The National Basketball Association (NBA) has unveiled plans to host multiple regular-season games internationally from 2026 through 2028. Berlin, London, Manchester, and Paris are the designated cities for these contests. Specifically, the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic are confirmed to play on January 15, 2026, in Berlin, followed by another game in London three days later.
While the participating teams for the 2027 and 2028 international games have not yet been disclosed, the host cities have been confirmed: Manchester and Paris will stage games in 2027, with Berlin and Paris hosting in 2028. These matchups are scheduled for prominent venues such as the Uber Arena in Berlin, The O2 in London, Co-op Live in Manchester, and the Accor Arena in Paris.
George Aivazoglou, NBA Managing Director for Europe and the Middle East, stated that the announcement of regular-season games in Europe over the next three seasons highlights the immense momentum and growing demand for NBA basketball across France, Germany, the UK, and the broader region. He added, “We eagerly anticipate welcoming the Grizzlies and the Magic to Berlin and London and engaging with fans, players, and local communities through these games and the associated events.”
As per NBA statements, the “NBA Berlin Game 2026 presented by Tissot” will be the fourteenth NBA team appearance in Germany since 1984, notably marking the league`s inaugural regular-season game in the country. Similarly, the “NBA London Game 2026 presented by Tissot” will represent the nineteenth occasion an NBA team has played in the UK since 1993, and the tenth regular-season game hosted in London.
These upcoming matches will mark the fifth and sixth European appearances for the Grizzlies, and their first games ever in Berlin and London. The team boasts talent like two-time All-Star Ja Morant and former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. The Magic, set to play their 14th and 15th games outside the U.S. and Canada, feature several international players, including German brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner, and second-year German forward Tristan da Silva.
These initiatives are integral to the NBA`s broader strategy for global basketball expansion. Currently, the NBA and FIBA are in an “exploratory phase” regarding the establishment of a new basketball league in Europe. Initial proposals suggest a 16-team league spanning various countries. Potential participants include established EuroLeague teams such as Real Madrid, Barca Barcelona, ASVEL Basket from Villeurbanne, and Fenerbahçe Istanbul.
In March, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, speaking alongside FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, emphasized that it is “early days” for this initiative. “Literally nothing has been agreed upon yet. We are still in the modeling and exploratory stage,” Silver stated.
Silver had previously acknowledged the disparities in playing styles between the NBA and FIBA. NBA games are 48 minutes long, while FIBA games are 40 minutes, with numerous other distinctions in their rulebooks. He indicated that any future plan would likely align with FIBA`s standards, stating, “we want to honor the tradition of European sport.”
