Key 2026 NBA Preseason Dates, Deadlines

The most notable dates of the 2026 NBA offseason are behind us now that we’re well clear of the draft and the free agent period. However, there are still a number of dates and deadlines to keep an eye on in the coming weeks and months before teams take the court for the 2026/27 regular season.

Here’s the breakdown:

September 22

• Media day for the Rockets.
• Training camps open for the Rockets and Mavericks.

September 25

• Media day for the Mavericks.

September 28

• Media day for the remaining NBA teams.

September 29

• All training camps open.

October 1

• Last day for a restricted free agent to sign his qualifying offer (unless his team agrees to push back the deadline).

October 3

• Preseason begins.

October 16

• Preseason ends.

October 17

• Last day for players on fully non-guaranteed contracts to be waived and not count at all against a team’s 2026/27 cap. They must clear waivers before the first day of the regular season.
  [RELATED: Players on non-guaranteed contracts]

October 19

• Last day of the 2026 offseason.
• Roster limits decrease from 21 players to 18 (4:00 pm CT). Teams will be limited to carrying 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals as of this deadline.
• Last day for teams to sign a player to a rookie scale extension (5:00 pm CT).
  [RELATED: Players eligible for rookie scale extensions]
• Last day for teams to sign an extension-eligible veteran player with multiple seasons left on his contract (such as Tyrese Haliburton) to an extension. An extension-eligible veteran player on an expiring deal (like Stephen Curry) or with a 2027/28 option (e.g. Giannis Antetokounmpo) can still be extended after October 20.
• Last day for teams to complete a sign-and-trade deal.
• Last day for teams to convert a player’s Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way contract.

October 20

• 2026/27 regular season begins.
  [RELATED: 2026/27 schedules by team]

Information from NBA.com was used in the creation of this post.