25 Mar 2024
ANTWERP (Belgium) - Antwerp will be host city of the FIBA 3x3 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 3x3 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 3x3 event. In 2022, the city was the setting for the FIBA 3x3 World Cup. Serbia’s men and France’s women crowned themselves World Champions at the time. Like the Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup, the FIBA 3x3 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 3x3 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. “3x3 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 3x3 Europe Cup 2026: “After the overwhelming success of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup on a vibrant and packed Groenplaats in 2022, the question was not if, but when we would bring the next 3x3 top event to Antwerp. With the FIBA 3x3 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 3x3 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 3x3 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 3x3 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 3x3 is certainly very popular among young people. Just look at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup we organized in Antwerp in 2022.”
Jan Gesquière, President of Basketball Flanders: “We are once again delighted to bring a great 3x3 event to Flanders. After the success of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022, the recent success of the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 and the rise of 3x3 in Flanders, we are looking forward to giving 3x3 basketball a new impetus with the FIBA 3x3 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 3x3 basketball to continue to flourish in Flanders. Our preparations for this FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2026 have already begun, with ongoing initiatives such as Girls Got Game, 3x3 Club Tour and Crelan 3x3 Masters taking place in the coming months. Moreover, we will continue to invest in the development and promotion of 3x3 in the run-up to the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2026.”