2025-26 NBA Schedule Release: Date, Key Opening Week Games Released, Christmas, MLK Day
Updated
Aug. 12, 2025 9:18 a.m. ET
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The NBA, along with its main broadcast partners, released some key opening week and holiday matchups on Tuesday morning. Stay up to date with everything you need to know about the 2025-26 NBA Schedule release below:
When is the 2025-26 NBA Schedule Release?
The NBA announced that the 2025-26 regular season schedule will be released this week. Fans who tuned in to Good Morning America (ABC) and the TODAY Show (NBC) on Tuesday morning were given a preview of some of the key early matches. The full regular-season schedule will be announced on Thursday and will include dates and opponents for 80 of each team's 82 games.
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When does the 2025-26 NBA Season start?
While we don't know everything about the 2025-26 NBA season yet, we do know that NBA Opening Night will be October 21, 2025. Below are the NBA Opening Night matchups on NBC:
Opening night will see Kevin Durant head back to Oklahoma City with his new team, and watch his former team raise their NBA championship banner. The other game will see Stephen Curry and LeBron James play against one another in another star-studded Western Conference class.
Opening Week on ESPN
The next day on ESPN will feature a load of big names, including Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Victor Wembanyama and this year's #1 pick, Cooper Flagg.
On Thursday, October 23, ESPN will also have a NBA Finals rematch. Here's the schedule for that day:
Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers - 7:30 p.m. ET
Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors - 10 p.m. ET
Peacock Exclusives (October 27)
The first NBA game on Peacock will feature Cade Cunningham's Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Check out the double-header matchup below:
Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons - 7 p.m. ET
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves - 9:30 p.m. ET
2025 NBA Christmas Day Schedule
NBA Christmas Day Games will be spread across ABC and ESPN. On Christmas, there's a rematch of the 2024 Western Conference Finals with the Nuggets hosting the Timberwolves. Also, Cooper Flagg and the new-look Mavs head to San Francisco to take on Curry and the Warriors. The lone Eastern Conference matchup will see the Cavs head to Madison Square Garden for a date with the Knicks. Here are the matchups:
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks - 12 p.m. ET
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder - 2:30 p.m. ET
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors - 5 p.m. ET
Houston Rockets at LA Lakers - 8 p.m. ET
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets - 10:30 p.m. ET
MLK Day - Monday, January 19, 2026
MLK Day will also host a quadruple header on NBC and Peacock. The first matchup is exclusively on Peacock while the other three will be available on both:
Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks - 1 p.m. ET
Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers - 2:30 p.m. ET
Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks - 5 p.m. ET
Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons - 8 p.m. ET
Past NBA Schedule Release Dates
2024-25: Aug. 15, 2024
2023-24: Aug. 17, 2023
2022-23: Aug. 17, 2022
2021-22: Aug. 20, 2021
2020-21: Dec. 4, 2020
2019-20: Aug. 13, 2019
2018-19: Aug. 10, 2018
2017-18: Aug. 14, 2017
2016-17: Aug, 11, 2016
2015-16: Aug. 12, 2015
2014-15: Aug, 13, 2014
2013-14: Aug. 6, 2013
2012-13: July 26, 2012
2011-12: July 19, 2011
2010-11: Aug. 10, 2010
2009-10: Aug. 4, 2009
2008-09: Aug. 6, 2008
2025-26 Regular Season Games Already Announced
We do know the dates of three international games for the upcoming NBA season:
November 1, 2025: Pistons vs. Mavs in Mexico City, Mexico
January 15, 2026: Grizzlies vs. Magic in Berlin, Germany
January 18: 2026: Magic vs. Grizzlies in London, UK
2025-26 NBA Schedule and Key Dates
Oct. 2, 2025: NBA Preseason begins with NBA Abu Dhabi Games
Oct. 21, 2025: Regular Season starts
Oct. 31, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup starts
Dec. 16, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup Championship
Feb. 13-15, 2026: NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles, CA
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