NBA Cup 2026 Schedule Set for October Start with Indianapolis Championship
Fox Sports reports that the 2026 NBA Cup will commence on 30 October, with the knockout stages and final scheduled for December at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The National Basketball Association has finalised the schedule for the 2026 NBA Cup, confirming that group play will commence on Friday, 30 October. The tournament is set to conclude with the championship match on Friday, 11 December, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. All 30 NBA teams will participate in the initial group phase, with each side scheduled to play four games.
The competition structure requires each team to face the other four teams in its group once. Advancement to the single-elimination knockout rounds is determined by group performance, with the six group winners and the best second-place team from each conference progressing. In the event of ties, head-to-head results will be considered first, followed by point differential as the primary tiebreaker.
Group play matches are scheduled across seven dates: Friday, 30 October; Friday, 6 November; Friday, 13 November; Friday, 20 November; Tuesday, 24 November; Wednesday, 25 November; and Friday, 27 November. These fixtures, along with the subsequent quarterfinal and semifinal matches, will count towards the standard 82-game regular-season schedule. The championship game, however, is designated as a standalone event and does not count toward regular-season standings.
The knockout stages will see the quarterfinals and semifinals hosted in various NBA team markets, distinct from the neutral-site championship venue. This format maintains the in-season tournament’s integration with the regular season while reserving the final for a dedicated location. The New York Knicks enter the 2026 competition as defending champions, having secured the 2025 title.
In the 2025 final, the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 124-113, with Jalen Brunson named the tournament MVP. The victory marked a historic achievement for New York, as they became the first team to win both the NBA Cup and the NBA championship in the same season. The 2026 schedule announcement provides the framework for teams to navigate the group stage ahead of the December climax in Indianapolis.
