The eyes of the basketball world turn to Greece this weekend as the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four officially tips off at the newly renovated Telekom Center Athens (OAKA). Running from May 22 to May 24, the tournament returns to the historic Greek capital amid unprecedented fan fervor, tight security, and a monumental shift in the competition’s format.
In a highly anticipated decision, EuroLeague officials confirmed that this year’s tournament will be the first in modern history to completely eliminate the traditional third-place playoff match. Long criticized by coaches and players as an unnecessary physical burden following a semifinal defeat, the bronze-medal game has been scrapped, leaving the entire weekend’s focus squarely on the ultimate prize.
The action begins on Friday evening with a powerhouse clash between local favorites Olympiacos Piraeus and defending champions Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul. Olympiacos, powered by reigning regular-season MVP Sasha Vezenkov, punched their ticket to a fifth consecutive Final Four by sweeping Monaco, and they will look to harness a fierce hometown crowd. However, they face a disciplined Fenerbahçe squad led by tactical mastermind Šarūnas Jasikevičius, who is aiming to secure back-to-back EuroLeague titles after winning in Abu Dhabi last year.
The late-night semifinal features an all-Spanish showdown steeped in drama. Perpetual heavyweights Real Madrid, led by veteran icon Sergio Llull making his historic 20th Final Four appearance, will take on tournament Cinderella Valencia Basket. Valencia pulled off a miraculous playoff comeback, rallying from an 0-2 deficit to stun Athens’ own Panathinaikos Aktor 3-2, reaching the Final Four for the first time in club history.
With thousands of traveling fans descending on Athens, Greek Police have deployed nearly four thousand officers to ensure safety across the city. For those without tickets, the tournament has established an expansive, interactive Fan Zone at the historic Zappeion in central Athens.
