2026-27 Schedule Release

How to watch NBA games in 2026-27: Everything you need to know

From the season opener to the NBA Finals, here's what to know about how to watch games in the 2026-27 season.

Brian Martin, for NBA.com

In Year 1 of the league’s new media deals, the NBA regular season delivered its most viewers in 24 years, garnering 170 million viewers for games on ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock and NBA TV in 2025-26.

With Year 2 of that deal set to begin in October, here’s a guide to make sure you don’t miss any of the must-see matchups from Opening Week through the NBA Finals.

Overview

The 2026-27 NBA season marks the second of the 11-year media agreements with Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBCUniversal (NBC/Peacock) and Amazon (Prime Video).

  • ABC/ESPN: Entering its 25th straight season of NBA coverage, ABC and ESPN will broadcast 80 regular-season games, including the NBA on Christmas Day five-game slate. In addition to its regular season coverage, ESPN platforms are the exclusive home of the NBA Finals on ABC and the 2027 Western Conference Finals, while also broadcasting first- and second-round NBA Playoff games.
  • NBC/Peacock: The 81st NBA season tips off with the first-ever season-opening tripleheader on NBC/Peacock on Oct. 20. NBC/Peacock will broadcast 100 regular-season games, including a marquee collection of national ‘Holiday Hoops’ games in late December, the first-ever quadrupleheader on Presidents’ Day, the second-annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day quadrupleheader, 2027 All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, and comprehensive playoff coverage.
  • Prime Video: Beginning its second season as a partner for the NBA, Prime Video will stream 66 regular-season games, including the Knockout Rounds of the Emirates NBA Cup before the Championship Game of the fourth-annual in-season competition on Dec. 11 from Indianapolis’ historic Hinkle Fieldhouse. Prime will be the exclusive home for all six games of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament and will culminate its postseason coverage as the exclusive home of the 2027 Eastern Conference Finals.
  • NBA League Pass: Broadcasting all games that are not available on a national platform or in a user’s local market, NBA League Pass will continue to be available via traditional cable and satellite distributors. It is also available for purchase and viewing via the NBA App and NBA.com, while Amazon will be its primary third-party digital distributor.
  • Tap to Watch: A digital initiative that simplifies how fans find and access live NBA game telecasts was introduced during the 2025-26 season and returns for 2026-27. Tap to Watch helps fans around the world quickly access live national, local, international and NBA League Pass game telecasts through the NBA App, NBA.com, team digital platforms and participating partner sites.  Fans can now add the NBA schedule to their digital calendars via nba.ecal.com, with Tap to Watch links that take them directly to where each game is available to watch.

Daily schedule

The 2026-27 schedule of national games will generally feature Mondays on Peacock, Tuesdays on NBC/Peacock, Wednesdays on ESPN, Thursdays on Prime Video, Fridays on Prime Video and ESPN, Saturdays on Prime Video in the afternoon and ABC at night, and Sundays on ABC in the afternoon and NBC/Peacock at night.

Every national game will be available on broadly distributed streaming services – the ESPN App for all ABC/ESPN games, Peacock for all NBCUniversal games and Prime Video for all Amazon games.

Season-long national games:

  • Monday: Peacock/NBCSN
  • Tuesday: NBC/Peacock
  • Wednesday: ESPN
  • * Thursday: Prime Video
  • Friday: Prime Video & ESPN*
  • * Saturday: Prime Video (afternoon games) & ESPN/ABC (night games)
  • * Sunday: ESPN/ABC (afternoon games) & NBC/Peacock (night games)

* = starting midseason

Let’s dive deeper into each of the three broadcast partners for more on their game schedules and presentations, from studio show hosts and analysts to who will call the action on play-by-play and in-game analysis.

NBC, Peacock & NBC Sports Network

Cue the iconic “Roundball Rock” theme song for a new season of the NBA on NBC, beginning with a season-opening tripleheader on Oct. 20. The 2026-27 campaign tips off with a matinee matchup between East rivals Boston and Detroit, followed by banner night at Madison Square Garden as the 2025-26 champion Knicks celebrate their title before taking on LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the new-look 76ers.

