The eleventh season of the Basketball Champions League will culminate in a highly anticipated draw that will take place in the Swiss town of Mies.
Draw Details and Schedule
A total of 54 clubs will learn their fate, with 30 teams already secured a spot in the Regular Season and the remaining 24 battling for the final places through two Qualification Round Tournaments.
Those Qualification Round Tournaments are scheduled to unfold between September 14 and 20, 2026, providing a compact window for teams to earn their berths.
Once the draw is completed, the Regular Season is slated to begin on October 6, 2026, featuring eight groups of four teams each, each group shaping the path to the Play‑In series.
Group Structure and Restrictions
The draw will not only assign groups for the Regular Season but also determine the match‑ups for the Qualification Round Tournaments, ensuring that the competition’s structure is fully mapped out early.
A notable feature of the Regular Season stage is the country protection rule, which prevents clubs from being placed in the same group as another team from their own nation, adding a strategic layer to the draw.
Play‑In and Knock‑Out Phases
In the weeks that follow, the second‑ and third‑placed teams from adjacent groups will meet in best‑of‑three Play‑In series, a format designed to keep the competition dynamic and give additional teams a chance at European glory.
The Basketball Champions League, the governing body behind the tournament, will oversee the entire process, while partners such as Ameresco SUNEL contribute to the event’s logistical and sustainability ambitions.