Key Dates for the 2026-27 NBA Season

**Preseason Events**

- **October 3**: NBA preseason games commence, including the Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat at Videotron Centre in Quebec City.

- **October 9**: Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets in the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena in Macao.

- **October 10**: The Toronto Raptors face the LA Clippers in Vancouver.

**Regular Season Start**

- **October 20**: The NBA regular season kicks off, featuring the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons at 3 p.m. ET, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs later that day.

- **October 24**: NBA G League Draft.

- **October 30**: Emirates NBA Cup 2026 begins group play on Prime Video.

**Special Events**

- **December 25**: Christmas Day games, including San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks and Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics.

- **January 14, 2027**: NBA Paris Game with the San Antonio Spurs facing the New Orleans Pelicans.

- **January 17**: NBA Manchester Game, also featuring the Spurs and Pelicans.

**Mid-Season Highlights**

- **February 19-21**: NBA All-Star 2027 in Phoenix, AZ, with an All-Star break from February 19-24.

- **April 11**: The regular season concludes, and rosters for the NBA Playoffs will be finalized the following day.

**Playoff Timeline**

- **April 13-16**: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, leading into the playoffs.

- **August 27-September 12, 2027**: FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.

**Past Key Dates Overview**

Teams may negotiate with free agents starting June 30, 2026, with free agency officially beginning on July 6. The California Classic and Salt Lake City Summer League are part of the preseason activities scheduled from July 3-6 and July 4-6, respectively.

These key dates provide a framework for fans and teams as they prepare for the upcoming season.