Kristian Ferrell
The upcoming 2025-26 NBA season will be the 80th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season is scheduled to begin on October 21, 2025, and end on April 12, 2026, with the NBA Finals starting on June 4, 2026. The NBA Cup tournament will be held from October 31 to December 16, 2025, and the NBA All-Star Game is set for February 15, 2026. The NBA season typically starts around the beginning of winter, and high school basketball seasons usually last for 4-5 months, starting in November and ending in March. College basketball seasons also typically begin in November. With the NBA season fast approaching, fans can look forward to an exciting year of basketball action, with NBC carrying 50 games and ESPN Radio broadcasting select regular-season and playoff games.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Upcoming NBA season | 2025-26 |
| Regular season start date | October 21, 2025 |
| Regular season end date | April 12, 2026 |
| NBA Cup tournament dates | October 31 - December 16, 2025 |
| NBA All-Star Game date | February 15, 2026 |
| Play-in tournament dates | April 14-17, 2026 |
| Playoffs start date | April 18, 2026 |
| NBA Finals start date | June 4, 2026 |
| Possible NBA Finals Game 7 date | June 21, 2026 |
| NBA Draft dates | June 25-26, 2025 |
| Preseason events | FIBA EuroBasket, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend, media days, training camps |
| Broadcasters | ESPN, SiriusXM, SiriusXM Canada, NBC, NBA TV |
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What You'll Learn
The 2025-26 NBA season dates
The 2025-26 NBA season is the upcoming 80th season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season is scheduled to begin on October 21, 2025, and end on April 12, 2026.
The NBA preseason will take on a global dimension this year, with the NBA Melbourne Games 2025. The New Orleans Pelicans will travel to Australia to face Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix, marking the league's global expansion. The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will also play twice in China. The NBA preseason games will take place from September 23 to October 18, with the first allowable date for players to report to their teams being September 23. Training camps for teams participating in preseason games outside North America open on September 24, while camps for the remaining 25 teams open on September 29.
The third edition of the in-season NBA Cup tournament is planned to be held from October 31 through December 16, 2025. Group games will be held primarily on Fridays between October 31 and November 28, with additional games on November 25 and 26. The winners of each pool (three teams per conference) and two wild-card teams (one team per conference) will advance to a single-elimination tournament held on December 9, 10, 13, and 16.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for February 15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The play-in tournament is set to take place from April 14 to 17, 2026, followed by the opening of the playoffs the next day. The NBA Finals will commence on June 4, with a possible Game 7 scheduled for June 21.
This season will also feature new media rights deals with NBC Sports and Amazon Prime Video. NBC will carry at least 50 games in the form of Tuesday night doubleheaders, while Prime Video has signed its first U.S. national contract with the league. ESPN will continue to air up to 60 games, mainly on Wednesday nights, and at least 20 NBA Saturday Primetime and NBA Sunday Showcase games.
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NBA Cup tournament
The NBA Cup is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) tournament that occurs during the regular season. The tournament was first announced on July 8, 2023, and debuted during the 2023–24 NBA season. The NBA Cup tournament is a multi-stage tournament that begins with group play followed by single-elimination knockout rounds.
The first edition of the event was called the In-Season Tournament. The format consists of three groups of five teams per conference, for a total of six groups. Each team plays four group stage games, which count towards both the NBA Cup group standings and the regular-season standings. The winners of each group, along with one wild card team from each conference, advance to the knockout rounds. The final two rounds of the knockout stage are played at a neutral site. The winning team receives the trophy, also called the NBA Cup, and each winning player gets a cash prize.
The first winner of the NBA Cup was the Los Angeles Lakers, with the tournament MVP being LeBron James. The Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers in the championship game to win the inaugural NBA Cup. The second edition of the NBA Cup was held from November 12 to December 17, 2024, with the semifinals and championship hosted at T-Mobile Arena. The third edition of the NBA Cup tournament is planned to be held from October 31 through December 16, 2025, as part of the 2025–26 NBA season.
The NBA Cup tournament is a highly anticipated event in the basketball world, with the 2025–26 season marking the 80th season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season is scheduled to begin on October 21, 2025, and end on April 12, 2026. The NBA season also includes other notable events such as the NBA All-Star Game, the play-in tournament, and the NBA Finals, ensuring a thrilling and competitive basketball season for fans and players alike.
