Zalgiris announces record €28.8m budget for 2026/27 season

Zalgiris Kaunas unveiled a record budget of €28.8 million for the 2026/27 season at the club’s annual presentation on Tuesday. Club president Paulius Jankunas and sporting director Gediminas Navikas presented the financial plan, which is stated before taxes.

The club earmarked €19.7 million of the total specifically for player and coaching staff salaries, a marked rise compared with recent years.

Financial momentum after a strong 2025/26

Zalgiris has projected revenue of €26.8 million for the season before the start of the playoffs. The increase follows an especially successful financial year: the club initially forecasted €18.8 million in revenues for 2025/26 but ultimately recorded €24 million. Total costs for that season reached €24.8 million, of which €14.5 million were paid in team salaries.

The higher salary budget underscores Zalgiris’s intent to build on last season’s results. With Tomas Masiulis as head coach and experienced leaders such as Jonas Valanciunas and Edgaras Ulanovas on the roster, the club is positioning itself to compete more strongly with Europe’s top teams.

After finishing fifth in the EuroLeague and being eliminated by Fenerbahce Beko in the playoffs, the club’s management is using the improved finances both to defend domestic titles and to aim for a deeper run on the continental stage.

Zalgiris opened its 2026/27 campaign in the Lithuanian Betsson LKL with two consecutive wins last week. The team will begin its EuroLeague regular-season program on Thursday with an away game against Crvena Zvezda at the Belgrade Arena.

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