Bengaluru to host FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia from Oct 20 to 25

Bengaluru will host the FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia 2026 from October 20 to 25 at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, bringing elite international club competition to the city. Six leading women's basketball clubs from across the continent will participate in the tournament, marking a major milestone for the sport in the country.

This marks the first time the premier Asian club competition is being held outside China and the first time an Indian city has staged a FIBA Asia-level club tournament. The event provides domestic fans and young athletes an opportunity to witness high-level international play and offers Indian competitors direct exposure to elite regional standards.

The competing field features domestic league champions from four major Asian basketball nations alongside wildcard and host entries. The participating teams comprise Denso Iris of Japan, Cheongju KB Stars of South Korea, Sichuan Yuanda Meile of China, Cathay Life Tigers of Chinese Taipei, Akari Sparks of the Philippines, and Indian Railways representing the host nation as national champions.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara announced the details during a press briefing at the Karnataka Olympic Bhavan on Monday. He stated that the state government was fully committed to strengthening Bengaluru's position as a prominent sporting destination and developing the necessary infrastructure for international events.

The tournament is being organised by the Karnataka State Basketball Association under the aegis of the Basketball Federation of India, with backing from the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Karnataka, and FIBA Asia. K. Govindaraj serves as the president of FIBA Asia and secretary of the Karnataka State Basketball Association.

Bengaluru holds an extensive history of hosting continental basketball events, having previously staged multiple editions of the FIBA Women's Asia Cup and youth championships since 2004. Matches during the upcoming six-day window will follow a daily schedule at the indoor venue within the Kanteerava complex.

State sports officials noted that promotional efforts and logistical arrangements are finalized to welcome visiting delegations and manage team arrivals ahead of the opening games on October 20. Further announcements regarding match timings and ticketing will be released by the organising committee prior to the tournament.