The sixth season of the Basketball Africa League is officially locked in, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of its most expansive editions yet.
Announced on 26 February 2026 from Dakar, Senegal, the league confirmed its 12 participating teams and full group phase schedule, with South Africa set to host the opening tip-off on 27 March at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.
This year’s lineup signals a strong growth moment for the BAL, with five first-time participants joining the fold, including the league’s first-ever team from Tanzania and debut clubs from Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia.
A Season Spanning Three Countries
The 2026 campaign will feature 42 games played across three host cities.
The Kalahari Conference tips off in Pretoria from 27 March to 5 April. The Sahara Conference follows from 24 April to 3 May at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco. The season will culminate with the Playoffs and Finals from 22 to 31 May at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
Eight teams from across the two conferences will advance to the Kigali playoffs, keeping the race tight from the opening whistle.
New Faces, Returning Champions
Among the headline additions is Dar City, making history as the first BAL representative from Tanzania. First-time participants JCA Kings from Côte d’Ivoire, Maktown Flyers from Nigeria, Johannesburg Giants from South Africa and Club Africain from Tunisia also enter the competition for the first time.
They join established contenders including 2024 BAL champions Petro de Luanda from Angola, the only club to qualify for all six BAL seasons, and 2023 champions Al Ahly from Egypt.
The full list of participating teams includes:
Kalahari Conference and Sahara Conference Teams
Johannesburg Giants (South Africa)*
Fath Union Sport Rabat (FUS Rabat; Morocco)
Al Ahly Ly (Libya)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball Club (APR; Rwanda)
ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal)
Dar City (Tanzania)*
Club Africain (Tunisia)*
Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya)
JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire)*
Petro de Luanda (Angola)
Maktown Flyers (Nigeria)*
*First-time BAL participant
Seven national league champions from Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia automatically qualified, while five additional teams secured their spots through the Road to the BAL tournaments hosted by FIBA Africa between October and December 2025.
Opening Night in Pretoria
The season opener on 27 March will see APR face Al Ahly Ly at 4:00 p.m. CAT, followed by a prime-time clash between the Johannesburg Giants and Dar City at 7:00 p.m. CAT.
Tickets for the Kalahari Conference group phase in Pretoria are already on sale via Ticketmaster South Africa. Fans who secure tickets will also gain access to the BAL Fan Zone at each arena, expanding the experience beyond the court.
With new territories entering the competition and established champions returning to defend their status, the 2026 BAL season is not just about basketball. It is about the continued rise of a league positioning itself as one of the continent’s leading sport and entertainment properties.