CEBL: information

Creation and context. The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) was officially announced and founded on October 25, 2017, before launching its first season in 2019. It is Canada's professional men's basketball championship, designed to give Canadian talent a local showcase rather than seeing it systematically move abroad.

Structure and schedule. The league is played in summer, from May to August, making it a summer competition rather than a winter one like most European championships. It now has 10 member franchises spread across six Canadian provinces.

Competition format. The regular season is played over 24 games per team (20 games during the inaugural 2019 season). The playoff format has evolved over the seasons: 4 qualified teams in 2019, 6 teams from 2020 to 2022, then 8 teams since 2023. Another notable change: starting in 2026, the final will be played as a series for the first time (best-of-three), from August 12 to 16, whereas it was previously decided in a single game.

Special features. The CEBL claims to have the youngest audience in Canadian professional sport — half of its fans are under 34 — and a rapidly growing audience, reaching nearly 4.1 million Canadians.

CEBL champions, season by season

CEBL MVPs, season by season