The VTB United League Board took place in Moscow today. The League’s management, participating teams’ representatives and members of the federations of the playing countries.
The Board approved the list of the teams, the format and regulations of the 2025/26 season.
Participating teams. Eleven clubs will play in the new season of the VTB United League: Avtodor (Russia), Enisey (Russia), Zenit (Russia), Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia), MBA-MAI (Russia), Pari Nizhny Novgorod (Russia), PARMA (Russia), Samara (Russia), UNICS (Russia), Uralmash (Russia), CSKA (Russia).
Format. In the upcoming season, 12 teams will play 4 rounds and have games with each other in the regular season (2 home games and 2 on the road). At the end of the regular season, the 8 best teams in the League will be determined and will advance to the Playoffs. There will be no play-in stage in the upcoming season due to the tight schedule.
In the 2025/26 season, the champion will be determined in the Playoffs: the Quarterfinals will be up to 3 wins, the Semifinals and Finals – up to 4 wins, the 3rd Place Series – up to 3 wins.
New in-season tournament. In addition to the regular season, the VTB League, together with its partner, plans to hold a Cup in which 6 Russian and 2 foreign teams. The Cup games will be from October 2025 to March 2026, with the winner being determined in Final Four. The new Cup will be a pilot project, during which the League, together with its partner, plans to implement new marketing tools.
Cup format: 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 season and 4 in the Final Four.
VTB League SuperCup. For the first time in history, the preseason tournament will be abroad – Belgrade will host VTB League SuperCup. 4 VTB League teams and 4 European clubs will participate. The full list of participants and exact dates will be announced later.
Important dates for the 2025/26 season
VTB League SuperCup: September 2025
VTB League Regular Season: October 1, 2025 – April 22, 2026
In-season Cup: October 7, 2025 – March 26, 2026
Cup Final Four: April 10-12, 2026
VTB League Playoffs: April 25, 2026 – June 20, 2026
VTB League All-Star Game: February 15, 2026.
