The NBA began rolling out its schedule for the 2025-26 season, and there is a general framework of the important dates on the upcoming calendar. Training camps are still far in the distance, but the league ramps up soon. Marquee matchups slowly leaked out, as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Houston Rockets Oct. 21 in the first game of the season, followed by a Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors showdown as part of the doubleheader.
Important matchups for Christmas Day also solidified with a slate of five games on the docket. While a full schedule for all 30 teams in the league is coming soon, here are the key dates for the upcoming season.
NBA key dates to know for 2025-26 season
September
- Sept. 5-6: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend. The Naismith 2025 Hall of Fame class features Carmelo Anthony (player), Dwight Howard (player), Sue Bird (player), Sylvia Fowles (player), Maya Moore (player), Danny Crawford (official), Billy Donovan (coach), 2008 USA men’s national team, Micky Arison (contributor).
- Sept. 23: Media days for Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns. These five teams hold media day a week before everyone else as they are scheduled to begin their preseason schedule earlier with games slated outside of North America.
- Sept. 24: Training camp opens for teams traveling outside North America for preseason games (Nets, Knicks, Sixers, Pelicans, Suns)
- Sept. 29: Training camp and media day for remaining 25 teams
October
- Oct. 17: Preseason concludes
- Oct. 21: Opening night of the 2025-26 regular season with Thunder vs. Rockets and Lakers vs. Warriors.
- Oct. 31: Emirates NBA Cup group stage begins
November
December
- Dec. 9-10: Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals
- Dec. 13: Emirates NBA Cup semifinals
- Dec. 16: Emirates NBA Cup championship
- Dec. 25: Christmas Day (Knicks vs. Cavaliers, Thunder vs. Spurs, Warriors vs. Mavericks, Lakers vs. Rockets, Nuggets vs. Timberwolves)
January
- Jan. 15: NBA Berlin Games 2026 (Magic vs. Grizzlies)
- Jan. 18: NBA London Games 2026 (Magic vs. Grizzlies)
February
- Feb. 5: NBA Trade deadline (3 p.m. ET)
- Feb. 13-15: 2026 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles
April
- April 12: Regular season concludes
