2025-26 NBA Season Calendar: Key Dates, Draft, Free Agency, Cup and More

With the NBA calendar for the 2025-26 season taking shape—and plenty of summer leagues, international showcases, and marquee in-season events already scheduled—teams and fans can start planning well beyond Opening Night. Here’s a full rundown of the most important dates and basketball milestones ahead, including draft weekend, free-agent windows, global preseason games, the Emirates NBA Cup, All-Star week, the NBA Playoffs, and the 2026 Finals.

2025-26 and 2026-27: Big-picture season framework

1. June 23, 2025: NBA Draft First Round begins at 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN).
2. June 24, 2025: NBA Draft Second Round begins at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN).
3. June 30, 2026: For the 2026-27 cycle, teams can start talking with all upcoming free agents at 6 p.m. ET.
4. July 6, 2026: Teams can start signing free agents at 12:01 p.m. ET.

2026-27 summer league and global events: where the offseason storylines heat up

• July 3-6, 2026 (California Classic Summer League): Held at Chase Center in San Francisco, California on July 3, 5-6, with participating clubs including the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs. A second set of games runs at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California on July 4-6, featuring the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Sacramento Kings.
• July 4-6, 2026 (Salt Lake City Summer League): Games take place at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 4, 6-7, with the Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Oklahoma City Thunder scheduled to participate.
• July 9-19, 2026: The NBA Summer League lands in Las Vegas.
• Aug. 14-15, 2026: Enshrinement weekend for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
• Oct. 9 and 11, 2026 (preseason): NBA China Games are set, featuring Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena in Macao.
• Nov. 7, 2026: NBA Mexico City Game features Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers at Arena CDMX.
• Jan. 14, 2027: NBA Paris Game has San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans at Accor Arena.
• Jan. 17, 2027: NBA Manchester Game has San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans at Co-op Live.
• Feb. 19-21, 2027: NBA All-Star weekend in Phoenix, Arizona.

