2021 FIBA U16 European Challengers

The 2021 FIBA U16 European Challengers were international basketball competitions held from August 16 to 21, 2021, replacing the cancelled 2021 FIBA U16 European Championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The top two teams from Groups A, B, and C qualified for the 2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.

Originally, the 2020 edition was scheduled in Skopje, North Macedonia, but it was postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic. In 2021, FIBA Europe introduced an alternative format with voluntary participation and no promotion or relegation across divisions.

The competition featured three main groups (A, B, C) for the top 18 ranked teams, each consisting of six teams. Groups A, B, and C were played in Skopje, Sofia, and Novi Sad, respectively. Greece and North Macedonia withdrew from Group A, while Spain withdrew from Group B but qualified as hosts. Groups D/E (for teams ranked 19th and below) were held in Sofia, and Group F (for the lowest-ranked teams) was played in Pristina, Kosovo.

The events used a Round Robin format with serpentine group allocation, considering hosting locations. The tournaments included semifinals, finals, third-place matches, and consolation rounds to determine standings.