Last updated: September 14, 2026. The 2026-27 NBA season is almost here. Training camps open in late September, media day brings the first look at every roster, and a handful of teams get going a week early for overseas preseason trips. Here is the full rundown of when camps open, when players report, the complete preseason slate, and the road to opening night on October 20, plus a printable one-page calendar of every key date.
2026-27 NBA Training Camp and Media Day Key Dates
Camp opens in two waves. The two teams with overseas preseason commitments get an early start, and the rest of the league follows a week later.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Overseas teams report (Mavericks, Rockets) | Monday, September 21 |
| Overseas teams open camp | Tuesday, September 22 |
| Rest of league reports (media day) | Monday, September 28 |
| Training camps open league-wide | Tuesday, September 29 |
| Preseason begins | Saturday, October 3 |
| Regular-season opening night | Tuesday, October 20 |
NBA Media Day 2026: When Players Report
Media day is the unofficial start of the season: every player and coach meets the press, team photos are taken, and the first practice follows the next morning. For most of the league that lands on Monday, September 28, the report date for veterans, with camp practices opening September 29. The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, who play their preseason games in Macao, report a week early on September 21 and open camp September 22. Each team announces its own media day start time, so check your club for the exact hour, but the report dates above are the league-wide framework.
2026 NBA Preseason: Global Games
The preseason tips off October 3 and includes four games staged outside the United States, headlined by a two-game set in Macao.
| Date | Matchup | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, October 3 | Raptors vs Heat | Quebec City |
| Friday, October 9 | Mavericks vs Rockets | Macao |
| Saturday, October 10 | Raptors vs Clippers | Vancouver |
| Sunday, October 11 | Mavericks vs Rockets | Macao |
Opening Night and the Season Ahead
The regular season tips off Tuesday, October 20. The defending champion New York Knicks raise their banner at Madison Square Garden against Philadelphia, with Boston at Detroit and Oklahoma City at San Antonio filling out the opening slate. Here are the marquee dates to circle after that.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Opening night | Tuesday, October 20 |
| Emirates NBA Cup group play | October 30 to November 27 |
| NBA Cup quarterfinals | December 4-5 |
| NBA Cup semifinals and final (Indianapolis) | December 8-9, final December 11 |
| NBA on Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 |
| Trade deadline | Thursday, February 11, 2027 |
| All-Star Weekend (Phoenix) | February 19-21, 2027 |
More 2026-27 NBA Resources
Get ready for the season with our printable 2026-27 NBA schedule with TV lineups, the full 2026-27 NBA national TV schedule across ESPN, ABC, NBC and Peacock, and our guide to when the 2026-27 NBA schedules were released.
2026-27 NBA Training Camp FAQ
When does NBA training camp start in 2026? League-wide camps open Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with veterans reporting September 28. The Mavericks and Rockets open early on September 22 because of their preseason trip to Macao.
When is NBA media day 2026? Most teams hold media day on Monday, September 28, the veteran report date, with the two Macao-bound teams a week earlier on September 21. Each club sets its own start time.
When does the 2026-27 NBA regular season start? Opening night is Tuesday, October 20, 2026, when the champion Knicks raise their banner at Madison Square Garden.
