Basketball Africa League to Open Sixth Season in Pretoria

PRETORIA – The Basketball Africa League (BAL) will tip off its sixth season on March 27, 2026, returning to South Africa for the opening phase of a competition that has quickly become one of the continent’s most visible and commercially successful sporting properties.

The season will begin at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria and conclude on May 31 with the BAL Finals at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. In between, Rabat, Morocco, will host the second group phase, reinforcing the league’s model of rotating games across key African markets while building regional basketball hubs.

According to the league, the 2026 season will feature 12 club teams from 12 African countries, competing in 42 games across the three host cities.

How the 2026 season will work

For the first time, the 12 teams will be split into two conferences of six teams each. The Kalahari Conference will play its group phase in Pretoria from March 27 to April 5, while the Sahara Conference will take place in Rabat from April 24 to May 3 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex.

Each team will face the other five teams in its conference once, resulting in a 15-game group phase per conference. The top eight teams across both conferences will advance to the playoffs, which will be staged in Kigali from May 22 to May 31.

Ticket registration has already opened, with fans encouraged to register their interest via the league’s official website.

The decision to open the season in Pretoria underscores South Africa’s growing role in the BAL ecosystem. While the country has long been a powerhouse in football and rugby, basketball has been steadily building momentum, driven by increased youth participation, private investment and the visibility created by the BAL.

BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall said that returning to South Africa, Morocco, and Rwanda reflects both the strong sporting cultures and rapidly expanding basketball systems in those countries.

“The BAL continues to inspire fans across the continent and drive opportunities and global recognition for African talent,” Fall said, adding that the league is increasingly focused on delivering a high-quality on-court product alongside a strong fan experience.

Beyond the court

Since its launch, the BAL has positioned itself as more than a basketball competition. The league has deliberately blended sport with African music, fashion and lifestyle, turning game days into broader cultural events. The 2026 season will continue that approach, with celebrity appearances and entertainment programming planned across all three host cities.

Off the court, the league will also roll out development and social impact initiatives in South Africa, Morocco, Rwanda, as well as in Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. These will include youth clinics, coaching and refereeing programmes, literacy and education projects, and media training initiatives.

A key focus remains BAL4HER, the league’s platform aimed at advancing gender equality in African sport. Through camps and workshops for young women, BAL4HER has become a central pillar of the league’s social impact strategy.

FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave said the league’s continued growth highlights the importance of structured pathways such as the Road to the BAL, which allows clubs from across the continent to compete for a place in the league.

“Entering the sixth season with such momentum is a testament to the BAL’s influence on players, clubs and communities,” Manave said.

A league with growing global reach

The BAL’s commercial and broadcast footprint has expanded rapidly. The 2025 season reached audiences in 214 countries and territories, in 17 languages, and set a new attendance record of more than 140,000 fans. Across NBA and BAL digital platforms, the league generated over 1.2 billion social media impressions, underlining its growing relevance beyond Africa.

On the court, competitive balance has also improved. Libya’s Alahli Tripoli claimed the 2025 BAL title, becoming the first Libyan club to lift the trophy, following earlier champions from Angola, Egypt and Tunisia.

Rwanda Development Board will return as a foundational partner for the 2026 season, with additional partners including Afreximbank, Air Senegal, Amazon Web Services, Castle Lite, RwandAir and others.

The BAL has yet to announce the 12 participating teams for the 2026 season, but expectations are high that the next campaign will further cement the league’s role as a launchpad for African basketball talent and a platform for continental sports business.