NBA 2026-27 Season: Opening Night and Key Dates
The 2026-27 NBA season starts on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Opening night is a tripleheader on NBC and Peacock, with the Knicks raising their championship banner and LeBron James playing his first game for the 76ers. Here are the dates to know for the whole season, from opening night to All-Star weekend.
Key dates at a glance
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | Opening night: three games on NBC and Peacock |
| Wed, Oct 21 | Opening-week doubleheader on ESPN |
| Fri, Oct 30 | NBA Cup group play begins, with Friday doubleheaders on Prime Video |
| Fri, Nov 27 | NBA Cup group play ends with a Black Friday doubleheader on Prime Video |
| Dec 4 – 5 | NBA Cup quarterfinals |
| Dec 8 – 9 | NBA Cup semifinals |
| Fri, Dec 11 | NBA Cup final at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Five Christmas Day games on ABC and ESPN |
| Thu, Jan 14, 2027 | Pelicans vs Spurs in Paris |
| Sun, Jan 17 | Pelicans vs Spurs in Manchester, England |
| Thu, Feb 11 | Trade deadline |
| Feb 19 – 21 | All-Star weekend in Phoenix |
| April 2027 | Regular season ends, then the Play-In Tournament and the playoffs |
| June 2027 | NBA Finals |
Dates from the NBA's official schedule release. The trade deadline, All-Star weekend and the April and June timing are from NBC New York's guide to the season.
Opening night, October 20
All three games are on NBC and Peacock. Times are Eastern.
- 3 p.m.: Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons
- 7 p.m.: Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks. The Knicks raise their first championship banner since 1973, and LeBron James and Jaylen Brown make their 76ers debuts.
- 9:30 p.m.: Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs, a rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals.
The next night, ESPN's opening-week doubleheader includes Giannis Antetokounmpo's first game for the Miami Heat, at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The NBA Cup
The in-season tournament is in its fourth year. Group play runs from October 30 to November 27, the knockout rounds are played in team arenas in early December, and the final is on December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Each team's last two regular-season games are only set once group play is over.
Christmas Day
Five games on ABC and ESPN, starting at noon Eastern with the San Antonio Spurs at the New York Knicks, a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.
Quick answers
When does the NBA season start in 2026?
Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Who plays on opening night?
Celtics at Pistons, 76ers at Knicks, and Thunder at Spurs.
Where is the 2027 All-Star Game?
In Phoenix, on the weekend of February 19 to 21, 2027.
How many games does each team play?
82 in the regular season.
