As the 2024-25 NBA season and 2025 NBA Draft are concluded, the anticipation for the next season is building. The NBA has confirmed that the schedule for the 2025-26 season will be unveiled this week. Fans can catch the announcement on Good Morning America (ABC) or the TODAY Show (NBC) on Tuesday morning.

When Will the 2025-26 NBA Schedule Be Released?

The regular season schedule will list upcoming opponents and dates for 80 of the 82 games each team will play, along with two matches part of the Emirates NBA Cup that are yet to be determined.

Opening Night Details

The NBA Opening Night is scheduled for October 21, 2025. The matchups for this event will include:

• Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder
• Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers

Kevin Durant will revisit Oklahoma City with his new team and witness his former team raising their NBA championship banner, while another game features a clash between Stephen Curry and LeBron James.

Christmas Day Schedule

The NBA Christmas Day games will be shown on ABC and ESPN. Here are the matchups:

• Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
• Houston Rockets vs. LA Lakers
• Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors
• Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets

Christmas will see a rematch of the 2024 Western Conference Finals, with the Nuggets hosting the Timberwolves, and Cooper Flagg leading the Mavericks against Stephen Curry’s Warriors. The Eastern Conference matchup will consist of the Cavaliers visiting the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Notable Dates For the 2025-26 Season

• Oct. 2, 2025: NBA Preseason begins with NBA Abu Dhabi Games.
• Oct. 21, 2025: Regular Season begins.
• Oct. 31, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup begins.
• Dec. 16, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup Championship.
• Feb. 13-15, 2026: NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles, CA.

Previous 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