The NBA is set to make its long-awaited return to the United Kingdom, announcing official plans to host games in London and Manchester as part of its expanded European schedule.
The league will return to London’s O2 Arena for the first time since 2019 with a regular-season matchup between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, 18 January 2026.
This will mark the first NBA game in the UK since the Washington Wizards defeated the New York Knicks at the same venue in January 2019, capping a run of annual NBA London games that spanned from 2011 to 2019.
In a historic first, Manchester will host a regular-season NBA game in 2027 at the newly opened Co-op Live Arena.
The teams for that matchup are yet to be confirmed and will be announced ahead of the 2026–27 season. The city last hosted an NBA event in October 2013, when the Oklahoma City Thunder faced the Philadelphia 76ers in a pre-season contest at the then-named Manchester Arena, now known as the AO Arena.
Welcoming the news, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “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.
Councilor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, also expressed excitement:
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 games in the UK are part of a broader NBA initiative to strengthen its European presence. The league will stage two games in Europe each year from 2026 to 2028:
Europe, get ready! ✈️🌍
The NBA will host SIX regular-season games in Europe over the next three years, with games to come in Berlin and London (2026), Manchester and Paris (2027) and Berlin and Paris (2028).
🗞️ https://t.co/4NoauGQOj7 pic.twitter.com/jn5vPeYxWs
— NBA (@NBA) July 30, 2025
The NBA’s 2025–26 season is set to tip off on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, with additional international fixtures expected to be announced as part of the league’s growing global expansion strategy.
