NBA Season 2025-26 to kick off in October: Know opening day details, key dates

From preseason games around the globe to Opening Night on October 21, the 2025-26 NBA season is packed with action from start to finish.

Published on: Aug 6, 2025, 20:17:13 IST

By HT US Desk

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The National Basketball Association has officially unveiled the full calendar for the 2025-26 season, highlighting key events, international games, and the much-anticipated Opening Night on October 21. The NBA 2025-26 season is set to be action-packed, featuring global matchups and a second edition of the Emirates NBA Cup.

The NBA 2025-26 Season will kick off with opening game on October 21, 2025. (Representative Image/AP)

When will the NBA Season 2025-26 kick off?

The regular NBA season will begin on Tuesday, October 21 with a yet-to-be announced doubleheader between defending champion and top market matchup. Rosters must be finalized by October 20 at 5 pm ET with media days beginning September 23 for teams playing preseason games overseas.

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NBA Season 2025-26: Global preseason tour

Before the NBA 2025-26 Season’s regular games officially tips off, several teams are set to participate in high-profile preseason events across the globe. Fans can look forward to Abu Dhabi Games on October 2 and October 4 which will feature New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.

Other events include:

Melbourne Series (October 3 & 5): Pelicans vs NBL teams

NBA Canada Series (October 6): Nuggets vs Raptors in Vancouver

China Games (October 10 & 12): Nets vs Suns in Macao

Emirates NBA Cup returns

The 2025-26 edition of the Emirates NBA Cup will feature group play from October 31 to November 28 followed by knockout rounds and the final in Las Vegas. The knockout rounds will begin with quarterfinals on December 9 and 10 followed by semifinals on December 13. The much-anticipated championship game will be held in Las Vegas on December 16.

All matches in this tournament will be streamed live on Prime Video.

Special international regular season games

As part of their global outreach, NBA will host regular season games internationally. On November 1, the Mexico City game will feature the Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks. In 2026, the league will travel to Europe with Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies going against each other in Berlin on January 15 and again in London on January 18.

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Key dates for the NBA Season 2025-26

Key dates for the NBA 2025-26 Season kick off with the opening of training camps starting September 24 for overseas teams and on September 29 for all other teams.

Other important dates of the regular NBA season 2025-26, which kicks off in October, include:

NBA Trade Deadline: February 5, 2026
NBA All-Star Weekend: February 13-15, 2026, in Los Angeles, CA
Regular Season Ends: April 12, 2026
Playoffs Begin: Mid-April 2026

FAQs

1. What day does the new NBA season start?

The 2025-26 NBA season begins on October 21, 2025.

2. What months are NBA basketball seasons?

The NBA season typically runs from October to April, followed by playoffs from mid-April to June.

3. Where are the NBA Finals in 2025?

The 2025 NBA Finals concluded in June with OKC and Indiana competing. Finals are hosted at the home arenas of the two finalists.

4. Who plays opening day in the NBA?

The Opening Night matchups are typically announced closer to the date and often feature marquee teams or Finals participants. The 2025-26 Opening Night matchups have not yet been announced.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT US Desk
The Hindustan Times US Desk brings you the latest news and developments from across the United States. The team covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, business, entertainment and stories that are trending across the country. Our coverage includes the White House, Congress, US elections, immigration and visa updates, H-1B, green cards, Social Security, education, jobs, layoffs, the economy, technology and major policy changes. We also closely follow stories that matter to Indian and South Asian communities in the US. The desk covers major US sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, along with player news, injuries, schedules, results and major events. Entertainment coverage includes Hollywood, celebrities, television, streaming, music and pop culture. We also report on breaking developments, major incidents, weather, public safety, court cases and other stories making headlines across the country. When a major policy or news development affects people's everyday lives, the team works to explain what happened, what it means and what readers need to know. Alongside breaking news, the US Desk produces explainers and practical stories on topics such as immigration, Social Security, taxes, education, employment and government programmes. The team also works on science, tech, business and AI stories analyzing the impact they may have on people. The team follows developments throughout the day, keeping an eye on official announcements, public records, reliable news sources and what people are talking about across the US.Read More

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