London  — The “A Star Nepal Basketball League 2026,” organised by Nepal Basketball UK in collaboration with A Star Financial Solutions UK and A Star Mortgages UK, is set to kick off on 15 March. According to the organisers, the final match of the League will be held on 4 July 2026. 

A total of 11 men’s teams and 3 women’s teams will compete in this edition. In the men’s category, each team will play 10 league matches. After the league stage, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final will be organised. In the women’s category, each team will play two matches each under a home-and-away system, followed by a final.

Matches from the league stage up to the semi-finals will be held at Feltham Springwest Academy and Aldershot Garrison, while the final will take place at Brunel University, organisers said.

Addressing a press conference held on Monday, Nepal Basketball UK President Rupak Gurung said that the main objective of the tournament is to provide young players with a platform to showcase their talent and to strengthen unity and community ties among the Nepali community in the UK through sports. He added that the league is also being organised in collaboration with the Women’s Ballers Club (WBC).

He expressed gratitude to the main sponsor A Star, as well as BSK Entertainment, Gorkha Construction, Namaste Gurkha, Nepal Food, Anurag Bullion Jewellery and  other sponsors.

Coordinator of the A Star Nepal Basketball League 2026 Coordinator, Sarthak Gurung, stated that five games will be played every Sunday, with the top eight teams advancing to the knockout stage, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final. Gurung, who is also a coach, said that although there were some difficulties during the first year of organising the league, it has now been gaining popularity due to strong community support and the enthusiasm of young players. He also mentioned that Nepal Basketball UK organised an Under-23 tournament in January this year and that they were greatly encouraged by the participation of youths under 18 in that event.

Former Mayor of London Borough of Hounslow, Councillor Bishnu Gurung, said that local councils have been supporting sporting activities to help prevent young people from engaging in substance abuse and violent paths. He noted that sports contribute to maintaining both the physical and mental well-being of young people and congratulated Nepal Basketball League and the A Star Group for organising a tournament that brings together Nepali youths in the UK. He also urged everyone to support such constructive initiatives.

Kumar Gurung, Mortgage and Protection Adviser at A Star Financial Solutions, said that since its establishment in 2011, the company has been providing services such as mortgages, real estate, insurance, and wills to Nepalis and other communities residing in the UK. He added that the company has consistently supported constructive initiatives organised by the Nepali community in the UK.

Min Darlami, Managing Director of A Star Financial Solutions UK, which has been the main sponsor of the league since its inception, said that the company had decided to support  the Basketball League in order to create a platform for Nepali youths in the UK and to support their personality development through basketball. He added that A Star has been continuously supporting initiatives aimed at encouraging young people in the UK.