By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The AdmiralBet ABA League is expanding to 20 clubs starting from the upcoming 2026–27 season, as announced on Thursday.
The league assembly officially approved the return of Croatian side Cibona and welcomed the debut of Slovakian team Slovan Bratislava, with a new tournament system currently being designed to accommodate the extra teams.
Per the press release: “In the 2026/27 season, 20 clubs will participate in the AdmiralBet ABA League. The members of the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly have adopted a decision for Cibona to return to the regional competition in the forthcoming season, while Slovan Bratislava joins for the first time.
PRESS RELEASE: @kk_cibona and Slovan Bratislava to join AdmiralBet #ABALiga in 2026/27 season.
🔗: https://t.co/lcp5c6x6c4 pic.twitter.com/ByQ0hFFNLx
— AdmiralBet ABA League (@ABA_League) June 18, 2026
In accordance with the increase of the number of participating teams, a competition system for the AdmiralBet ABA League 2026/27 season will be prepared and defined as soon as possible.
We would like to congratulate Cibona upon return to the regional competition, and we welcome Slovan Bratislava into AdmiralBet ABA League.”
The league, established in 2001, has evolved from a regional tournament for former Yugoslavian clubs into a diverse international platform. Originally featuring teams from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia, the league actively drove expansion by welcoming clubs from countries outside the traditional Balkan borders, such as Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Israel, and Romania. This strategic growth culminated in a historic shift with the recent integration of Middle Eastern talent, with Dubai capturing their first championship in just their second season.
Historically, the competition remains dominated by the Belgrade powerhouses, with Partizan and Crvena Zvezda leading the league with the most titles at eight and seven, respectively.
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