The NBA 2026-27 season fever starts with several changes in coaches, players, and clashes to tell. The NBA preseason starts on October 3, 2026. The NBA 2026-27 regular season starts on October 20 with three opening night games.
The New York Knicks are the defending NBA champions heading into the new NBA season. They beat the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals 4-1 to win their first championship since 1973.
The upcoming season also features many changes in the NBA. Many teams have gotten new players, coaches, and rotations. Additionally, there will be several new dates added for the NBA Cup, All-Star Weekend, and other international games. This content will cover the key dates, events, alters, and clashes in this upcoming season.
NBA 2026-27: Event Details
Here is the full 2026-27 regular season schedule of the NBA. All 30 teams will participate in 82 games during the regular season prior to the playoffs. The regular season will start on October 20, 2026, and end on April 11, 2027.
NBA 2026-27 Season Details
Event
Details
League
National Basketball Association
Season
NBA 2026-27
Teams
30
Preseason Begins
October 3, 2026
Regular Season Begins
October 20, 2026
NBA Cup Group Play
October 30 – November 27, 2026
NBA Cup Knockout Rounds
December 4–9, 2026
NBA Cup Championship
December 11, 2026
Christmas Day Games
December 25, 2026
NBA Paris Game
January 14, 2027
NBA Manchester Game
January 17, 2027
NBA on MLK Day
January 18, 2027
AWS NBA Rivals Week
January 26-30, 2027
NBA Pioneers Classic
February 3, 2027
NBA Trade Deadline
February 11, 2027
NBA All-Star Weekend
February 19–21, 2027
Regular Season Ends
April 11, 2027
NBA SoFi Play-In Tournament
April 13–16, 2027
NBA Playoffs
April 2027 onward
NBA Finals
June 2027
The Finals: 2025-26 NBA Season
The 2025-26 season ended with the New York Knicks winning the NBA championship. They defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Finals.
It was a historic championship for New York. The Knicks won their first NBA title since 1973. Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP after leading the team through the series.
2026 NBA Finals
Category
Result
Champion
New York Knicks
Runner-up
San Antonio Spurs
Series Result
Knicks won 4-1
Finals MVP
Jalen Brunson
First Knicks Championship Since
1973
Finals Venue
Madison Square Garden and Frost Bank Center
The Spurs also produced an important season. Victor Wembanyama reached the NBA Finals during his first playoff appearance. San Antonio defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-3 in the Western Conference Finals.
The Knicks reached the Finals after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. They also defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Key 2025-26 Award Winners
Award
Winner
Team
NBA MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder
Rookie of the Year
Cooper Flagg
Dallas Mavericks
Defensive Player of the Year
Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs
Most Improved Player
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Atlanta Hawks
Sixth Man of the Year
Keldon Johnson
San Antonio Spurs
Clutch Player of the Year
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder
Coach of the Year
Joe Mazzulla
Boston Celtics
Finals MVP
Jalen Brunson
New York Knicks
What This Means for NBA 2026-27
There are a number of storylines that can be set by the preceding season for the current one.
The Knicks will start defending their title, while the Spurs will aim to follow up their Finals debut by including Wembanyama. Oklahoma City is also trying to get back into the postseason after their loss in the Western Conference Finals.
The opening-night matchups include the Knicks hosting the Philadelphia and the City Thunders traveling to the Spurs.
2026 NBA Draft: New Talent Arrives
The 2026 NBA Draft occurred on June 23rd and 24th, 2026. With the first overall pick in the 2026 draft, the Washington Wizards chose AJ Dybantsa. He was the first selection of the 2026 NBA Draft. The Utah Jazz drafted Darryn Peterson second, and the Memphis Grizzlies drafted Cameron Boozer third.
Top 10 Picks in NBA 2026-27
Pick
Team
Player
Position
College/Club
1
Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa
Forward
BYU
2
Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson
Guard
Kansas
3
Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer
Forward/Center
Duke
4
Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson
Forward
North Carolina
5
LA Clippers
Keaton Wagler
Guard
Illinois
6
Brooklyn Nets
Mikel Brown Jr.
Guard
Louisville
7
Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr.
Guard
Arkansas
8
Atlanta Hawks
Kingston Flemings
Guard
Houston
9
Dallas Mavericks
Morez Johnson Jr.
