BUCHAREST (Romania) – The FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 returns to Romania as Bucharest prepares to host the world’s best 3×3 basketball teams on October 10-11.
The second edition of the World Tour Bucharest stop features a 16-team field led by World No. 1 Ub (SRB), with Miami (USA), defending winners Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED), Baskets Bonn (GER) and a host of other top contenders ready to battle for another World Tour title.
With nine of the top 10 ranked players in the 2026 season expected to take the court, fans can look forward to two days of high-level 3×3 basketball as the race toward the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 continues.
Here’s everything you need to know before the action gets underway.
Where is the event?
The FIBA 3×3 World Tour Bucharest 2026 will take place at ParkLake Shopping Center. With a strong connection to the discipline, the Romanian capital has established itself as a key destination on the international 3×3 basketball calendar, having hosted several major FIBA 3×3 events, including the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup, the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Final and the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup.
Backed by a vibrant local 3×3 basketball scene and a proven track record of hosting international competitions, Bucharest is ready to welcome the world’s best teams for another showcase of fast-paced, high-level halfcourt action.
When is it?
The action takes place across Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11.
🔸 Saturday, October 10 – World Tour Qualifying Draw and Pool Games
🔸 Sunday, October 11 – World Tour Knockout Games and Finals
Saturday will see teams battle for places in the Main Draw and begin their pool campaigns, before the competition moves into the knockout stages and title decider on Sunday.
Who are the teams?
Sixteen teams feature in the Bucharest seedings, with established FIBA 3×3 World Tour contenders and ambitious challengers from across the globe competing for the title.
World No. 1 Ub (SRB) enter as the top seed, followed by Miami (USA) and defending champions Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED). Baskets Bonn (GER) round out the top four, with Antwerp (BEL), Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), Toulouse (FRA) and DeQing (CHN) completing the top eight.
The rest of the field features Fuengirola (ESP), Hangzhou Jingwei (CHN), Taipei WanBao (TPE), Lausanne (SUI), Phoenix (USA), Kaunas VDU (LTU), Cluj (ROU) and Dubai (UAE).
With FIBA 3×3 World Tour winners, international champions and emerging contenders across the field, the competition promises plenty of intriguing matchups from the opening games.
Pools
Qualifying Draw A: Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED), Lausanne (SUI), Phoenix (USA)
Qualifying Draw B: Fuengirola (ESP), Taipei WanBao (TPE), Dubai (UAE)
Main Draw
Pool A: Ub (SRB), Hangzhou Jingwei (CHN), Kaunas VDU (LTU)
Pool B: Miami (USA), DeQing (CHN), Cluj (ROU)
Pool C: Baskets Bonn (GER), Toulouse (FRA), QD A
Pool D: Antwerp (BEL), Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), QD B
(See the Full Team Seedings list for more information)
How does the competition work?
The Bucharest field features six teams entering the Qualifying Draw for two places in the Main Draw.
The Qualifying Draw is split into two groups of three teams, with the winner of each group advancing. Those two qualifiers join the 10 directly seeded teams to form a 12-team Main Draw, divided into four pools of three teams.
Teams will battle within their respective pools, with the top two finishers in each pool advancing to the Quarter-Finals.
From there, it’s win-or-go-home 3×3 basketball. Sunday’s Quarter-Finals lead into the Semi-Finals and ultimately the Final, where one team will be crowned FIBA 3×3 World Tour Bucharest 2026 winner.
Who won last year?
Amsterdam RABOBANK claimed the inaugural FIBA 3×3 World Tour Bucharest title in 2025, finishing ahead of Liman (SRB) and Riffa (BRN).
The Dutch side return in 2026 as the third seed, looking to defend their crown and add another World Tour victory to their season. They will, however, start their journey in the Qualifying Draw.
With the defending champions back in the field, the question is whether Amsterdam can repeat their success or another contender will emerge on top in Romania.
Which players should you watch?
Bucharest will feature nine of the top 10 ranked players in the 2026 season, bringing together some of the biggest names in international 3×3 basketball.
Bucharest will feature nine of the top 10 ranked players in the 2026 season, led by World No. 1 Strahinja Stojacic of Ub. The man many call ‘Doctor Strange’ arrives fresh off leading Ub to a second-place finish at WT Deqing and will be looking to guide the Serbian powerhouse to its third World Tour stop win of the season. Close behind him in the rankings are Worthy de Jong of Amsterdam RABOBANK, who led his team to the WT Vienna title earlier this year, and Fabian Giessmann of Baskets Bonn, whose three World Tour victories in Amsterdam, Lausanne and Debrecen have made him one of the standout performers of the season.
Miami’s Henry Caruso also arrives in strong form after helping his team win the WT Zadar stop and several Challengers this season. Dennis Donkor will be one to watch after earning MVP honors while leading Antwerp to the WT Deqing title, while Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy’s Nauris Miezis brings the pedigree of a FIBA 3×3 World Cup and Europe Cup 2026 champion. Toulouse’s Lucas Ugolin, meanwhile, made 13 two-pointers at WT Deqing to finish second in the category and help his team secure third place.
Reigning World Cup champion Francis Lacis completes this group of players to watch. The DeQing star will be looking to help his team bounce back from a difficult stretch and make a statement in Bucharest.
With so much individual talent on display, the tournament offers plenty of potential game-changers, from the world’s top-ranked player to proven champions eager to make another statement.
(See the Full Players to Watch feature for more)
Why does Bucharest matter?
Bucharest is more than another stop on the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 calendar. Romania’s capital has a long-standing connection to the sport, having hosted several major FIBA 3×3 competitions across different age groups and formats.
The return of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour for a second edition reinforces the city’s place on the international 3×3 basketball map, bringing elite teams and players to local fans and giving the Romanian basketball community another opportunity to experience the sport at its highest level.
The tournament also comes at an important point in the 2026 season. With the FIBA 3×3 World Tour continuing through Macau, Dubai, Zaisan, Manama and Hong Kong before the season-ending Final in Rio de Janeiro, teams will be looking to build momentum and collect valuable results as the campaign progresses.
In Bucharest, the stakes are clear: a World Tour title, valuable ranking points and another chance to make a statement against the best in the game.
How can you follow?
Stay locked in with all the action, highlights and behind-the-scenes content by following @FIBA3x3 across social platforms.
Official hashtags: #3x3WTBucharest #3x3WT
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.
Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.
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