NBA Confirms Return to the UK with Games in London and Manchester

The NBA is set to make a long-awaited return to the United Kingdom, announcing regular-season games in London and Manchester as part of its European expansion plans for 2026 and 2027.

London’s O2 Arena will play host to the first NBA game on British soil since 2019, when the Orlando Magic face off against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, 18 January 2026. This marks a revival of top-tier basketball in the capital, which regularly welcomed NBA matchups between 2011 and 2019.

In 2027, Manchester will stage its first-ever regular-season NBA fixture at the Co-op Live arena, with the teams involved yet to be announced. The city last hosted an NBA event in 2013, when the Oklahoma City Thunder took on the Philadelphia 76ers in a pre-season clash at what is now the AO Arena.

Local leaders hailed the development as a major win for UK sports fans. London Mayor Sadiq Khan called the announcement a boost to the capital’s reputation, saying: “London is now the undisputed sporting capital of the world, and the NBA coming to The O2 in 2026 will further cement our global status.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, added: “This is great news for the city-region and a fantastic opportunity to witness some of the world’s best basketball talent right here in Manchester.”

Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, echoed those sentiments, calling it a sign of the city’s growing appeal for major international events.

NBA Expands European Footprint

The upcoming games in the UK are part of a broader strategy to grow the NBA’s presence in Europe. In addition to the London fixture in 2026, Berlin’s Uber Arena will host a game on 15 January between the same two teams, Orlando and Memphis.

In 2027, Manchester and Paris are each set to host one game. Then in 2028, both Berlin and Paris will again stage fixtures. Full team line-ups for the 2027 and 2028 games will be confirmed before each season gets underway.

The 2025-26 NBA season is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 21 October.

NBA Europe Schedule

2026

15 January: Orlando Magic vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Uber Arena, Berlin

18 January: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Orlando Magic – O2 Arena, London

2027

One match in Paris (Accor Arena)

One match in Manchester (Co-op Live)

2028

One match in Berlin (Uber Arena)

One match in Paris (Accor Arena)

British Players on the Rise

The league’s return coincides with a promising era for British basketball talent. Nottingham native Amari Williams, 23, was selected by reigning NBA champions the Boston Celtics in the second round of this year’s draft. He is set to become the fourth British player currently active in the league.

Williams joins OG Anunoby (New York Knicks), Tosan Evbuomwan (Brooklyn Nets), and Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs), though Sochan represents Poland internationally. Additionally, Belfast-born CJ Fulton impressed during the NBA Summer League with the Minnesota Timberwolves and could earn a roster spot in the near future.

NBA Eyes Permanent European League

Earlier this year, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver revealed plans to work with FIBA to explore the creation of a professional men’s league across Europe. Discussions are ongoing for a semi-open league featuring up to 16 teams, with potential permanent franchises in cities like London, Manchester, Berlin, and Paris.

Basketball continues to grow rapidly in the UK, now ranking as the nation’s second-most popular team sport in terms of participation, with around 1.5 million weekly players. The NBA also enjoys a strong following among British Gen Z audiences, with an estimated eight million fans across the country.