FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup coming to Antwerp in 2026

ANTWERP (Belgium) –   Antwerp will be host city of the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup in 2026. The tournament will take place over three days in the first half of September. The exact dates and city locations will be announced later.

The FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026 will see men’s and women’s teams from 12 countries competing for the European title. It is the second time in a few years that Antwerp has been chosen to host a major international 3×3 event. In 2022, the city was the setting for the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. Serbia’s men and France’s women crowned themselves World Champions at the time. Like the Crelan FIBA 3×3 World Cup, the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026 will also be organized by Golazo.

Kamil Novak, Executive Director Europe at FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, has high hopes for the new top tournament in Antwerp in 2026: “Antwerp, with its rich history and vibrant culture, provides the perfect setting for the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup. We are excited about what promises to be a fantastic tournament!” 

“We are very pleased to bring another major championship to Flanders,” says Michel Francken, CEO Golazo Events Belgium. “3×3 is an urban sport in which Golazo has been investing for more than a decade together. After the wonderful World Cup at Groenplaats, we are convinced to be adding a nice sequel with this European Championship in 2026.”

Antwerp’s Mayor Bart De Wever is also looking forward to the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026: “After the overwhelming success of the FIBA 3×3 World Cup on a vibrant and packed Groenplaats in 2022, the question was not if, but when we would bring the next 3×3 top event to Antwerp. With the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026, we put Antwerp even more on the map of the basketball world and strengthen our image as sports capital of Flanders.”

“Basketball is the sport of the moment,” agrees Councillor for Sport Peter Wouters. “The people of Antwerp are under the spell of the hoop and we want to keep it that way. That’s why, in the run-up to the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026, we will be putting a lot of effort into an extensive support program to enthuse and encourage as many Antwerp citizens as possible to (re)discover 3×3 basketball. Our city is a welcoming and fertile ground for this dynamic, fascinating and at the same time accessible urban team sport. So the European Championship is coming home here.”

The FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026 fits into a growing list of top sports events coming to Flanders,” says Flemish Minister for Sport. “We are angling for these events, because watching sports makes you take part in sports. When people in Flanders can enjoy exciting top-class sport close to home, it has an inspiring effect. Basketball is increasingly alive and 3×3 is certainly very popular among young people. Just look at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup we organized in Antwerp in 2022.”

Jan Gesquière, President of Basketball Flanders: “We are once again delighted to bring a great 3×3 event to Flanders. After the success of the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2022, the recent success of the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 and the rise of 3×3 in Flanders, we are looking forward to giving 3×3 basketball a new impetus with the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026. This event not only promises to offer an intense sports experience, but will also increase our young people’s involvement in the sport and allow 3×3 basketball to continue to flourish in Flanders. Our preparations for this FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026 have already begun, with ongoing initiatives such as Girls Got Game, 3×3 Club Tour and Crelan 3×3 Masters taking place in the coming months. Moreover, we will continue to invest in the development and promotion of 3×3 in the run-up to the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026.”