MIES (Switzerland) - The stage is set for another thrilling season of the FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League as the full calendar for the 2026 edition has officially been confirmed.
The competition will once again bring together some of the world’s brightest young talents, with conferences scheduled across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific throughout the summer.
The 2026 season will feature U23 and U21 teams competing for qualification spots to the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026 in Wuhan, China on September 15-19.
Europe will once again host multiple conferences, including events in Lithuania, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia and Romania. Vilnius will host the opening European conference from June 1-3 before returning for a second stop on June 16-18. Riga, Vienna, Szolnok, Mariánské Lázně, Bratislava, Debrecen and Bucharest are also among the confirmed host cities for the European leg of the competition.
Outside Europe, the Youth Nations League will span the globe with events scheduled in Gaborone, Monastir, Mombasa, Asuncion, Maipú, Cangzhou, Singapore, Tangshan, Petaling Jaya and Nouméa.
The Asia SEA conference host city and exact dates will be confirmed at a later stage, with the event set to take place in Malaysia between mid-July and the end of August.
Conference winners from the Nations League 2026 will qualify for the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026, unless already qualified. China’s men’s and women’s teams qualify automatically as hosts, while Lithuania men and Netherlands women earned automatic qualification as reigning champions.
The FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League continues to serve as one of the premier development pathways for young players aiming to break onto the global 3x3 stage, with several current stars having previously competed in the event before transitioning to the professional circuit and national team success.
The competition also offers additional incentives, with the top-performing National Federations at the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026 earning opportunities to access the FIBA 3x3 Men’s Pro Circuit and FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series 2027.
More details regarding rosters, player registration and event logistics will be shared with participating National Federations ahead of the competition.
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About FIBA 3x3
3x3 basketball is FIBA’s official urban discipline and one of the fastest-growing Olympic sports. It is the most thrilling urban sport in the world. Played on a half-court with a 12-second shot clock, 3x3 basketball is a 10-minute sprint where the first team-21 wins.
The sport’s competition structure includes the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series, and the FIBA 3x3 World Cup and continental Zone Cups and a Champions Cup. The discipline made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 and returns at Paris 2024 and LA 2028.
FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup
The FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup is the premier global stage for the next generation, featuring national teams made up of emerging young talent. It bridges development pathways with elite performance, preparing rising stars for the World Cup, Women’s Series, World Tour and ultimately the Olympic stage.
FIBA