The VTB United League Board took place in Moscow today. The League’s management and participating teams’ representatives took part in the meeting.
The Board approved the list of the teams, the format and regulations of the 2026/27 season.
Astana, who missed the 2025/26 season, have returned to the League. Dynamo Vladivostok make their League debut.
Participating teams. Twelve clubs will play in the new season of the VTB United League: Avtodor (Russia), Astana (Kazakhstan), Dynamo Vladivostok (Russia), Enisey (Russia), Zenit (Russia), Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia), MBA (Russia), BETCITY PARMA (Russia), Samara (Russia), UNICS (Russia), Uralmash (Russia), CSKA (Russia).
Nizhniy Novgorod will not take part in the VTB United League in the upcoming season but will compete in the Youth League championship. The Volga club spent 15 seasons in the League, reaching the Playoffs 11 times, the Semifinals twice and the Finals once, where they claimed the silver medal.
Format. In the upcoming season, 12 teams will play a two-stage regular season. This format was previously used in the 2023/24 season. In Stage 1, all teams play each other twice. Based on Stage 1 results, teams are split into Group A and Group B of six clubs each. In Stage 2, teams play each other twice within their group.
All six Group A teams advance directly to the Playoffs. Group B teams finishing 1st through 4th will compete in a play-in, which was not held in the previous season. Each club will play 32 games in the regular season.
The 2026/27 champion will be determined in the Playoffs: as in the last three seasons, the Quarterfinals will be up to 3 wins, the Semifinals and Finals – up to 4 wins. The 3rd Place Series will be up to 2 wins.
WINLINE Basket Cup. In addition to the regular season, the VTB League together with its partner WINLINE will hold an in-season Cup. The Cup games will take place from October 2026 to March 2027, with the winner being determined in a Final Four format. This will be the second edition of the Cup, with the debut tournament held in the 2025/26 season. The full list of participants will be announced later.
The Cup format remains the same: 8 teams will be divided into 2 groups (Group A and Group B) with 4 teams in each group. In the regular season, each team in its group will play 6 games (3 home and 3 on the road) against each of its group rivals. The teams that finish 1st and 2nd in their groups will qualify for the Final Four. There will be 28 games total – 24 in the group stage and 4 in the Final Four.
VTB League SuperCup. The new season will open with the SuperCup, taking place September 14–19, 2026 in Moscow. The full list of participants will be announced later.
