The 2026 Emirates NBA Cup, explained
Group play in the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup started on Friday, Oct. 30. The champion is crowned on Friday, Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the first Cup final outside Las Vegas. Here's how it works, using only details the NBA has published.
Group play: how teams qualify
- All 30 teams were drawn into six groups of five, by conference. Each team plays four group games on "Cup Nights": one against each group opponent, two at home and two on the road.
- Cup Nights are Fridays Oct. 30, Nov. 6, Nov. 13 and Nov. 20, Tuesday Nov. 24, Wednesday Nov. 25 and Friday Nov. 27.
- Eight teams advance: the six group winners plus one wild card from each conference. The wild card is the second-place team with the best group-play record.
Knockout rounds
| Round | Date(s) | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | Fri. Dec. 4 and Sat. Dec. 5 | Home arena of the higher seed |
| Semifinals | Tue. Dec. 8 and/or Wed. Dec. 9 | Home arena of the higher seed |
| Championship | Fri. Dec. 11 | Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis |
The knockout rounds and the championship stream exclusively on Prime Video.
What counts in the standings
Every group game, quarterfinal and semifinal counts toward the regular-season standings. The championship game does not. Every team still plays 82 regular-season games.
Why your team shows two "TBD" games in December
Every team has two December games left open on its schedule. Teams still in the Cup play their knockout games in those slots, and the 22 teams that do not advance get regular-season games instead. Our schedules show those games as TBD until the NBA fills them in.
Following it on One Page Season
NBA team pages show each team's schedule as it updates. A subscribed calendar feed refreshes on its own, so knockout and added games show up after they're scheduled. A one-time download won't update.
Sources
- NBA.com, Emirates NBA Cup 101: Rules, format and how it works
- NBA.com, Emirates NBA Cup: Key dates & schedule
- NBA.com, Hinkle Fieldhouse to host Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Championship
- NBA.com, How to watch NBA games in 2026-27
Times and TV assignments can change; check the linked sources and providers before you plan or pay. Commentary is our own. Send a correction if you spot an error.