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13 February 2026  2 min read

Masters to become part of GB performance pathway as FIBA introduces official competition   

This follows FIBA’s Central Board announcing its formal recognition of the masters age category on 4 December 2025, adding it to their official cadre of global competitions.

The inaugural championship - the FIBA Masters Open - will take place in Greece from 4-12 July 2026, in the host cities of Corinth and Loutraki. It is an exciting new instrument in FIBA's long-term participation strategy, that fosters inclusivity and serves to strengthen its vision of one, global basketball community.

FIBA announcement

Masters basketball, known globally as maxibasketball, is, for the time being, self-funded by its participants or sponsors, so does not call on NGB funding.

However FIBA has encouraged their 200+ member federations to embrace the masters community, advocating competition and lifelong activity as well as highlighting the wider social and health benefits that ongoing inclusion in sport brings. Great Britain is one of the first member federations at the forefront of this development. 

From 2026/27, selection and preparation of official British teams competing in the FIBA Masters Open, and other suitable championships, will be facilitated by the GB Maxibasketball national programme. The governing body will endorse one GB team per masters age category and further information about the planned national masters team training programme can be found HERE.

Expressions of interest in open trials for the FIBA Masters Open Championship 2027 will be invited during the summer. All masters players, coaches and support personnel are welcome. In the meantime, Great Britain will signal its early support for FIBA with the GB Maxibasketball Men's 50+ team set to compete in the inaugural  FIBA Masters Open 2026.