Doha, August 22 (QNA) - The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has unveiled the calendar for the 2026-2027 sports season, outlining the start dates for men's and age-group competitions, as well as the formats for the various tournaments, as part of preparations for the new season.

A statement by the QBF said the men's general league will commence on October 10, 2026. The first stage will be played in a single-round league format, followed by a knockout stage to determine the champion. The season calendar also includes the Qatar Cup for men, which will be held in a knockout format, with its start date to be announced later. In addition, the prestigious HH the Amir Cup will follow the same system, with its schedule to be confirmed at a later stage.

For the age-group categories, the under-14 league will begin on September 12, 2026, followed by the under-16 league on September 13, and the under-19 league on September 14. Each of these competitions will be played in two stages: an initial single-round league, leading into knockout rounds for the qualified teams.

The calendar further features the Qatar Cup for the under-14, under-16, and under-19 categories, all of which will be contested in a knockout format, with match dates to be announced subsequently. The youth program also includes the annual U-12 Festival, reflecting the Federation's commitment to developing the grassroots of the game and encouraging young talent to take up basketball. The festival's date will be set and announced in due course.

By announcing the new season calendar, the QBF reaffirmed its dedication to organizing competitions with clarity and consistency, ensuring regularity across all categories and enabling clubs and teams to prepare early for the upcoming sports season. (QNA)