Forward/Center
Michigan
10
Milwaukee Bucks
Brayden Burries
Guard
Arizona
Major Trades and Free-Agent Moves
Player
From
To
Transaction
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks
Miami Heat
Trade
Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies
Portland Trail Blazers
Trade
Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
Trade
Kawhi Leonard
LA Clippers
Toronto Raptors
Trade
LaMelo Ball
Charlotte Hornets
Minnesota Timberwolves
Trade
Julius Randle
Minnesota Timberwolves
Brooklyn Nets
Trade
Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Trade
Miles Bridges
Charlotte Hornets
Phoenix Suns
Trade
Walker Kessler
Utah Jazz
Los Angeles Lakers
Sign-and-trade
Deandre Ayton
Los Angeles Lakers
Washington Wizards
Trade
Zaccharie Risacher
Atlanta Hawks
Dallas Mavericks
Trade
Dorian Finney-Smith
Charlotte Hornets
Atlanta Hawks
Trade
Important Free-Agent and Roster Moves
Not every important offseason change came through trades.
NBA.com’s offseason tracker also records free-agent signings, re-signings, and extensions across all 30 teams.
Some notable moves to follow include:
Player
2025-26 Team
2026-27 Team
Move
Mitchell Robinson
New York Knicks
Boston Celtics
Free agency
Jeremy Sochan
San Antonio Spurs
Portland Trail Blazers
Free agency
Kevon Looney
New Orleans Pelicans
Los Angeles Lakers
Free agency
Bogdan Bogdanović
LA Clippers
Houston Rockets
Free agency
Bennedict Mathurin
LA Clippers
New Orleans Pelicans
Free agency
Gary Trent Jr.
Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
Re-signed
Bradley Beal
LA Clippers
LA Clippers
Re-signed
Lebron James
Los Angeles Lakers
Philadelphia 76ers
Free-agent Signing
New Coaches and Coaching Changes
The 2026 offseason brought six new head coaches across the NBA. That means one-fifth of the league’s 30 teams entered 2026-27 with a different head coach.
The changes involve three coaches taking their first NBA head-coaching jobs and three experienced NBA head coaches joining new franchises.
NBA 2026-27 Coaching Changes
Team
2025-26 Coach
2026-27 Coach
Coaching Background
Chicago Bulls
Billy Donovan
Tiago Splitter
Former NBA head coach and assistant
Dallas Mavericks
Jason Kidd
Dusty May
First NBA head-coaching role
Milwaukee Bucks
Doc Rivers
Taylor Jenkins
Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach
New Orleans Pelicans
Willie Green / James Borrego
Jamahl Mosley
Former Orlando Magic head coach
Orlando Magic
Jamahl Mosley
Sean Sweeney
First NBA head-coaching role
Portland Trail Blazers
Tiago Splitter
Micah Nori
First NBA head-coaching role
What Should Fans Watch?
Coaching changes present many specific areas to watch out for during preseason.
Systems: Each of the newly appointed head coaches will have his own offense and defense.
Rotation shift: The new coaching staff may change the starting rotation of the team.
Development of young talent: Players from Chicago, Dallas, and Portland may get significant preseason minutes.
Roster shakeup: Both Milwaukee and New Orleans enter the regular season with changed rosters.
Debut in the NBA: May, Nori, and Sweeney are set to make their debut in NBA training camp as head coaches.
NBA 2026-27: Preseason Key Dates
Preseason & Opening Week
Date
Event
Details
September 28, 2026
Veteran reporting date
First allowable reporting date for other veteran players
September 29, 2026
Training camps
NBA training camps open
October 3, 2026
Preseason begins
Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat in Quebec City
October 9, 2026
NBA China Game
Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets in Macau
October 10, 2026
NBA Canada Game
Toronto Raptors vs LA Clippers in Vancouver
October 11, 2026
NBA China Game
Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets in Macau
October 19, 2026
Opening-day rosters
Rosters must be set by 5 p.m. ET
October 20, 2026
Regular season begins
Three-game opening-night schedule
NBA Cup and Early-Season Dates
The Emirates NBA Cup 2026 returns as an important part of the regular-season calendar.
Date
Event
October 30, 2026
NBA Cup Group Play begins
November 27, 2026
Group Play concludes
December 4–5, 2026
Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals
December 8–9, 2026
Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals
December 11, 2026
Emirates NBA Cup Championship
NBA All-Star 2027
February 19–21, 2027
The 2027 NBA All-Star Weekend will take place at Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
Date
Event
February 19
All-Star events begin
February 20
All-Star Weekend events
February 21
NBA All-Star Game
NBA Play-In and Playoffs
The NBA has officially confirmed the Play-In Tournament dates as April 13–16, 2027.
Date
Event
April 11, 2027
Regular season ends
April 12, 2027
Playoff rosters set
April 13–16, 2027
SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
April 2027 onward
NBA Playoffs
June 2027
NBA Finals
Where to Watch NBA 2026-27?
