Belgrade challenges Athens with enhanced bid for 2026 EuroLeague Final Four
The race to host the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four has intensified as Belgrade submitted an upgraded bid of €9 million, surpassing Athens’ €8.5 million proposal for Europe’s top basketball club event.
The Serbian capital’s renewed offer marks a significant increase from its initial €7.5 million bid, signaling a strong push to bring the prestigious tournament back to Belgrade after it stepped aside this year in favor of Abu Dhabi—the first non-European city to host the Final Four.
Athens, backed by the Greek government, submitted its proposal earlier this week to host the event at the OAKA Stadium, home of Panathinaikos, a club with deep EuroLeague roots. The city last hosted the Final Four in 2007, when Panathinaikos clinched the title.
With both bids on the table, EuroLeague officials have delayed their final decision by one week, allowing more time for deliberation.
The competition underscores not just sporting prestige, but economic and tourism interests for the host city, with significant exposure and fan engagement expected across Europe.