2025-26 season calendar: from draft-to-Finals, every key date

1. June 30, 2025: Teams can begin negotiating with all upcoming free agents at 6 p.m. ET.
2. July 6, 2025: Teams can begin signing free agents at 12:01 p.m. ET.
3. July 5-6, 2025: California Classic Summer League at Chase Center in San Francisco, with the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs.
4. July 5, 7-8, 2025: Salt Lake City Summer League at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, featuring the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Philadelphia 76ers.
5. July 9, 2025: PlayStation NBA Creator Cup begins at 10 p.m. ET, streamed on NBA YouTube, NBA App, and NBA.com.
6. July 10-20, 2025: NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas.
7. July 10, 2025: ESPN Summer League tip-off games: Dallas vs. Los Angeles Lakers at 8 p.m. ET, and San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers at 10 p.m. ET.
8. Aug. 27-Sept. 14, 2025: FIBA EuroBasket.
9. Sept. 5-6, 2025: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Enshrinement Weekend.
10. Sept. 23, 2025: Earliest Media Day date for teams traveling outside North America for the 2025 preseason: Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers (Sept. 26), New Orleans Pelicans, and Phoenix Suns (Sept. 24).
11. Sept. 23, 2025: First report date for players participating in preseason games in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Australia, and China, with arrival not earlier than 11 a.m. local time.
12. Sept. 24, 2025: Earliest date training camp can open for teams holding preseason games outside North America.
13. Sept. 29, 2025: Earliest date for other veteran players to report, also not earlier than 11 a.m. local time.
14. Sept. 29, 2025: NBA Training Camps open and Media Days begin for the remaining 25 teams.
15. Oct. 2 and 4, 2025: Preseason NBA Abu Dhabi Games: Knicks vs. 76ers at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
16. Oct. 3 and 5, 2025: Preseason Melbourne Series: Pelicans vs. NBL teams at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia.
17. Oct. 6, 2025: Preseason NBA Canada Series: Nuggets vs. Raptors at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C.
18. Oct. 10 and 12, 2025: Preseason NBA China Games: Nets vs. Suns at The Venetian Arena in Macao.
19. Oct. 17, 2025: NBA preseason concludes.
20. Oct. 20, 2025: Rosters set for NBA Opening Day at 5 p.m. ET, followed by NBA Jersey Day.
21. Oct. 21, 2025: Start of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season on Opening Night.
22. Oct. 25, 2025: NBA G League Draft.
23. Oct. 27-Nov. 6, 2025: NBA G League Training Camp.
24. Oct. 31, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 group play tips off on Prime Video.
25. Nov. 1, 2025: NBA Mexico City Game 2025: Detroit Pistons vs. Dallas Mavericks at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, on Peacock.
26. Nov. 6, 2025: Rosters set for NBA G League Opening Day at 5 p.m. ET.
27. Nov. 7, 2025: NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins.
28. Nov. 21-23, 2025: NBA ID Member Days: stream League Pass games with your NBA ID (U.S. only).
29. Nov. 28, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 group play ends.
30. Dec. 9, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 knockout rounds (East quarterfinals) on Prime Video: Heat at Magic (6 ET) and Knicks at Raptors (8:30 ET).
31. Dec. 10, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 knockout rounds (West quarterfinals) on Prime Video: Suns at Thunder (7:30 ET) and Spurs at Lakers (10 ET).
32. Dec. 12, 2025: PlayStation NBA Creator Cup at 8 p.m. PT from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, streamed via @NBA YouTube, Facebook, NBA App, and NBA.com.
33. Dec. 13, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 semifinals on Prime Video: East semifinal in Las Vegas at 5:30 ET, West semifinal at 9 ET.
34. Dec. 16, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 championship on Prime Video: Knicks vs. Spurs at 8:30 ET in Las Vegas.
35. Dec. 17, 2025: NBA All-Star voting begins at 12 p.m. ET.
36. Dec. 19-22, 2025: NBA G League Winter Showcase.
37. Dec. 25, 2025 (Christmas Day): All games are scheduled on ABC and ESPN: Cavs at Knicks (12 p.m. ET), Spurs at Thunder (2:30 p.m. ET), Mavs at Warriors (5 p.m. ET), Rockets at Lakers (8 p.m. ET), and Wolves at Nuggets (10:30 p.m. ET).
38. Dec. 27, 2025: NBA G League begins its 36-game regular season.
39. Jan. 5, 2026: 10-day contracts can now be signed.
40. Jan. 10, 2026: All NBA contracts become guaranteed for the rest of the season.
41. Jan. 14, 2026: NBA All-Star voting ends at 11:59 p.m. ET.
42. Jan. 15, 2026: NBA Berlin Game 2026: Magic vs. Grizzlies at Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany on Prime Video.
43. Jan. 18, 2026: NBA London Game 2026: Magic vs. Grizzlies at The O2 Arena in London, England on Prime Video.
44. Jan. 19, 2026: Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate on multiple networks: Bucks at Hawks (1 p.m. ET, Peacock), Thunder at Cavs (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock), Mavs at Knicks (5 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock), and Celtics at Pistons (8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock).
45. Jan. 19, 2026: All-Star starters are announced at 2 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock).
46. Jan. 20-24, 2026: AWS NBA Rivals Week.
47. Feb. 1, 2026: NBA Pioneers Classic: Bucks at Celtics at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Reserves for the All-Star Game are announced this day.
48. Feb. 5, 2026: NBA Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET.
49. Feb. 13-15, 2026: NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, California.
50. Feb. 13, 2026: Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at Kia Forum in Inglewood, California at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN); Castrol Rising Stars at Intuit Dome at 9 p.m. ET (Peacock); and the 2026 NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T at Kia Forum with Hampton University vs. North Carolina A&T at 11 p.m. ET (Peacock, ESPN 2, and NBA TV).
51. Feb. 14, 2026: NBA All-Star Media Day presented by AT&T at Intuit Dome at 1:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV), followed by NBA All-Star Saturday at 5 p.m. ET (NBC and Peacock).
52. Feb. 15, 2026: The 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome at 5 p.m. ET (NBC and Peacock).
53. March 1, 2026: Playoff eligibility waiver deadline.
54. March 13-15, 2026: NBA ID Member Days.
55. March 27-April 5, 2026: BAL – Kalahari Conference group phase play.
56. March 28, 2026: NBA G League regular season ends.
57. March 31, 2026: NBA G League playoffs begin.
58. April 8, 2026: NBA G League Finals Game 1: Stockton at Greensboro at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPNews).
59. April 10, 2026: NBA G League Finals Game 2: Greensboro at Stockton at 10 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
60. April 12, 2026: Regular season ends (all 30 teams play).
61. April 13, 2026: Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 at 3 p.m. ET.
62. April 14, 2026: Play-In games: Miami at Charlotte (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime) and Portland at Phoenix (10 p.m. ET, Prime). This day also marks the start of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament (April 14-17).
63. April 15, 2026: Play-In games: Orlando at Philadelphia (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime) and Golden State vs. LA Clippers (10 p.m. ET, Prime).
64. April 17, 2026: Play-In games: Charlotte at Orlando (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime) and Golden State at Phoenix (10 p.m. ET, Prime).
65. April 18, 2026: NBA Playoffs begin.
66. April 20, 2026: Kia Defensive Player of the Year announcement at 6 p.m. ET (Peacock, NBCSN).
67. April 21, 2026: Kia Clutch Player of the Year announcement at 6 p.m. ET (Peacock, NBCSN).
68. April 22, 2026: Kia Sixth Man of the Year announcement at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN).
69. April 23, 2026: NBA Sportsmanship Award announcement at 12 p.m. ET (@NBAPR).
70. April 24-May 3, 2026: BAL – Sahara Conference group phase play.
71. April 24, 2026: Kia Most Improved Player of the Year announcement at 6:30 p.m. ET (Prime). Also, deadline for an Early Entry player to apply for the 2026 NBA Draft at 11:59 p.m. ET.
72. April 27, 2026: Kia Rookie of the Year announcement at 7 p.m. ET (Peacock, NBCSN).
73. April 28, 2026: Basketball Executive of the Year announcement at 1 p.m. ET (@NBAPR).
74. April 29, 2026: Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year announcement at 1 p.m. ET (@NBAPR).
75. April 30, 2026: Kia Hustle Award announcement at 1 p.m. ET (@NBAPR).
76. May 4, 2026: Conference Semifinals begin.
77. May 8-10, 2026: AWS NBA G League Combine in Chicago.
78. May 10, 2026: 2026 NBA Draft Lottery at 3 p.m. ET (ABC), followed by the AWS NBA Draft Combine in Chicago running May 10-17.
79. May 18, 2026: Western Conference Finals begin on NBC/Peacock.
80. May 19, 2026: Eastern Conference Finals begin on ESPN/ABC.
81. May 20, 2026: All-Rookie Team announcement on Peacock at 7:30 p.m. ET.
82. May 22, 2026: All-Defensive Team and Social Justice Champion announcements on Peacock at 7:30 p.m. ET.
83. May 22-31, 2026: BAL Playoffs and Finals.
84. May 24, 2026: All-NBA Team announcement on NBA and Peacock at 7:00 p.m. ET.
85. May 26, 2026: Coach of the Year announcement on Peacock at 7:30 p.m. ET.
86. May 27, 2026: Deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA Draft to preserve NCAA eligibility.
87. June 3, 2026: NBA Finals Game 1: New York at San Antonio on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET.
88. June 5, 2026: NBA Finals Game 2: New York at San Antonio on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET.
89. June 8, 2026: NBA Finals Game 3: San Antonio at New York on ABC and ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET.
90. June 10, 2026: NBA Finals Game 4: San Antonio at New York on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET.
91. June 13, 2026: Early Entry player withdrawal deadline for the 2026 NBA Draft at 5 p.m. ET.
92. June 13, 2026: NBA Finals Game 5: New York at San Antonio on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET.

