Key NBA Dates
NBA major events: All-Star Weekend, trade deadline, playoffs, draft, and season milestones.
Upcoming Events
Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Announcement
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announces the Class of 2026 live on ESPN2 at 12 PM ET during Final Four Weekend. Finalists include Blake Griffin, Candace Parker, Doc Rivers, Elena Delle Donne, and the 1996 U.S. Olympic Women's team.
NBA Regular Season Finale 2026
Final day of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. Teams compete for playoff seeding and play-in positioning.
WNBA Draft 2026
The 2026 WNBA Draft airs live on ESPN at 7:30 PM ET. The Dallas Wings hold the No. 1 overall pick.
NBA Playoff Rosters Set 2026
NBA playoff rosters must be finalized by 3:00 PM ET. Teams lock in their 15-man rosters for the 2026 postseason, one day after the regular season finale.
NBA Play-In Tournament 2026
The play-in tournament determines the final playoff spots for the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
NBA Playoffs 2026
The 2026 NBA Playoffs begin, culminating with the Finals in June.
WNBA 2026 Season Tip-Off
The WNBA tips off its historic 30th season with a three-game slate. The league expands to 15 teams with the debut of Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire.
NBA Draft Lottery 2026
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery takes place in Chicago.
NBA Conference Finals 2026
The Eastern and Western Conference Finals determine who advances to the 2026 NBA Finals. Best-of-seven series in each conference.
NBA Finals 2026
The 2026 NBA Finals begin June 3. Game schedule: G1 Jun 3, G2 Jun 5, G3 Jun 8, G4 Jun 10, G5 Jun 13*, G6 Jun 16*, G7 Jun 19*. All games at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.
NBA Draft 2026
The 2026 NBA Draft takes place in Brooklyn. One of the deepest draft classes of the last decade, with the draft lottery on May 10 determining the top four picks.
NBA Free Agency 2026
NBA teams begin negotiating with free agents, with signing period starting July 6.
NBA Free Agent Signing Period Opens 2026
NBA teams may officially sign free agents to contracts starting at 12:01 PM ET on July 6, following the moratorium period that began June 30.
NBA Summer League 2026
The NBA 2K Summer League returns to Las Vegas. Rookies, sophomores, and free agents compete in the annual showcase.
WNBA All-Star Weekend 2026
AT&T WNBA All-Star 2026 hosted by the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. Includes 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge on Friday, All-Star Game on Saturday.
Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement 2026
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. The weekend begins August 14 with the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala at Mohegan Sun, followed by the Enshrinement Ceremony on August 15. Finalists include Candace Parker, Blake Griffin, Elena Delle Donne, and Doc Rivers.
NBA China Games 2026 — Mavericks vs Rockets in Macao
The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets play two preseason games at The Venetian Arena in Macao on October 9 and 11. Part of a five-year deal between the NBA and Sands China.
NBA 2026-27 Season Opening Night
Opening night of the 2026-27 NBA regular season. Exact date TBC, typically third week of October.
NBA Cup 2026-27
The fourth edition of the NBA In-Season Tournament (NBA Cup). Group play begins in November with knockout rounds in December.
NBA All-Star Weekend 2027
The 76th NBA All-Star Game and All-Star Weekend comes to Phoenix, Arizona. The All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, February 21, 2027 at the Mortgage Matchup Center, home of the Phoenix Suns.