The 2026-27 Kentucky Basketball schedule and season officially tips off Tuesday, November 3, 2026, against Manhattan at Rupp Arena, with the marquee Champions Classic meeting against Kansas in Chicago on November 10. Highlighting the non-conference slate is a December 19 clash with North Carolina at MSG, a November 20 showdown with Indiana in Indianapolis, and a highly anticipated matchup with Louisville at Rupp Arena. With the SEC’s June 25 opponent reveal, the Cats now know 30 of their 32 games for 2026-27; the final two nonconference dates are still to be finalized. SEC play begins in January 2027, with all games airing on ESPN, ABC, and the SEC Network.
Last Updated: July 27, 2026
2026-27 Kentucky Basketball: Quick Facts
- Conference: SEC.
- 2025-26 finish: 22-14.
- Season: tips off November 3, 2026 vs Manhattan; Champions Classic vs Kansas on November 10.
- SEC Tournament: March 10-14, 2027 at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN.
- Schedule and printable: all 30 games set; the full 18-game SEC slate now set with dates (released July 2026); game times and TV still to be announced.
2026-27 Kentucky Basketball Schedule
Here’s what we know about the 2026-27 Kentucky Basketball schedule so far. SEC slate confirmed on July 27th. We’ll see tipoff times and TV networks next here in the coming weeks.
Note2: All games are of course subject to change until UK confirms the official schedule. Where you see exact dates have been confirmed by sources.
| Date | Time (ET) / TV | Opponent | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Nov 3 | TBA | vs Manhattan | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Fri, Nov 6 | TBA | vs James Madison | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Tue, Nov 10 | TBA | vs Kansas (Champions Classic) | United Center | Chicago, IL |
| Fri, Nov 13 | TBA | vs Northern Arizona | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Mon, Nov 16 | TBA | vs Grambling State | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Fri, Nov 20 | TBA | vs Indiana | Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, IN |
| Wed, Dec 2 | TBA | at Virginia (ACC/SEC Challenge) | John Paul Jones Arena | Charlottesville, VA |
| Tue, Dec 8 | TBA | vs Bryant | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Sat, Dec 12 | TBA | vs Louisville | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Sat, Dec 19 | 2:30 PM / CBS | vs North Carolina (CBS Classic) | Madison Square Garden | New York, NY |
| Tue, Dec 22 | TBA | vs Sacred Heart | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Mon, Dec 28 | TBA | vs Gardner-Webb | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| SEC Conference Play (dates confirmed; game times and TV to be announced) | ||||
| Sat, Jan 2, 2027 | TBA | at Oklahoma (SEC) | Lloyd Noble Center | Norman, OK |
| Jan 5 or 6, 2027 | TBA | vs Ole Miss (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | TBA | at Missouri (SEC) | Mizzou Arena | Columbia, MO |
| Jan 12 or 13, 2027 | TBA | vs LSU (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Sat, Jan 16, 2027 | TBA | vs Vanderbilt (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Jan 19 or 20, 2027 | TBA | at Mississippi State (SEC) | Humphrey Coliseum | Starkville, MS |
| Sat, Jan 23, 2027 | TBA | vs Tennessee (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Sat, Jan 30, 2027 | TBA | at Texas (SEC) | Moody Center | Austin, TX |
| Feb 2 or 3, 2027 | TBA | at Ole Miss (SEC) | The Pavilion at Ole Miss | Oxford, MS |
| Sat, Feb 6, 2027 | TBA | vs Alabama (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Feb 9 or 10, 2027 | TBA | vs South Carolina (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Sat, Feb 13, 2027 | TBA | at Tennessee (SEC) | Food City Center | Knoxville, TN |
| Feb 16 or 17, 2027 | TBA | at Georgia (SEC) | Stegeman Coliseum | Athens, GA |
| Sat, Feb 20, 2027 | TBA | vs Arkansas (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Feb 23 or 24, 2027 | TBA | at Vanderbilt (SEC) | Memorial Gymnasium | Nashville, TN |
| Sat, Feb 27, 2027 | TBA | vs Auburn (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Mar 2 or 3, 2027 | TBA | vs Texas A&M (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Sat, Mar 6, 2027 | TBA | at Florida (SEC) | Exactech Arena (O’Connell Center) | Gainesville, FL |
[FREE DOWNLOAD] 2026-27 Kentucky Basketball Printable Schedule (PDF)
Our high-resolution printable schedule is updated in real-time as tip-off times and TV networks are finalized. Includes the full 18-game SEC rotation and all neutral-site “mega-games.”
Key 2026-27 Schedule Storylines
- SEC Gauntlet Revealed: The SEC released conference opponents and home/away designations on June 25, 2026. Kentucky drew home-and-home series with preseason Top 25 foes Tennessee and Vanderbilt, hosts Alabama and Arkansas at Rupp Arena, and faces road tests at No. 1 Florida, plus Texas and Missouri. Dates, tip times and TV will be announced later this summer.
2027 College Basketball Resources
It’s never too early to look at the March Madness schedules. Here are the confirmed schedules and blank brackets for the men’s and women’s tournaments in 2027. If the committee expands the tournament for 2027, we’ll update these for you too.
- 2027 Men’s March Madness Schedule & Printable Bracket
- 2027 Women’s March Madness: Official Schedule, Bracket, and Printable PDF
Frequently Asked Questions: 2026-27 UK Basketball
Is Kentucky playing St. John’s this year? There is no confirmed game against St. John’s for the 2026-27 season. While there is a strong possibility both programs want to play, TV “footprint” clauses between FOX and CBS have made scheduling the matchup difficult.
Who does Kentucky play in the 2026 Champions Classic? Kentucky will face Kansas on November 10, 2026, in Chicago.
Is there a Bahamas tournament this year? While Kentucky is not currently scheduled for a regular-season tournament in the Bahamas (like the Battle 4 Atlantis), the team is exploring a preseason foreign tour to the islands for exhibition play.
When does Kentucky play North Carolina in 2026? > Kentucky faces North Carolina on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. The game will tip off live at 2:30 PM ET and will air nationally on CBS.
When is the Kentucky vs. Indiana game?
- Kentucky will face Indiana on Friday, November 20, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
When is the Kentucky vs. Louisville game?
- The highly anticipated baseline rivalry match is officially scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2026, live at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
Is Kentucky basketball going on a foreign tour to the Bahamas this summer?
- No. While early preliminary options were evaluated by the scheduling staff, a summer international exhibition trip has officially been ruled out for the Wildcats’ 2026 prep cycle.
Related Resources
Browse all teams on our 2026-27 men’s college basketball hub, see the 2027 SEC Tournament bracket, and follow the 2027 March Madness bracket.