Capping off the opening night of the season is a rematch of last year’s thrilling seven-game Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Thunder. Tune in early as NBC will air live team introductions, bringing the excitement of the arena right into every fan’s home.

  • Regular game nights: Monday, Tuesday and Sunday (beginning Jan. 24)
  • Marquee games: Season-opening tripleheader, Holiday Hoops series, MLK Day quadrupleheader, Presidents’ Day quadrupleheader
  • Marquee event: NBA All-Star (Rising Stars, All-Star Saturday Night, All-Star Game)
  • Full schedule: Every NBA game on NBC & Peacock in 2026-27

Peacock NBA Monday: Starting Oct. 26, Peacock will stream up to two games on Monday nights throughout the regular season, concluding April 5. A 30-minute studio program will lead into game coverage each Monday night, with all games featuring the critically acclaimed “On the Bench” production format. These exclusive matchups will also be available on NBC Sports Network.

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday: Beginning Oct. 27, Tuesday nights will feature doubleheaders on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be presented to NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game to NBC stations in the Pacific and Mountain time zones. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock with a 30-minute studio program leading into coverage on Peacock.

Sunday Night Basketball: Launching Jan. 24, Sundays will feature primetime hoops on NBC and Peacock through April 4 – except for Feb. 14 and 21 – and include seven doubleheaders. A one-hour, on-site studio program will lead into game coverage each week on NBC and Peacock.

Holiday Hoops: NBC Sports will present seven games across four nights during the holiday season from Dec. 21-29. Six games will be on NBC/Peacock, with doubleheaders on Tuesday, Dec, 22, Monday, Dec. 28 and Tuesday, Dec. 29. Holiday Hoops begins on Dec. 21 with an Eastern Conference Finals rematch between the Knicks and Cavaliers exclusively on Peacock/NBCSN.

NBA All-Star 2027: As the exclusive home of NBA All-Star (Feb. 19-21), Peacock will stream the Castrol Rising Stars, while NBC/Peacock will present State Farm All-Star Saturday Night and the NBA All-Star Game from Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.

NBC and Peacock’s coverage will feature some new and some familiar voices on game calls and the studio shows breaking down all of the action.

  • Play-by-play announcers: Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle, Terry Gannon, Michael Grady, and Jason Benetti
  • Game analysts: Reggie Miller, Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Robbie Hummel, Austin Rivers, Brad Daugherty, and Derek Fisher
  • Studio show hosts: Maria Taylor and Ahmed Fareed
  • Studio show analysts: Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Brian Scalabrine
  • Courtside reporters: Zora Stephenson, Ashley ShahAhmadi, Jordan Cornette, and John Fanta
  • NBA Insiders: Grant Liffmann and Chris Mannix

ABC & ESPN

NBA coverage on ESPN and ABC returns for a 25th straight season, beginning with a pair of Opening Week doubleheaders.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the Wolves will visit the Heat in the debut games of LaMelo Ball and Giannis Antetokounmpo with their respective new teams, followed by the Lakers hosting the Warriors. On Thursday, Oct. 22, LeBron’s new team faces his first team when the Sixers host the Cavs, followed by a clash of the last two players to earn Kia MVP honors as Denver’s Nikola Jokić visits OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

  • Regular game nights: Wednesday & Friday* (ESPN), Saturday* & Sunday* (ESPN & ABC)
  • Marquee games: NBA on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Eve tripleheader
  • Marquee event: Home of the NBA Finals and Western Conference Finals
  • New platform: All games will be available on ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service
  • Full schedule: Every NBA game on ABC & ESPN in 2026-27
    * = Beginning midseason

Wednesday ESPN doubleheaders: The NBA on Wednesday nights have been a staple on ESPN for years and will continue with doubleheaders throughout the regular season. The network will also air three Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Group Play games the day before Thanksgiving on Nov. 25: Heat at 76ers, Timberwolves at Thunder and Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers. On Feb. 3, the Pistons will host the Knicks in the second-annual NBA Pioneers Classic, honoring the legacy of the league’s first Black players.

