The international 3×3 basketball circuit continues to expand with new host cities and competitive opportunities for teams around the world. In this context, FIBA confirmed that the city of Málaga will be part of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour calendar in 2026, in a season that will also include new stops on the Challenger circuit. The decision reflects the sustained growth of this basketball format, which in just over a decade has evolved from an emerging discipline into a global phenomenon with a strong urban presence and Olympic projection.

The expansion of the calendar not only brings new cities into the circuit but also consolidates an increasingly broad competitive network connecting tournaments, teams and regions. The new venues across Europe, Asia and the Americas strengthen qualification opportunities for teams aiming to compete at the highest level of 3×3 basketball, creating an ecosystem in which each tournament acts as a gateway to the most prestigious stage of the professional circuit.

Málaga brings the World Tour back to Spain

The inclusion of Málaga as a host city for the FIBA 3×3 World Tour represents a symbolic moment for the development of 3×3 basketball in Spain. It will mark the first time the circuit returns to the country since the stop held in Madrid in 2012, when the format was still beginning to establish itself within the international calendar. More than a decade later, the return highlights how the country has become fertile ground for the growth of the discipline.

The selection of Málaga also reflects the rise of urban basketball and the city’s ability to host international sporting events in open and highly visible spaces. With its sporting tradition, strong connection to basketball and cultural appeal, the Andalusian city positions itself as a new strategic point on the global 3×3 map, expanding the circuit’s presence in Europe and strengthening the relationship between sport and the urban environment.

Challengers expand the pathway to the 3×3 elite

Alongside the expansion of the World Tour, the 2026 calendar of the FIBA 3×3 Challenger will incorporate new host cities, reinforcing the role of these tournaments as one of the pillars of the men’s professional circuit. The Challengers function as high-level qualifying competitions that allow teams to secure places in the Masters tournaments of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour, creating a competitive structure that connects the different stages of the international circuit.

The updated calendar will maintain the same structure previously announced by FIBA, in which each Challenger event awards qualification spots for specific World Tour stops. This system enables teams from different regions of the world to compete for a place on the biggest stages of 3×3, strengthening the diversity of the circuit and fueling a competition that each season brings new cities, emerging talents and new stories within global basketball.