Tip of the day – The Final Four returns to Athens after 19 years

• May 22, 2026

The Greek capital is taking over from Abu Dhabi and Yas Island as the host of the event, hosting the EuroLeague Final Four for the second time in its history
Athens is buzzing with excitement for the EuroLeague Final Four, as from today, May 22, through Sunday, May 24, the Telekom Center Athens is hosting Europe’s premier basketball tournament. Olympiacos is vying for the fourth European title in its history, with Fenerbahçe as its first hurdle in tonight’s semifinal (6:00 p.m.).

The Greek capital takes over from Abu Dhabi and Yas Island as host of the event, hosting the EuroLeague Final Four for the second time in its history since 2007. The OAKA, now known as the Telekom Center Athens, has been completely renovated to meet the tournament’s needs. With a capacity of 19,443 spectators, the arena has been decked out in the event’s colors, with the Final Four logo and the slogan “F4GLORY” prominently displayed throughout the venue.

The Final Four schedule

The curtain rises today at 6:00 p.m. (Novasports Prime) with the first semifinal, where Olympiacos will face Sarunas Jasikevicius’s Fenerbahce, the 2025 European champion and defending titleholder.

Three hours later, at 9:00 p.m. (Novasports Prime), the Spanish showdown between Real Madrid and Valencia will take place. Real Madrid enters as the most successful team in the tournament’s history with 11 titles, while Valencia is making its debut appearance in the Final Four.

The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, at 9:00 p.m. Unlike previous editions, there will be no third-place game. The final day’s schedule will open with the Adidas Next Generation Tournament final at 6:00 p.m., where the top Euroleague youth team will be crowned.

Strong turnout of fans from across Europe

Athens is expected to welcome thousands of basketball fans, with Olympiacos supporters making a strong showing in the stands. Approximately 10,000 tickets have found their way into “red-and-white” hands for the semifinal against Fenerbahçe.

On the Turkish team’s side, about 4,500 fans are expected, while Valencia and Real Madrid will be represented by approximately 1,000 and 550 supporters, respectively.

Fan Zone at Zappeion with controlled access

A key part of the side events is the Fan Zone set up at Zappeion. The area will be open on May 22 and 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., while on the day of the final it will remain open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission will be via a reservation system, with a maximum capacity of 1,500 people at any given time. Occupancy will be monitored in real time, and there will be a continuous police presence and a special crowd control plan in place in case of high attendance.