Friday ESPN doubleheaders: Beginning in January, ESPN will air select Friday night doubleheaders. The Jan. 22 doubleheader will showcase two 2026 playoff rematches as the Knicks visit the Atlanta Hawks and the Spurs host the Timberwolves . On Jan. 29 during AWS NBA Rivals Week, the Cavaliers will visit the Toronto Raptors in a rematch of their 2026 First Round series, followed by the Timberwolves hosting the Hornets.

NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC: Entering its 12th season, NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC presents the premier national game of the week, beginning on Saturday, Dec. 12 when the defending champion New York Knicks visit the Miami Heat. The marquee franchise will also feature a Rivals Week quadrupleheader on Jan. 30 featuring 76ers at Heat, Nuggets at Thunder, Spurs at Warriors and Lakers at Knicks.

NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC: ABC is the destination for marquee matchups during three Sunday afternoon doubleheaders in February and March. The first will take place on Feb. 28, when the Spurs host the Nuggets at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and the Lakers visit the Dallas Mavericks.

Information regarding ESPN’s NBA studio pre- and postgame programming lineup, including “Inside the NBA,” “NBA Tip-Off” and “NBA Countdown” will be announced at a later date.

Prime Video

Prime Video opens its second season of NBA coverage at TD Garden on Friday, Oct. 23 when the Celtics host the defending champion Knicks in the opening game of a doubleheader, followed by the Rockets visiting the Spurs in Austin, Texas.

  • Regular game nights: Friday, with Thursday* & Saturday* coming in January
  • Marquee games: NBA Cup Knockouts & Championship, Black Friday doubleheader, NBA Global Games
  • Global Games in Europe (Jan. 14 in Paris, Jan. 17 in Manchester)
  • Marquee events: Home of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament and Eastern Conference Finals
  • Full Schedule: Every NBA game on Prime Video in 2026-27

* = Beginning midseason

Emirates NBA Cup Group Play: Prime Video will stream 66 regular-season games this season, including 10 during Group Play of the Emirates NBA Cup – with doubleheaders on five consecutive Fridays beginning on Oct. 30 through Nov. 27.

Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Knockout Rounds: Once Group Play is complete with eight teams advancing to the Knockout Rounds, coverage will be exclusive to Prime Video featuring the single-elimination Quarterfinals (Dec. 4 & 5) and Semifinals (Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9), culminating in the NBA Cup Championship Game on Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Global Games: Prime Video will stream the NBA Paris Game 2027 presented by Tissot on Thursday, Jan. 14 and the NBA Manchester Game 2027 on Sunday, Jan. 17, both between the Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans. After Victor Wembanyama’s homecoming in Paris, the teams will play in the NBA’s first regular-season game in Manchester, England.

Thursday Doubleheaders: Beginning in January, Prime Video will stream Thursday night doubleheaders, including a pair of must-see return games as Jaylen Brown returns to Boston to face the Celtics with the 76ers on Jan. 21, and Giannis Antetokounmpo returns to Milwaukee to meet the Bucks with the Heat on Jan. 28 during AWS NBA Rivals Week.

Saturdays On Prime: Select Saturday afternoon games will stream on Prime Video beginning in February. Marquee games include Ja Morant returning to Memphis to face the Grizzlies with the Blazers on Feb. 6, as well as the first regular-season matchup between the top two picks in the 2026 NBA Draft with No. 1 AJ Dybantsa and the Wizards visiting No. 2 Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz.

SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament: Prime Video is not only home to the conclusion of the Emirates NBA Cup, it is also the exclusive home of the beginning of the NBA postseason, with all six games of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament 2027, which will determine the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference.

Wraparound coverage begins 30 minutes before every game night with “NBA on Prime Pregame” live from Amazon MGM Studios in Culver City, followed by “The Half” at halftime. Each night will culminate with “NBA Nightcap,” a one-hour postgame show. Between doubleheaders, Prime will bridge games with “The Crossover.”

NBA League Pass

Out-of-market and non-nationally broadcast games are available to watch on NBA League Pass, which is available for subscription purchase and viewing on NBA.com and via the NBA App. Check out all of the available plans here.

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