Basketball Africa League to tip off 6th season on March 27

DAKAR, SENEGAL — The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has announced that its sixth season will begin on Friday, March 27, at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, and conclude with the 2026 BAL Finals on Sunday, May 31, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. This season will feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African nations competing in 42 games across Pretoria, Rabat, Morocco, and Kigali.

 

The 12 teams will be split into two conferences of six. Each conference will hold a 15-game group phase where teams will play against each of the other five teams in their conference once. The Kalahari Conference’s group phase will run from March 27 to April 5 in Pretoria, while the Sahara Conference’s group phase will take place from April 24 to May 3 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat. Eight teams from both conferences will advance to the Playoffs in Kigali from May 22 to May 31. Fans can register for ticket information at BAL.NBA.com.

 

BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall stated, “Returning to South Africa, Morocco, and Rwanda for our sixth season underscores the vibrant sports cultures and emerging basketball landscapes in these countries. The BAL continues to inspire fans across the continent and promote opportunities for African talent on a global stage. We eagerly anticipate welcoming fans to our games in all three locations and delivering thrilling competition and energy both on and off the court as the season begins.”

 

FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave noted, “As we get ready for the sixth season of the Basketball Africa League, we can celebrate the league’s growing influence in enhancing the game throughout the region. The Road to the BAL remains vital for broadening access and increasing competition across Africa. Entering this season with such momentum highlights the BAL’s impact on players, clubs, and communities. We are excited for another incredible year of basketball.”

 

Beyond the games, the BAL will celebrate the intersection of basketball and African culture through music, fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment, featuring appearances from prominent celebrities and influencers. The league will also work with partners to offer basketball development and social impact initiatives in the host countries as well as Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. These initiatives will include youth, coach, and referee clinics, children’s literacy and educational programs, media networking opportunities, and a series of camps and workshops for young women through BAL4HER, the initiative promoting gender equality within African sports.

 

The Rwanda Development Board will continue as a Foundational Partner of the BAL, alongside other partners such as Afreximbank, Air Senegal, Amazon Web Services, Castle Lite, the French Embassy in Senegal, and RwandAir.

 

On June 14, 2025, Libya’s Alahli Tripoli made history by being the first Libyan team to win the BAL Finals, following champions from Angola, Egypt, and Tunisia. The 2025 season reached fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages, set attendance records with over 140,000 attendees, and achieved more than 1.2 billion impressions on NBA and BAL social media platforms.

 

Details about the 12 participating teams and additional information on the 2026 BAL season will be shared later.