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NBA All-Star Weekend
The NBA All-Star Weekend is an annual event held by the National Basketball Association to celebrate the best players and teams in the league. The 74th NBA All-Star Game was played on February 16, 2025, at the Chase Center in San Francisco, with the next one scheduled for February 15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The NBA All-Star Weekend includes a variety of events and activities that showcase the skills and talents of the players, as well as provide entertainment for fans.
One of the highlights of the NBA All-Star Weekend is the All-Star Game itself, which features the league's top players selected by fan, player, and media voting. The game is known for its high-scoring and exciting gameplay, with players showcasing their best skills and moves. The 2025 All-Star Game featured a new format, with four teams competing: Shaq's OGs, Chuck's Global Stars, Kenny's Young Stars, and Candace's Rising Stars. The teams faced off in a single-elimination tournament, with the winners of the first two games advancing to the final. Shaq's OGs defeated Chuck's Global Stars in the final, with the hometown hero scoring 12 points to help their team secure the victory.
In addition to the All-Star Game, the NBA All-Star Weekend also includes skills competitions and exhibitions that test the players' abilities. These include the Kia Skills Challenge, which tests players' dribbling, passing, and shooting skills; the Starry 3-Point Contest, where players compete to make as many three-point shots as possible; and the AT&T Slam Dunk contest, where players showcase their most creative and impressive dunks. Mac McClung made history during the 2025 Slam Dunk contest by becoming the first player to win three consecutive titles, wowing the crowd with four perfect dunks.
The NBA All-Star Weekend also features a variety of entertainment and cultural events that celebrate the host city and the game of basketball. The 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area included an NBA Legends Brunch, the G League Up Next Game presented by AT&T, the NBA HBCU Classic, which showcased the rich history and talent of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and a star-studded lineup of musical performances that paid tribute to the Bay Area's musical heritage.
The NBA All-Star Weekend is a highly anticipated event that brings together the best players, celebrities, and fans to celebrate the game of basketball. It is a showcase of the league's top talent, as well as an opportunity to honour the past and present contributors to the sport, while also providing exciting entertainment for all those involved.
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Preseason games
For the 2024-25 season, preseason games began on October 4, with the Utah Jazz playing the New Zealand Breakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves facing the Los Angeles Lakers. The Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets participated in the Abu Dhabi preseason games, with two games scheduled on October 4 and 6. The Celtics' media day was held on September 24, while the Nuggets' media day took place on September 26. Training camps for teams playing preseason games outside North America opened on September 25.
The 2025-26 season will see the Nets and Suns play preseason games on October 10 and 12 at The Venetian Arena in Macao, China. The Boston Celtics and an unspecified opponent will also play preseason games in Abu Dhabi, with players reporting to the team on September 24. The first allowable date for players participating in preseason games outside North America to report to their teams is September 23. Training camps for these teams open on September 24.
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College basketball season
The 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season is soon to be in full swing. The season began on November 4, 2024, with a packed schedule of 197 games involving Division I teams. The regular season will end on March 9, 2025, with conference tournaments taking place the following week. The NCAA Tournament will tip off on March 18, 2025, and the season will culminate with the national championship game on April 7, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.
This season promises exciting basketball action, with several rule changes proposed and approved by the NCAA Basketball Rules Committee and the Playing Rules Oversight Panel. One notable change allows officials to review whether a player's foot was inbounds on a made shot before time expired. The season also marks a transition for several Division I schools, with 23 schools joining new conferences and six schools playing their last season in their respective conferences.
Some notable games to look out for include Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. No. 14 Purdue, Maine vs. No. 7 Duke, and Howard vs. No. 1 Kansas. The competition is sure to be fierce, with teams aiming for a spot in the Final Four and a chance to claim the national championship title.
While the 2024–25 season is just getting started, it's worth noting that the NBA is already gearing up for its 2025–26 season. Key dates for the upcoming NBA season include the preseason starting in late September, with media days and training camps, and the regular season tipping off on October 21, 2025. The NBA Cup tournament will be held from October 31 to December 16, 2025, and the NBA All-Star Game will take place on February 15, 2026, in Inglewood, California.
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Frequently asked questions
The 2025-26 NBA season is set to begin on October 21, 2025.
The regular season is scheduled to end on April 12, 2026.
The 2025 NBA draft took place on June 25–26, 2025.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for February 15, 2026.
