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David BeckhamThe NBA's 81st regular season begins on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with a three-game national tripleheader, and ends on Sunday, April 11, 2027, with all 30 teams in action. In between sits a mid-season Cup competition, five games on Christmas Day and a February trade deadline.
Here is the calendar that matters, in one place.
Key facts
- Opening night: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — Boston at Detroit (3 p.m. ET), Philadelphia at New York (7 p.m. ET), Oklahoma City at San Antonio (9:30 p.m. ET), all on NBC.
- Defending champions: the New York Knicks, who won the 2026 title 4–1 over San Antonio — the franchise's third championship and first since 1973. They raise the banner before hosting Philadelphia.
- Regular season: 82 games per team, ending April 11, 2027.
- Trade deadline: February 11, 2027.
- All-Star Weekend: February 19–21, 2027, in Phoenix.
From training camp to opening night
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 29 | Training camps open |
| October 3 | Preseason begins (Toronto vs Miami, Quebec City) |
| October 9 & 11 | NBA China Games: Dallas vs Houston, Macao |
| October 19 | Opening-day rosters set (5 p.m. ET) — and NBA Jersey Day |
| October 20 | Regular season begins |
The preseason is more international than it looks: it opens in Quebec City and includes two games in Macao. The league's calendar no longer starts and ends in North America.
The Emirates NBA Cup
The Cup runs through the heart of the regular season and directly shapes it. Group Play consists of 60 games on designated Cup Nights — every Friday from October 30 through November 27, plus November 24 and 25. The knockout rounds follow in early December.
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| Group Play | October 30 – November 27 |
| Quarterfinals | December 4–5 |
| Semifinals | December 8 and/or 9 |
| Championship | December 11 — Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis |
The detail most people miss: each team's 82-game schedule has only 80 defined dates and opponents. The remaining two are determined by Cup results and played between December 4 and 10. That is why the Cup is not a separate tournament bolted on — its outcomes change the regular season itself.
Christmas Day
Five games, for the 19th consecutive year, all on ABC/ESPN: San Antonio at New York (noon ET) — a rematch of the 2026 Finals — then Miami at Boston, Philadelphia at the Lakers, Oklahoma City at Minnesota, and Denver at Golden State to close the night.
January and beyond
The league goes to Europe twice in January: San Antonio against New Orleans in Paris on January 14, then the same two teams in Manchester on January 17 — the first regular-season game ever staged in that city. Rivals Week runs January 26–30. The trade deadline is February 11, All-Star Weekend in Phoenix follows on February 19–21, and the regular season closes April 11 before the Play-In Tournament and playoffs.
Of everything on that calendar, the date with a jersey attached is October 19 — NBA Jersey Day, the day before the season tips off. The RJ Barrett New York Knicks Swingman Jersey ($67.70) and the Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics Swingman Jersey ($63.80) are the two most straightforward starting points for the defending-champion conversation.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026-27 NBA season start?
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with a three-game tripleheader on NBC. The Knicks raise their championship banner before hosting Philadelphia.
Who are the defending NBA champions?
The New York Knicks, who beat San Antonio 4–1 in the 2026 Finals — their first title since 1973.
When is the NBA trade deadline?
February 11, 2027.
When does the NBA regular season end?
Sunday, April 11, 2027, with all 30 teams playing.
