By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Registration has opened for the EPIC 2026 performance congress, scheduled for April 20, 2026, in Kaunas, Lithuania, with a focus on optimizing basketball player health and performance. The event will feature insights from experts, including Ioannis Sfairopoulos, Antonio Santo, and Paulius Jankunas, on topics like load management and injury prevention.
Per the press release: “The EuroLeague Players Association (ELPA) is proud to announce the return of EPIC— the ELPA. Performance International Congress on April 20, 2026, in Kaunas, Lithuania. Registrations are now open.
Held under the theme MANAGING THE MODERN BASKETBALL PLAYER: OPTIMIZING HEALTH, PERFORMANCE, AND CAREER LONGEVITY, EPIC 2026 will bring together basketball coaches, performance directors, medical staff, psychologists, scientists, and club executives for one intensive day of expert-led dialogue, research, and real-world insights.
The summit takes place at a pivotal moment for European professional basketball, as the conversation around player welfare, scientific support, and long-term career management continues to grow in importance at the highest levels of the game. EPIC exists to ensure that conversation happens between the people best placed to advance it.
About EPIC
EPIC is ELPA’s annual flagship congress dedicated to basketball performance. Launched to create a space where science meets practice, the summit brings together the leading voices in the field, from club performance staff and medical teams to academic researchers and club executives, for a full day of sessions, round tables, and peer exchange.
ELPA — the EuroLeague Players Association — represents professional basketball players competing in the EuroLeague and across Europe’s top competitions. Player welfare, working conditions, and long-term health and career development sit at the core of everything ELPA does. EPIC is the natural extension of that mission: a dedicated platform where the experts who support players every day can share knowledge, challenge assumptions, and drive standards forward. This year’s edition is organised in partnership with LPKA, the Lithuanian Basketball Players Association, and takes place in Kaunas, Lithuania’s basketball capital and home of BC Žalgiris Kaunas.
Program Overview
EPIC 2026 features seven sessions covering the most pressing topics in elite basketball performance today:
● Performance
● Team Staff Wellness
● EuroLeague Post-Game Nutrition
● Players’ Career Longevity
● Training Load Data
● Return to Play After an Injury
● The Future of Elite Basketball
Each session combines expert-led presentations with round table discussions, ensuring that the insights shared are grounded in both the latest research and the day-to-day realities of working in professional basketball.
Guest Speakers
EPIC 2026 will feature speakers drawn from across the European basketball ecosystem:
● Ioannis Sfairopoulos: EuroLeague Head Coach; Vice President, EuroLeague Head Coaches Board
● Bostjan Nachbar: Managing Director, ELPA
● Igor Jukic: Professor, University of Zagreb; Director, Croatian Olympic Committee High Performance Centre; ELPA PAB
● Julio Calleja: Professor, University of the Basque Country; ELPA PAB
● Mar Rovira: Professor, Tecnocampus University; Head of Mental Performance, RCD Espanyol; ELPA PAB
● Antonio Santo: Performance Nutritionist, Real Madrid Basketball; ELPA PAB
● Gediminas Navickas: General Manager, BC Žalgiris Kaunas
● Francesco Cuzzolin: Director of Performance, Reyer Venezia; ELPA PAB
● Jaime Sampaio: Professor, University of Trás-os-Montes; ELPA PAB
● Baris Kocaoglu: MD, Professor, Acibadem University; Turkish Basketball Federation Team Doctor; ELPA PAB
● Paulius Jankunas: President, BC Žalgiris Kaunas
More speakers will be announced soon.
Speaker biographies and the detailed program are available at www.elpa-epic.com.
Quote
“EPIC 2026 brings together an exceptional mix of local and international experts — from practitioners, scientists, and coaches to club executives who cover every aspect of what European basketball performance looks like today. The program is built for everyone working in the game, whether you are a student just entering the field or a senior professional at the highest level. We look forward to welcoming you in Kaunas.” – Anže Blažič, Director of Operations, ELPA.
Registration for EPIC 2026 is now open. The summit is open to performance staff, coaches, medical professionals, psychologists, scientists, and club executives working in elite basketball.
IN-PERSON TICKET: 89€
ONLINE TICKET: 69€
STUDENT RATE: 29€
Students may register at the discounted rate by emailing their student ID to info@elpa.basketball.
Register at: www.elpa-epic.com/register
About ELPA
The EuroLeague Players Association (ELPA) is the collective voice of professional basketball players competing in the EuroLeague. Founded in 2018, ELPA works to protect and advance player welfare, working conditions, and career development. ELPA negotiated the first-ever collective agreement between players, clubs, and a European basketball league, and continues to drive meaningful change across the sport.
www.elpa.basketball · info@elpa.basketball
About LPKA
LPKA — the Lithuanian Basketball Players Association — is the representative body for professional basketball players in Lithuania. LPKA is a proud partner of EPIC 2026 and plays a central role in bringing the summit to Kaunas.
For interviews, press passes, or additional information:
media@elpa.basketball · www.elpa-epic.com”