NBA to Stage Regular-Season Games in Mexico City, Paris and Manchester in 2026-27

Three regular-season games in the 2026–27 NBA season will be held outside North America. The Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers will play at Mexico City Arena on Nov. 7. On Jan. 14, the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs will meet at Accor Arena in Paris, and on Jan. 17 the same two teams will face each other again at Co-op Live in Manchester. Both European games will feature the Pelicans and Spurs.

The NBA typically holds regular-season games at each team's home arena. Staging official games in cities other than home markets, however, is an approach the league has pursued in recent years to expand its popularity overseas. The three games this season follow that trend. In the preseason, the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks are scheduled to play in Macau on Oct. 9 and 11. Macau is a special administrative region of China, so games outside North America will also take place there.

The Spurs were likely chosen for the Paris game because they have Victor Wembanyama, who is from France. The game will give local fans a chance to see the team in person. The Spurs also reached the 2026 NBA Finals and are one of the most closely watched teams this season.

The full season schedule was also announced. The 2026–27 season is the NBA's 81st, and the regular season will run from Oct. 20, 2026, to April 11, 2027. The NBA Cup is scheduled from Oct. 30 to Dec. 11. The NBA Cup is a league competition held during the regular season and will follow nearly the same format as in previous years.

The 2027 All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 21 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The play-in tournament will run from April 13 to 16, and the playoffs will begin on April 17 and end with the NBA Finals in June. The play-in is a tournament in which teams competing for playoff spots decide who advances.

What stands out about the overseas games this season is that only two teams will face travel burdens. For fans, it offers a chance to see the same matchup in both Paris and Manchester. Mexico City sits at a high altitude, so the physical toll on visiting teams always draws attention. With the schedule now set, how each team handles its travel will be one of the season's storylines.

Background

The Spurs were reportedly chosen for the Paris game because of Victor Wembanyama, who is from France. The Spurs also reached the 2026 NBA Finals.

Basketball Press view

The NBA is holding official games outside North America to give fans more chances to watch live abroad. Pairing the two European games as the same matchup appears designed to limit travel demands to two teams. In Mexico City, the high altitude will likely make the visiting team's conditioning a key focus. The three regular-season games will test teams' preparation, including travel and time-zone adjustments. The choice of host cities suggests the league places importance on its international reach.

Translated from the Japanese article by the Basketball Press editors. AI is used to assist in translation.