The NBA 2026-27 season continues the second year of media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon. The U.S. national broadcast structure therefore looks different from previous NBA seasons.
NBA 2026-27: Where to Watch Around the World
Country / Region
Main Viewing Option
United States
ABC / ESPN, NBC / Peacock, Prime Video, NBA League Pass
Canada
Local/national broadcasters + NBA League Pass
India
NBA League Pass / Amazon Prime League Pass
UK & Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil & Mexico
Prime Video + NBA League Pass / local rights
Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Argentina, Chile & Colombia
NBA League Pass / Amazon Prime League Pass
Philippines
NBA League Pass / local broadcaster
Other Europe
NBA League Pass + local rights
Middle East & Africa
Local broadcast partners + NBA League Pass
Other international markets
NBA League Pass + local rights
A Quick Guide to Finding the Source
What you want
Where to check
Watch a U.S. national game
ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock or Prime Video
Watch an out-of-market game
NBA League Pass
Watch NBA in India
NBA League Pass or Amazon Prime League Pass
Find your country’s broadcaster
NBA App → Game → Tap to Watch
Check whether a game is available live
NBA App / NBA.com
Watch games in Canada
Sportsnet, TSN or the applicable broadcaster
Watch games internationally
NBA League Pass and local broadcast partner
Major Rivalries of NBA 2026-27
The NBA 2026-27 schedule includes several major games across the regular season.
Some games feature recent playoff rematches. Others bring together major stars or historic franchises.
The schedule also includes Opening Night, Christmas Day, NBA Rivals Week, and several special event games.
Key Games to Mark on the Calendar
Date
Matchup
Main Reason to Watch
October 20, 2026
Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons
Opening-night Eastern Conference matchup
October 20, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks
Knicks championship celebration
October 20, 2026
Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs
2026 Western Conference Finals rematch
October 22, 2026
Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Jokić vs Gilgeous-Alexander
October 23, 2026
New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics
Historic rivalry
December 25, 2026
San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks
Christmas Day matchup
December 25, 2026
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Western Conference matchup
December 25, 2026
Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors
Jokić vs Curry
January 14, 2027
San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans
NBA Paris Game
January 17, 2027
San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans
NBA Manchester Game
January 18, 2027
Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers
2026 playoff rematch
January 26, 2027
Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs
Durant vs Wembanyama
January 26, 2027
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers
2026 West semifinals rematch
January 30, 2027
Philadelphia 76ers vs Miami Heat
LeBron vs Antetokounmpo
January 30, 2027
Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Jokić vs Gilgeous-Alexander
January 30, 2027
San Antonio Spurs vs Golden State Warriors
Wembanyama vs Curry
January 30, 2027
Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks
Major franchise matchup
February 15, 2027
San Antonio Spurs vs Miami Heat
Presidents’ Day matchup
February 28, 2027
San Antonio Spurs vs Denver Nuggets
Sunday Showcase game
March 7, 2027
New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs
Final regular-season Finals rematch
NBA 2026-27: Christmas Day – December 25, 2026
Christmas Day remains one of the NBA’s biggest annual television events.
The 2026-27 schedule features five games:
Time (ET)
Matchup
12:00 PM
San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks
2:30 PM
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics
5:00 PM
Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers
8:00 PM
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves
10:30 PM
Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors
Why These Dates Matter
In the NBA 2026-27 schedule, there are both regular-season games and big-league games. Opening Night kicks off the season. Christmas Day features many nationally televised games.
Then comes NBA Rivals Week, which consists of many big matchups within five days. The Paris and Manchester games add to the international game schedule.
And finally, the last Knicks-Spurs game will add a much-welcomed Finals rematch in the regular season before the playoffs begin.
New NBA coaches: May, Nori, and Sweeney will get to participate in their first-ever NBA training camp as coaches.
Conclusion
The NBA 2026-27 season is ready to bring another year of big games, new stars, fierce competition, and unforgettable moments.
The defending champion Knicks will begin their title defense. Meanwhile, the Spurs, Thunder, Nuggets, Lakers, Celtics, and other contenders will look to make their own mark. At the same time, the 2026 NBA Draft class will give fans a new generation of players to follow.
From Opening Night and the NBA Cup to Christmas Day, these are the major face-off races in this season. The next year starts with NBA Rivals Week, All-Star Weekend, and the final playoff race. There will be plenty to watch throughout the season.
The biggest question is simple: who will still be standing when the championship is on the line?
One thing is certain – the journey from the first tip-off to the NBA Finals will give basketball fans plenty of reasons to watch and follow.
The new NBA season is coming. The countdown starts now.