The dust has settled. The speculation has ceased. The list is final. For the 2025-26 season, the EuroLeague will feature exactly twenty clubs, and the landscape remains largely unchanged for the giants of European basketball. The biggest question mark of the off-season has been answered: Bourg, the reigning European Cup champion, will not ascend to the EuroLeague despite calls for financial viability checks on existing members.

Stability Over Shockwaves

Reliable reports from Eurohoops journalist Aris Barkas confirm that the governing body has issued a three-year renewable license to Bourg, securing their spot in the second-tier competition. This decision effectively protects the financial interests of the current EuroLeague structure. Consequently, Monaco and Paris LMD have survived the scrutiny. No relegation. No upheaval. The status quo holds firm.

This means the battle lines for next season are drawn with familiar faces. The powerhouses of Spain remain dominant with Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Valencia Basket, and Baskonia. Italy sends its usual duo from Bologna and Milan. Germany’s Bayern Munich returns, as does Lithuania’s Žalgiris Kaunas. Israel fields both Tel Aviv clubs: Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv. Even the Middle Eastern expansion continues with Dubai maintaining its place.

Belgrade’s Dual Threat

For the Balkans, the news is pure gold. Crvena zvezda and Partizan are both confirmed. Belgrade will once again host two of Europe’s most passionate fanbases in the top flight. The derby rivalry extends beyond the ABA League and into the continental elite. Turkey also keeps its full quota with Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahçe. Greece remains unchanged with Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.

No new entrants. No unexpected exits. Just twenty teams ready to war for the title. The stage is set for another season of high-stakes basketball, where every possession matters and every loss carries weight. The question now shifts from who will play to who will survive the grueling schedule.