The league returns to the UK with matches planned for 2026 and 2027
The NBA is set to return to the United Kingdom for the first time since 2019, with a regular-season game scheduled in London in 2026 and another in Manchester in 2027. London’s O2 Arena will host a match between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, 18 January 2026.
This will mark the first NBA game in the UK since the Washington Wizards defeated the New York Knicks in January 2019. London previously hosted annual NBA games between 2011 and 2019. Manchester, meanwhile, will host its first regular-season NBA game in 2027 at Co-op Live, with the teams involved to be announced before that season begins.
Growing basketball interest in the UK
The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, welcomed the announcement, saying: “London is now the undisputed sporting capital of the world and the NBA coming to The O2 in January 2026 will further cement our global status.” Similarly, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, called it “great news for the city-region” and an exciting chance to see some of the world’s best basketball players close to home.
Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig added: “Manchester once again has shown what a magnificent draw it is for major events, and we are thrilled to welcome the NBA back to our city.”
In addition to the UK games, the NBA will hold two matches each year in Europe throughout 2026, 2027, and 2028. Berlin will host the other 2026 game, Paris in 2027, and both cities in 2028.
A growing British presence in the NBA
The announcement comes amid growing British involvement in the league. Nottingham-born Amari Williams was recently drafted by the Boston Celtics, making him the fourth active Briton in the NBA. OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks is the most prominent British player, alongside Tosan Evbuomwan of the Brooklyn Nets and Jeremy Sochan of the San Antonio Spurs, who internationally represents Poland. Belfast-born CJ Fulton has also played in the NBA Summer League, potentially leading to a future NBA contract.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently, while London’s Mayor Khan has been in discussions with NBA officials about bringing games back to London and supporting basketball’s growth.
In March 2025, Silver announced plans with FIBA to explore creating a professional men’s basketball league across Europe. The proposed semi-open league could feature up to 16 teams from cities including London, Manchester, Berlin, and Paris.
Basketball is currently the second most popular team sport in the UK, with around 1.5 million weekly participants and an estimated eight million fans nationwide. It is also the most popular sports league among UK Gen Z audiences.
