NBA Sets 2026-27 Season Schedule From Training Camp to April Finale

The 2026-27 NBA calendar is set to open with camp in late September, a preseason slate that reaches Canada and Macao, and a three-game Opening Night on Oct. 20. The league’s road then runs through a Cup final in Indianapolis, international regular-season stops in Paris and Manchester, All-Star Weekend in Phoenix and an April 11 finish with all 30 teams on the floor.

2026-27 NBA Season Calendar: Opening Night, NBA Cup, Trade Deadline and Play-In Dates

Boston, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and San Antonio are among the teams carrying the first major dates on the board. The Spurs will also make two January international appearances against New Orleans, while the G League calendar begins its tournament play in November and moves into its 36-game regular season in December.

Offseason, training camp and preseason

1. June 30, 2026: Teams may begin negotiating with prospective free agents at 6 p.m. ET.
2. July 3-6: The California Classic Summer League is split between San Francisco and Sacramento. Golden State, the Lakers, Miami and San Antonio will play at Chase Center from July 3 and July 5-6. Brooklyn, Golden State, Milwaukee and Sacramento are scheduled for Golden 1 Center from July 4-6.
3. July 4, 6-7: Salt Lake City Summer League takes place at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, with Utah, Atlanta, Memphis and Oklahoma City in the field.
4. July 6: Teams can officially sign free agents beginning at 12:01 p.m. ET.
5. July 9-19: All 30 clubs are scheduled for NBA Summer League in Las Vegas at Thomas & Mack Center and Pavilion.
6. Aug. 14-15: The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will hold its Class of 2026 Enshrinement Weekend.
7. Sept. 21: Players on teams playing preseason games outside North America may report no earlier than 11 a.m. local time.
8. Sept. 22: Training camps may open for those international-preseason teams.
9. Sept. 28: The reporting window opens for all other veteran players, no earlier than 11 a.m. local time.
10. Sept. 29: NBA training camps open across the league.
11. Oct. 3: Preseason games begin, including Toronto versus Miami at Videotron Centre in Quebec City.
12. Oct. 9: Dallas meets Houston at The Venetian Arena in Macao in the first of two NBA China Games.
13. Oct. 10: Toronto faces the LA Clippers at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
14. Oct. 11: Dallas and Houston meet again in Macao.

Opening Night and early-season checkpoints

1. Oct. 19: Opening Day rosters must be finalized by 5 p.m. ET.
2. Oct. 20: The regular season starts with Boston versus Detroit at 3 p.m. ET, Philadelphia versus New York at 7 p.m. ET, and Oklahoma City versus San Antonio at 9:30 p.m. ET. All three games are scheduled for NBC and Peacock.
3. Oct. 24: The NBA G League Draft is scheduled.
4. Oct. 26-Nov. 5: NBA G League training camp runs.
5. Oct. 30: Emirates NBA Cup group play starts, with Prime Video carrying the opening of group-stage action.
6. Nov. 5: G League opening-night rosters are due by 5 p.m. ET.
7. Nov. 6: The NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins.
8. Nov. 7: Denver plays Indiana at Arena CDMX in the NBA Mexico City Game.

NBA Cup and Christmas Day slate

1. Nov. 27: NBA Cup group play closes.
2. Dec. 4-5: The Cup quarterfinals are scheduled.
3. Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9: Cup semifinal games will be played.
4. Dec. 11: The Emirates NBA Cup championship will be held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
5. Dec. 16: G League Tip-Off Tournament qualifying games conclude.
6. Dec. 19-22: The G League Winter Showcase is scheduled, and the league’s 36-game regular season begins during that window.
7. Dec. 25: The Christmas Day card begins with San Antonio against New York at noon ET, followed by Miami-Boston at 2:30 p.m. ET, Philadelphia-Lakers at 5 p.m. ET, Oklahoma City-Minnesota at 8 p.m. ET and Denver-Golden State at 10:30 p.m. ET. ABC and ESPN will carry the five-game lineup.

January roster business and the international series

1. Jan. 5, 2027: Teams may begin signing players to 10-day contracts.
2. Jan. 10: All NBA contracts become guaranteed for the remainder of the season.
3. Jan. 14: San Antonio plays New Orleans at Accor Arena in the NBA Paris Game. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
4. Jan. 17: The Spurs and Pelicans meet again at Co-op Live for the NBA Manchester Game, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Prime Video.
5. Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day features Detroit-Cleveland at noon ET, Philadelphia-Atlanta at 2:30 p.m. ET, Minnesota-New York at 5 p.m. ET and Houston-Memphis at 7:30 p.m. ET. NBC and Peacock will air the first three games, with Peacock carrying Rockets-Grizzlies.
6. Jan. 26-30: AWS NBA Rivals Week is scheduled.

Trade deadline, All-Star break and playoff runway

1. Feb. 3: The NBA Pioneers Classic sends the Knicks to Detroit for a 7 p.m. ET game on ESPN.
2. Feb. 11: The NBA Trade Deadline arrives.
3. Feb. 15: Presidents’ Day programming includes Minnesota-Charlotte at noon ET, Philadelphia-Dallas at 2:30 p.m. ET, San Antonio-Miami at 5 p.m. ET and Indiana-Golden State at 7:30 p.m. ET. NBC and Peacock are scheduled for the first three games, while NBCSN has Pacers-Warriors.
4. Feb. 19-21: NBA All-Star 2027 will be held in Phoenix.
5. Feb. 19-24: The league pauses for the All-Star break.
6. March 27: The G League regular season ends.
7. March 30: NBA G League playoffs begin.
8. April 11: The NBA regular season closes, with all 30 teams playing.
9. April 12: Playoff rosters must be set by 3 p.m. ET.
10. April 13-16: The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament is scheduled.
11. Aug. 27-Sept. 12: The FIBA Basketball World Cup will be played in Qatar.

Key dates at a glance

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Meta Description: Full 2026-27 NBA calendar, including training camp, Opening Night matchups, NBA Cup dates, Christmas Day, Paris and Manchester games, trade deadline, All-Star Weekend and the Play-In Tournament.