The Basketball Africa League (BAL) officially launched its sixth season on March 28, 2026, with the Nile Conference group phase tipping off at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. The season opener featured a match between last year's finalists, Al Ahly of Egypt and Petro de Luanda of Angola.
A total of 12 club teams from across Africa are competing in the 2026 season, divided into the Nile Conference and Sahara Conference. The top four teams from the initial group phases will advance to the BAL Playoffs and Finals, scheduled to be held in May.
The league, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the NBA, continues to be a major platform for developing basketball talent on the continent. The 2026 season marks the third consecutive year that Kigali has hosted the league's opening games and playoffs.
