinals starting on April 28. The 2026 Euroleague Final Four will take place on May 22-24 in Athens.
Complete 2025-26 Euroleague schedule:

The increased number of teams and an even stronger league this season will bring many top-level matches. We have selected some of the most interesting matches of the season:

• Real Madrid vs. FC Barcelona – November 7 and January 16
• Partizan vs. Crvena Zvezda – December 12 and April 2
• Fenerbahce vs Anadolu Efes – October 24 and January 29
• Olympiacos vs Panathinaikos – January 2 and March 6
• AS Monaco vs Panathinaikos – October 31 and March 27
• Fenerbahce vs. Panathinaikos – December 16 and February 13
• Olympiacos vs. Fenerbahce – December 4 and January 6
• AS Monaco vs. Olympiacos – October 29 and March 13
• Olympiacos vs Real Madrid – October 2 and April 7
• Panathinaikos vs Real Madrid – November 13 and February 3
• Panathinaikos vs AS Monaco – October 31 and March 27

The 2025-26 EuroLeague will feature 20 teams competing in a full regular season of 38 games, followed by playoffs and the Final Four in Athens from May 22–24, 2026.

The increased number of teams ensures more exciting matchups, high-stakes games, and a clear path to the knockout stages. Basketball fans can follow the action closely and place bets with top bookmakers offering competitive odds and live betting options throughout the season.