How the schedule shapes team-building and in-season priorities

• Draft-and-signing windows set the pace: Negotiations begin late June, with contract signings arriving early July, pushing front offices to be ready before training camps and preseason begin.
• Summer league is the audition stage: California Classic, Salt Lake City Summer League, and Las Vegas Summer League create multiple evaluation points for rookies and fringe rotation players.
• International preseason and early-season trips matter: Abu Dhabi, Melbourne, Vancouver, and Macao preseason stops (plus Mexico City, Berlin, and London regular-season games) can affect early conditioning and roster chemistry.
• The Emirates NBA Cup drives December intensity: Group play ends in late November, with knockout rounds spanning Dec. 9-16 and the championship scheduled for Dec. 16.
• All-Star and trade deadline create two major second-half inflection points: Voting begins Dec. 17 and closes Jan. 14, while Feb. 5 sets the trade deadline, shaping playoff positioning.
• Play-In week leads directly into playoff basketball: The SoFi Play-In Tournament runs April 14-17, with the postseason starting April 18.
• End-of-season awards and draft logistics keep momentum moving: Defensive, clutch, Sixth Man, and multiple other awards run through late April, followed by the Draft Lottery and Draft Combine in May.

Notable future key dates

Looking ahead, the 2028 Global Games are scheduled in Berlin, Germany and Paris, France.