ANTWERP (Belgium) – The FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 brought Europe's best 3x3 basketball national teams to the heart of Antwerp, but the competition became much more than what happened on the main court. Across three days, the European Championship arena on Groenplaats was sold out, while 60,000 people passed through the fan zone, turning the city centre into a celebration of 3x3 basketball, urban culture and community.
Millions Reached, Millions Engaged
The FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 also delivered a record-breaking digital performance, generating 44.5 million video views, 58.3 million impressions and 2.1 million engagements across FIBA 3x3's digital and social channels.
The figures marked new highs for the Europe Cup across all three key digital metrics, with impressions up more than 50% from 2025. The numbers further underlined the growing reach of 3x3 basketball, connecting fans with the action in Antwerp and extending the impact of the competition far beyond the arena.
Antwerp Takes 3x3 to the City
With the arena situated at Groenplaats in the historic centre of Antwerp, the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Crelan brought the sport directly into the city. Between games, fans could watch freestyle basketball, professional breakdancing and rope-skipping performances, adding a distinctly urban feel to the competition.
The basketball experience also extended beyond the traditional game. A wheelchair basketball mini competition featured four teams at Sint-Jansvliet, with the winners, The Torro's, earning the opportunity to take on the Wheelchair Belgian Lions on the Europe Cup main court.
Elsewhere in the city centre, the event connected with different communities through a corporate 3x3 basketball tournament, the Antwerp 3x3 Streetleague and a shooting competition featuring the nine winners from the Crelan 3x3 Masters qualifiers.
That grassroots pathway had already brought 3x3 basketball to communities across Flanders in the lead-up to the Europe Cup. The Crelan 3x3 Masters featured nine qualifiers in nine Flanders cities before culminating in a final in Antwerp, involving more than 500 teams and 2,000 players. The winners of these competitions participated in the Quest, which took place at the iconic Central Station in Antwerp. The result was an event that connected elite international competition with the people and communities around it.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3x3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3x3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.
Want to learn more about 3x3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3x3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3x3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.
FIBA