NBA European Exhibition Matches Kick Off with Grizzlies vs Magic
The NBA European Tour 2026 is set to bring excitement as the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic face off in two regular-season games. The tour marks the NBA's return to Europe, with the first game taking place on January 15, 2026, at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, marking the NBA's debut regular-season game in the country[1][2][3][4].
Three days later, the teams will meet again at The O2 in London, a city with a rich history of hosting NBA games[1][2][3][4]. This game will be the NBA's 10th regular-season game in London since 1993 and the 19th NBA game in the UK overall.
The tour is part of a three-year NBA European slate, with additional matches planned in Manchester (Co-op Live) and Paris (Accor Arena) for 2027, and further games in Berlin and Paris in 2028[1][2][3][4]. The teams for the 2027 and 2028 games are yet to be announced.
The Memphis Grizzlies, led by stars such as Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., will be playing their fifth and sixth European games, but their first time in Berlin and London. The Orlando Magic roster includes key German players Franz Wagner, Mo Wagner, and Tristan Da Silva, which partly explains their involvement[3][4].
Berlin will be hosting its first ever regular-season NBA game, while London will be hosting its 10th regular-season NBA game since 1993. Manchester will host its first NBA regular-season game in 2027, and Paris has hosted five regular-season NBA games since 2020[2][3].
Community engagement activities will accompany the games, including youth basketball clinics, coach and referee development, and fan interaction events as part of the NBA Cares program[1].
The NBA has a history of international games, including exhibition and regular-season matches in cities such as London, Paris, and earlier games in Germany. However, this tour marks an expansion with Berlin hosting a first official regular-season game[1][2][3][4].
In other NBA news, the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons will square off in Mexico City on Nov. 1 for regular season games[6].
| Year | Date | Teams | Location | Notes | |-------|---------------|-------------------------|------------------------|------------------------------------| | 2026 | Jan 15 | Memphis Grizzlies vs Orlando Magic | Uber Arena, Berlin | First NBA regular-season game in Germany | | 2026 | Jan 18 | Memphis Grizzlies vs Orlando Magic | The O2, London | 10th regular-season NBA game in London | | 2027 | TBD | TBD | Co-op Live, Manchester | First regular-season NBA game in Manchester | | 2027 | TBD | TBD | Accor Arena, Paris | Regular-season NBA games continue | | 2028 | TBD | TBD | Berlin & Paris | Further NBA international games |
Ticket sale details and exact pricing for 2026 games are yet to be announced but are expected to follow similar models to previous international NBA events, offering varied pricing tiers including premium and more affordable seats[5].
[1] NBA.com [2] The Guardian [3] ESPN [4] BBC Sport [5] Sportico [6] NBA.com
The Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic will face off in two NBA regular-season games during the NBA European Tour 2026. This tour marks the NBA's return to Europe, with the first game taking place in Berlin, Germany, and the second in London, UK. Berlin will be hosting its first ever regular-season NBA game, while London will be hosting its 10th regular-season NBA game. The NBA has a dedicated slate for European games, with additional matches planned in Manchester and Paris in 2027 and further games in Berlin and Paris in 2028. The Orlando Magic roster includes key German players, which partly explains their involvement in the tour. Fans interested in attending these games can expect ticket sale details and pricing to be announced shortly.
