The NBA on Tuesday unveiled the complete schedule for the 2026 Finals, setting Game 1 for Wednesday, June 3, and adjusting several traditional slots to steer clear of overlapping FIFA World Cup broadcasts in North America.
2026 NBA Finals schedule
- Game 1: Wednesday, June 3
- Game 2: Friday, June 5
- Game 3: Monday, June 8
- Game 4: Wednesday, June 10
- Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, June 13
- Game 6 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 16
- Game 7 (if necessary): Friday, June 19
The league typically announces Finals dates later in the season, but this year’s early release accommodates the World Cup group-stage calendar. According to Sports Media Watch’s Jon Lewis, the NBA would ordinarily open the series on a Thursday and stage Game 4 on a Friday. Instead, officials moved Game 4 to Wednesday, June 10, to avoid conflicting with the United States vs. Paraguay match on Friday, June 12.
Although the U.S. national team is also scheduled to play Australia on Friday, June 19, that contest is set for daytime hours and will not clash with a potential Game 7 that evening.
The 2026 edition marks the first NBA Finals since 1970 without a Sunday game. Saturday contests remain uncommon as well; the only Saturday Finals game since 1981 occurred in 2021 when the pandemic altered the league calendar.
Source: Hoops Rumors
