NBA to Return to UK with London Game in 2026 and Manchester Debut in 2027

The NBA will return to the United Kingdom for the first time since 2019, staging two regular-season games in London and Manchester as part of its expanding European schedule.

London’s O2 Arena will host the Orlando Magic against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, 18 January 2026. The fixture marks the league’s first appearance in the capital since the Washington Wizards defeated the New York Knicks in January 2019, when London hosted NBA games annually from 2011 to 2019.

Manchester will then welcome the league for the first time with a regular-season game at the newly built Co-op Live in 2027. The teams involved will be announced ahead of that season. The city last hosted NBA action in 2013, when the Oklahoma City Thunder faced the Philadelphia 76ers in a pre-season game at the AO Arena.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan hailed the news, saying: “London is now the undisputed sporting capital of the world and the NBA coming to The O2 in January 2026 will further cement our global status.”

Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham welcomed the announcement for his city: “This is great news for the city-region and is an exciting opportunity for us to see some of the best basketball players in the world on our doorstep.”

Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, added: “Manchester once again has shown what a magnificent draw it is for major events, and we are thrilled to welcome the NBA back to our city.”

The NBA confirmed it will host two games in Europe in each of 2026, 2027, and 2028. Alongside London, Berlin’s Uber Arena will stage a match in 2026. In 2027, Paris and Manchester will share hosting duties, while in 2028, games will return to Berlin and Paris.

The announcement comes at a time when British presence in the NBA is stronger than ever. OG Anunoby (New York Knicks), Tosan Evbuomwan (Brooklyn Nets), and Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs) are active players, while Xavier Williams will make his debut with the Boston Celtics later this year. Belfast-born CJ Fulton also featured for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the summer league, keeping him in contention for a roster spot.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver to discuss the league’s growth in the UK. The NBA is also exploring, in partnership with FIBA, the creation of a professional men’s European league, potentially involving permanent franchises in London, Manchester, Berlin, and Paris.

With basketball ranking as the second most-played team sport in the UK and boasting around eight million fans, the return of regular-season games signals the NBA’s renewed commitment to a growing British market.