NBA to host games in London and Manchester

For the first time since 2019, the NBA will play in 2026 and 2027 in Manchester before making a return trip to the United Kingdom.

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies will play at London’s O2 Arena.

Since London hosted yearly games between 2011 and 2019, it will be the first NBA game to take place in the UK since the Washington Wizards’ victory over the New York Knicks in January 2019.

The teams involved in Manchester’s Co-op Live will be revealed before the start of the season before the start of the regular-season game will be played for the first time in 2027.

The city’s other significant indoor entertainment complex, known as AO Arena, was where the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers previously played their pre-season game in October 2013.

London’s Mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, stated that the NBA’s arrival to The O2 in January 2026 will further strengthen our position as the undisputed sporting capital of the world.

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

In 2026, 2027, and 2028, the NBA will play two games in Europe.

Berlin and Paris will both host a match in 2026, while Paris will do so in 2027.

Before the start of those seasons, the teams that will play in the 2027 and 2028 matches will be named.

2026

2027

2028

According to what Premier League sources, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Prime Minister Keir Starmer reportedly had a meeting on Wednesday morning.

In September 2024, Mayor of London Khan met with NBA deputy commissioner and COO Mark Tatum to discuss returning games to London. They have remained in touch regularly.

Khan and Silver discussed the return of the NBA to London and the city’s basketball industry earlier this week, according to what it is known.

Amari Williams, 23, was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by Boston Celtics, the team that defeated the Boston Celtics, winning in the 2023-24 draft.

Williams will become the fourth NBA player to make an official start for the Celtics later this year.

The New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby is the league’s most recognizable player, while Brooklyn Nets’ OG Tosan Evbuomwan is their star player.

Although Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs) plays for Poland on a global level, he adds to the list of British NBA players.

CJ Fulton, who was born in Belfast, played for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the summer league, making it possible for him to sign with an NBA team later this year.

The NBA is considering starting a professional men’s league in every European country in collaboration with FIBA, according to NBA commissioner Silver’s announcement in March 2025.

A proposed semi-open league with up to 16 teams that would have permanent clubs in cities like London, Manchester, Berlin, and Paris is currently being considered.

Basketball is currently the second-most-popular team sport in the United Kingdom in terms of participation, with one-and-a-half million people playing on a weekly basis.