Key Highlights
- The 82-game 2026-2027 NBA regular season begins on Oct. 20, 2026, with three NBC and Peacock games and concludes on April 11, 2027.
- National coverage is spread across NBC, Peacock, ESPN, ABC, and Prime Video, while most local games continue to require access to regional sports networks for now.
- Featured annual prices include ESPN Unlimited at $319.99, Peacock Premium at $129.99, and NBA League Pass at $109.99 with ads or $159.99 without ads; Prime Video-only costs $8.99 per month.
2026-2027 NBA Season Opening and Schedule
The 2026-2027 NBA season is scheduled to tip off on Oct. 20, 2026, with a triple-header on NBC and Peacock. The Boston Celtics face the Detroit Pistons at 3 p.m. ET, the Philadelphia 76ers play the New York Knicks at 7 p.m. ET, and the Oklahoma City Thunder meet the San Antonio Spurs at 9:30 p.m. ET. The 82-game regular season will wrap up on April 11, 2027.
The opening schedule follows a season in which the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in more than 50 years and the league rekindled its broadcast partnership with NBC after a 23-year absence. Although the services required for national games are unchanged from the previous season, local viewing arrangements remain in transition as teams move away from traditional regional sports network models.
National NBA Broadcast Schedule
TNT’s long-standing NBA contract ended before the previous season, and NBC took the open slot. NBC and its streaming counterpart, Peacock, will air up to 100 regular-season games across Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights in 2026-2027. Several additional games will be available exclusively through Peacock.
Amazon is in its second consecutive year with an NBA agreement. Prime Video will provide exclusive global coverage of 67 regular-season games, Emirates NBA Cup games, and the Eastern Conference Finals. ABC and ESPN will continue to televise 80 regular-season games for the 25th consecutive season.
There will be 247 national broadcasts across ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and Prime Video. Viewers who want games available on every national platform will need more than one streaming service, even if they already pay for cable.
| Day | National broadcaster or streaming service |
|---|---|
| Sunday | ABC and NBC/Peacock |
| Monday | Peacock/NBC |
| Tuesday | NBC/Peacock |
| Wednesday | ESPN |
| Thursday | Prime Video |
| Friday | Prime Video and ESPN, starting midseason |
| Saturday | ABC/ESPN and Prime Video |
How to Watch NBA Games Without Cable
Cable is not required for national NBA coverage. Peacock provides NBC broadcasts and Peacock-exclusive games, ESPN Unlimited carries games from ESPN and ABC, and Prime Video covers its nationally televised slate. Together, those three services provide access to nearly 250 games during the 2026-2027 season. Cable subscribers still need Peacock and Prime Video for games available exclusively through those platforms.
Local games account for the majority of the NBA schedule and are carried primarily by regional sports networks, although many franchises have begun moving toward other distribution models. In-market viewers need access to their team’s regional sports network or its streaming counterpart. Cord-cutting has placed many regional sports networks under severe financial pressure, and 2026-2027 could be the final season built around the current model. A centralized streaming hub for local NBA games involving most teams is expected the following season.
DAZN has joined the NBA as a partner for the 2026-2027 season with exclusive digital local broadcast rights for 10 teams. Prime Video has also secured exclusive rights to Hawks games and will carry four additional teams on a nonexclusive basis. Fans outside their team’s market can use NBA League Pass, which streams practically all regional broadcasts involving out-of-market teams. For example, a viewer in New York City can use League Pass for every team except the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
NBA Streaming Deal Options and Prices
| Best for | Plan | Listed price |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN and ABC games | ESPN Unlimited annual plan | $319.99 per year, saving $63.89 |
| NBC and Peacock games | Peacock Premium annual plan | $129.99 per year, saving $25.89 or 17% |
| Prime Video games | Prime Video only | $8.99 per month, saving $6 per month compared with a full Prime subscription |
| Out-of-market games | NBA League Pass | Starting at $16.99 per month; $109.99 per season with ads or $159.99 without ads |
ESPN Unlimited: Best for ESPN and ABC Games
Get Deal: ESPN Unlimited annual plan — $319.99 per year, saving $63.89.
ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service, launched during the previous season, provides access to the company’s full suite of ESPN networks and services through one subscription. Subscribers can watch NBA games on ESPN and ABC in real time, along with other sports and leagues included in the service. ESPN Unlimited normally costs $31.99 per month, while the annual plan saves approximately 16%, or more than $60, compared with paying month to month.
Peacock Premium: Best for NBC and Peacock Games
Get Deal: Peacock Premium annual plan — $129.99 per year, saving 17% or $25.89.
A monthly Peacock Premium subscription with advertising costs $12.99, or $155.88 over 12 months. Paying $129.99 annually reduces the effective monthly price to $10.83 and provides 12 months for the price of 10. Peacock Premium Plus costs $199.99 per year, or about $16.67 per month instead of $19.99, and includes ad-free content, although live sports still contain advertisements. Viewers subscribing specifically for NBA games have the less expensive Premium option.
Additional Peacock offers include:
- Free Peacock Premium for eligible Xfinity customers
- Free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers
- Free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ subscribers
- Student savings of $6 per month on one year of Peacock Premium
- Savings of $5 per month on Peacock Premium for first responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and teachers
Prime Video Only: Best for Prime Video NBA Games
Get Deal: Prime Video only — $8.99 per month, saving $6 per month compared with a full Amazon Prime subscription.
Viewers interested only in the NBA games carried by Prime Video do not need the broader benefits of an Amazon Prime membership. The standalone plan costs $8.99 per month rather than $14.99 for Prime and can be canceled whenever the subscriber chooses, as with a full Prime membership.
Amazon’s sign-up flow may require additional navigation to find the standalone option. Select the option to “see more plans” or “change plans.” Then choose the Prime Video-only plan. Other listed offers include 22% savings on an annual Amazon Prime membership and $7.50 per month in savings for students with Prime for Young Adults.
NBA League Pass: Best for Out-of-Market Games
Get Deal: NBA League Pass annual plan — $109.99 per season with ads or $159.99 per season without ads.
NBA League Pass follows the out-of-market model of NFL Sunday Ticket, providing live access to games involving teams outside the viewer’s local market. It also includes the NBA archive, analysis, documentaries, and highlights. The annual subscription is advertised as saving more than 40% compared with paying monthly.
Monthly League Pass pricing is $16.99 for one device with commercials or $24.99 for up to three devices with in-arena streams and no commercials. The higher-priced annual option adds ad-free viewing and simultaneous streaming on three devices.
League Pass does not provide every game live. Games carried locally on NBA TV and nationally televised games are subject to blackouts. Locally blacked-out games become available three days after the live broadcast, while nationally broadcast games become available three hours after their live telecast.
Why This Matters
The 2026-2027 NBA viewing landscape separates national and local access more clearly than a traditional cable package does. Peacock, ESPN Unlimited, and Prime Video collectively cover nearly 250 national games, but regional sports networks still control much of the local schedule. Viewers therefore need to determine whether a game is national, in-market, or out-of-market before choosing a subscription.
The season also represents a transition point for local NBA distribution. DAZN and Prime Video are expanding their team coverage while the broader regional sports network model weakens. If the expected centralized streaming hub arrives the following season, many viewers may be able to consolidate local games into a single service. Until then, access to a specific team’s regional network or streaming counterpart remains necessary for most in-market games, while NBA League Pass remains the primary option for live out-of-market regional coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which streaming services are needed for national NBA games?
Peacock carries NBC games and its exclusive selections, ESPN Unlimited carries ESPN and ABC games, and Prime Video carries its exclusive national schedule. A combination of those services covers nearly 250 national games. Cable subscribers also need Peacock and Prime Video for games that are available exclusively through those platforms.
Can I watch the NBA without cable?
Yes for national games. Peacock, ESPN Unlimited, and Prime Video provide the national lineup without a traditional cable subscription. Local games are different: in-market viewers need their team’s regional sports network or streaming counterpart, while out-of-market viewers generally need NBA League Pass.
Does NBA League Pass include every NBA game live?
No. League Pass carries live out-of-market regional games, but local games on NBA TV and nationally televised games are blacked out. Locally blacked-out games are available three days after the live broadcast, and national games are available three hours after the telecast. For live local games, viewers still need the designated regional network or team-specific streaming service.
