The NBA 2026-27 schedule is out, and the new season tips off on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with an NBC and Peacock tripleheader. The league’s official schedule release also sets the Christmas Day slate, the NBA Cup dates, All-Star weekend, and the last day of the regular season. This guide puts the dates in one calendar, adds the national TV details from the league’s release, and flags what has not been announced. Dates come from the NBA’s own announcement unless we say otherwise.
Quick answers
- Season starts: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 (opening night tripleheader on NBC/Peacock).
- Regular season ends: Sunday, April 11, 2027, the 81st regular season, with all 30 teams playing.
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026, five games on ABC and ESPN.
- NBA Cup final: Friday, December 11, 2026, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
- All-Star weekend: February 19 to 21, 2027, in Phoenix.
When Does the 2026-27 NBA Season Start?
The 2026-27 regular season begins on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. As of October 15, that is 5 days away (our count). The NBA says each team plays 82 games, and the dates and opponents are set for 80 of them. The other two games per team are decided by results in the NBA Cup’s group stage and are played from December 4 to 10. By our arithmetic, 30 teams playing 82 games each makes 1,230 regular-season games, a total the release does not state.
NBA Opening Night 2026: The Three Games
All three games air on NBC and Peacock, per the NBA:
| Time (ET) | Game | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3 p.m. | Celtics at Pistons | Per Awful Announcing, a rematch of the East’s top two teams from 2025-26 |
| 7 p.m. | 76ers vs. Knicks | The NBA says the Knicks raise their banner and host Philadelphia |
| 9:30 p.m. | Spurs vs. Thunder | Played at Frost Bank Center, per the NBA; Awful Announcing calls it a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals |
Awful Announcing reported that LeBron James and Jaylen Brown make their 76ers debuts in the Knicks game. See our guide to the LeBron James 76ers contract.
Opening Week Schedule
The NBA lists these national windows after opening night:
- October 21 and 22: ESPN doubleheaders.
- October 22: The 76ers host the Cavaliers on ESPN in the first Philadelphia home game for LeBron James, per the NBA and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- October 23: Prime Video opens with a doubleheader.
NBA Christmas Day 2026 Games
The NBA says five games air on ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN App on Friday, December 25, the 19th consecutive year of the five-game format:
| Time (ET) | Game |
|---|---|
| Noon | Knicks vs. Spurs |
| 2:30 p.m. | Heat at Celtics |
| 5 p.m. | 76ers at Lakers |
| 8 p.m. | Thunder at Timberwolves |
| 10:30 p.m. | Nuggets at Warriors |
NBA Cup 2026 Dates
Per the NBA, group play runs on Fridays from October 30 to November 27, plus Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25. The quarterfinals are on December 4 and 5, the semifinals on December 8 and/or 9, and the championship on Friday, December 11 in Indianapolis. For the full format and prize money, read our NBA Cup 2026 guide.
All-Star 2027 and the End of the Regular Season
- All-Star weekend: Friday, February 19 to Sunday, February 21, 2027, in Phoenix, on NBC and Peacock (NBA).
- Final day of the regular season: Sunday, April 11, 2027. The Fox Sports guide says Eastern Conference games and one cross-conference game start at 6 p.m. ET, and Western Conference games at 8:30 p.m. ET.
- Trade deadline: Dunkest lists February 11, but the NBA release we reviewed does not mention it. Confirm it on NBA.com.
National TV Partners for 2026-27
The NBA release lists:
| Partner | Networks |
|---|---|
| Disney | ABC, ESPN, ESPN Radio |
| NBCUniversal | NBC, Peacock, NBCSN |
| Amazon | Prime Video |
NBA TV’s schedule is to be announced later. The release also says a record 115 games will air in primetime in EMEA.
What the NBA Has Not Announced
- Play-in tournament, playoffs, and Finals dates. The sources we reviewed list them as not yet scheduled.
- The two unassigned games per team. They depend on NBA Cup group results.
- NBA TV’s schedule.
Days Until Key Dates (Our Count From October 15, 2026)
| Event | Date | Days away |
|---|---|---|
| Opening night | Oct. 20, 2026 | 5 |
| NBA Cup tip-off | Oct. 30, 2026 | 15 |
| NBA Cup final | Dec. 11, 2026 | 57 |
| Christmas Day | Dec. 25, 2026 | 71 |
| All-Star weekend begins | Feb. 19, 2027 | 127 |
| Last regular-season day | Apr. 11, 2027 | 178 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the NBA season start in 2026?
Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Who plays on NBA opening night 2026?
Celtics at Pistons (3 p.m. ET), 76ers vs. Knicks (7 p.m. ET) and Spurs vs. Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET), all on NBC and Peacock.
What are the NBA Christmas Day 2026 games?
Knicks vs. Spurs, Heat at Celtics, 76ers at Lakers, Thunder at Timberwolves, and Nuggets at Warriors, on December 25.
When does the NBA regular season end?
Sunday, April 11, 2027.
When is the NBA All-Star Game 2027?
All-Star weekend is February 19 to 21, 2027, in Phoenix.
When is the NBA Cup final in 2026?
Friday, December 11, 2026, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
How many games does each NBA team play?
82, with 80 scheduled now and two decided by NBA Cup group play.
NBA 2026-27 Schedule: Summary
The 2026-27 NBA season opens on October 20, 2026, with Celtics-Pistons, 76ers-Knicks, and Spurs-Thunder on NBC and Peacock. Five games follow on Christmas Day; the NBA Cup final is on December 11; All-Star weekend is February 19 to 21 in Phoenix; and the regular season ends on April 11, 2027. Playoff dates have not been announced in the sources we reviewed.
