The NBB 2026 Opening Tournament begins this Tuesday in Belo Horizonte, with Flamengo defending their title in a classic rivalry matchup against Botafogo.
The city of Belo Horizonte becomes the epicenter of national basketball this Tuesday, October 6th. The Dona Salomé Arena will host the highly anticipated NBB 2026 Opening Tournament, a competition bringing together eight of the country’s top teams for a high-level warm-up before the official start of the Novo Basquete Brasil regular season.
The highlight of the opening day is the clash between Flamengo and Botafogo, scheduled for 11:30 AM (Brasilia time). The matchup brings two storied franchises face-to-face, rekindling the rivalry atmosphere seen in this year’s Campeonato Carioca, where the Rubro-Negro emerged victorious.
Competition format and expectations
The tournament is designed to test roster depth, with an intense group stage spanning October 6, 7, and 9. After a strategic break on Thursday (8th), Saturday (10th) will be reserved for the final placement games based on group performance, culminating in the grand final at 7:30 PM.
“The tournament serves as a vital barometer for teams looking to fine-tune their systems before the national season begins, acting as a stage to test new personnel and tactical variations under real game pressure.”
Flamengo’s new chapter
Flamengo, the defending champions of the event, step onto the court renewed under the leadership of head coach Demétrius Ferracciú. The “Orgulho da Nação” (Pride of the Nation) squad made significant moves in the transfer market, headlined by the return of stars like Yago Mateus and Didi Louzada, along with new additions such as Douglas dos Santos (known as DG), Yan Djalo, and Luis Montero.
With a core group returning that includes Alexey Borges and Ruan Miranda, the Rio-based team arrives with momentum following a successful series of friendly matches in Uruguay. This preparation is crucial, as the club is also focused on the Campeonato Carioca final against Fluminense, set for the 15th.
Opening day schedule
Beyond the debut of the giants, the opening round promises to stir up the capital of Minas Gerais with three other decisive matchups for Group B and other brackets:
- 11:30 AM: Flamengo vs. Botafogo
- 2:00 PM: Brasília vs. Fluminense
- 5:00 PM: Minas vs. Grupo BT/Clube de Campo de Tatuí
- 7:30 PM: Caxias do Sul vs. Itatiaiuçu Cruzeiro
The main focus of this entire schedule, however, is preparation for the official start of the NBB, slated for October 17th. Flamengo will make their national competition debut the following day, October 18th, hosting Bauru at the Maracanãzinho at 11:00 AM, in what promises to be one of the most competitive season openers in recent years.
