Conferences, host cities, format... the major announcements for BAL 2026
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All original articlesThe president of the Basketball Africa League was this Friday in a video conference. As a highlight, the season 6 of the BAL with highly anticipated announcements for this competition which starts on March 27, 2026. It is therefore the Kalahari conference that will launch the season on the Pretoria side in South Africa. Return to two conferences of 6 teams each and Dakar will not host a group phase for the first time since the first season. Other announcements were also made by Amadou Gallo during this online face-to-face meeting with the international press.
Start of season 6 on March 27 in Pretoria
It is therefore in South Africa that the kick-off of this 6th season of the Basketball Africa League will be given. The announcement was made this Friday by the president of the organization during an online press conference. This season 6 therefore begins in Pretoria, the city that hosted the playoffs of season 5. The Kalahari conference kicks off from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, April 5, 2026.
Back to two conferences of 6 teams
For this new season, the BAL has decided to start again with a formula of two conferences. The Kalahari conference in Pretoria, South Africa. And so in Morocco for the 2nd consecutive year as during season 5, the Sahara conference will be held in Rabat at the Prince Moulay Abdellah sports complex (from April 24 to May 3). The 2025 edition had been a real success both on the sporting front with the qualification of the local team for the final phases, and on the popular field with a festive and regularly stocked room.
The first 4 of these two conferences grant each other an accessit for the final phases which return to Kigali, host of the playoffs during the first 4 seasons. The Rwandan capital had hosted one of the three conferences during the late season. It will be at the end of 15 games in each of the conferences where each team competes once against the other 5 for a total of 5 games compared to 6 for season 5. The playoffs scheduled at the Kigali Arena are scheduled from May 22 to 31 next.
Dakar leaves the calendar for this season 6
It was in the pipeline since last season and it has been confirmed. Dakar, host of a conference since season 2, will not host any conference this year. It is therefore Rabat and Pretoria that overtook him. Morocco and South Africa provided more guarantees than the Senegalese authorities. Which explains that the Senegalese fans will not vibrate in the excitement of the Basketball Africa League at the Dakar Arena in Diamniadio.
During this online press briefing, the Senegalese president of BAL reviewed the choices of these three countries for this 6th season.
"The return of BAL in South Africa, Morocco and Rwanda for our 6th season is a testament to the richness of sports culture and the rapid development of the basketball ecosystem in these countries,"
said Amadou Gallo Fall.
"BAL continues to inspire fans across the continent and foster the emergence of African talent and their international recognition. We look forward to welcoming fans to the BAL games in these three markets and sharing with them the incredible competition and energy that reigns on and off the field as soon as the season kicks off.”
In addition to these sports announcements, the organisation has also maintained its socio-educational programmes in the three host countries as well as in Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt. Clinics intended for small categories, coaches and referees of the continent, as well as the AL4HER initiative are also on the program of this 6th season of the BAL.