The NBA Finals are the championship series of the National Basketball Association, crowning the best team in professional basketball. The 2026 NBA Finals begin on Wednesday 3 June and run through to a potential Game 7 on Friday 19 June, with the Oklahoma City Thunder looking to become the first team since the Golden State Warriors in 2018 to successfully defend their title. All games will be broadcast live on ABC in the United States, with tip-off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
What Are the NBA Finals?
The NBA Finals represent the culmination of the NBA season, pitting the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion in a best-of-seven series. The series uses the 2-2-1-1-1 format, meaning the team with home court advantage (determined by regular season record) hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the opposing team hosts Games 3, 4, and 6. Games 5, 6, and 7 are played only if necessary.
To reach the Finals, teams must first navigate the NBA Playoffs, a gruelling postseason bracket that begins in mid-April. Each conference seeds eight teams (plus two Play-In Tournament qualifiers) who compete through four rounds: First Round, Conference Semi-Finals, Conference Finals, and the Finals themselves. Every round is a best-of-seven series, meaning a team must win 16 games across four rounds to claim the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
The Finals MVP award, named after Bill Russell since 2009, is presented to the outstanding player of the championship series, as voted by a panel of media members. The 2025 Finals MVP was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who averaged 29 points per game in the deciding Game 7 victory.
When Are the 2026 NBA Finals?
The 2026 NBA Finals follow a Wednesday-Friday-Monday-Wednesday schedule for the opening four games, with weekend dates reserved for the final three games if required. Here is the full schedule:
- Game 1: Wednesday 3 June, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 2: Friday 5 June, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 3: Monday 8 June, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 4: Wednesday 10 June, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday 13 June, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 6 (if necessary): Tuesday 16 June, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 7 (if necessary): Friday 19 June, 8:30 p.m. ET
All games tip off at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 a.m. BST the following day for UK viewers). The series will end as early as 10 June if one team wins in four straight games, or as late as 19 June if a decisive Game 7 is required.
Where Are the 2026 NBA Finals?
The NBA Finals are held at the home arenas of both participating teams, with the venue rotating between cities according to the 2-2-1-1-1 format. The team with the better regular season record earns home court advantage, hosting up to four of the seven games.
NBA arenas typically hold between 18,000 and 21,000 spectators for basketball. Some of the most iconic Finals venues include Madison Square Garden in New York (capacity 19,812), TD Garden in Boston (19,156), and the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City (18,203). The exact venues for the 2026 Finals will be confirmed once the Conference Finals conclude in early June.
Key Contenders
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2026 Playoffs as the clear favourites. The defending champions posted a league-best 60-16 record through the regular season, returning 95% of their minutes from the 2025 championship roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who won both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP in 2025, continues to be the most dominant two-way player in the league. The Thunder’s historically elite defence, which set records for point differential last season, has remained suffocating throughout 2025-26.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics remain a serious threat. Owners of the most championships in NBA history (18 titles), Boston has the second-best record in the East and welcomed back Jayson Tatum to full fitness in the second half of the season. The Detroit Pistons have emerged as a genuine contender, while the Cleveland Cavaliers, bolstered by the mid-season acquisition of James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers, possess the playmaking depth to challenge in a seven-game series. The New York Knicks also remain in the conversation.
From the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs have surged into contention with the second-best championship odds, powered by a roster that appears to be peaking at the right time. The Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, also carry the experience and talent to make a deep run.
How to Watch
The 2026 NBA Finals will be broadcast extensively across multiple regions:
United States: ABC holds exclusive broadcast rights for the entire NBA Finals. All seven games (if required) will air on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET. The games are also available to stream via ESPN+ and through live TV services that carry ABC, including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and fuboTV. For cord-cutters, ABC is available free over the air with a digital antenna in most US markets.
United Kingdom and Ireland: Amazon Prime Video has secured exclusive rights to the NBA Finals in the UK, bringing the championship series to Prime members. TNT Sports also provides selected NBA coverage, with streaming available through the associated platform. NBA League Pass offers the widest access for regular season and playoff games, though Finals blackout restrictions may apply.
International: NBA League Pass is available in over 200 countries and territories, providing live and on-demand coverage. Local broadcasters carry the Finals in major markets worldwide, including TSN and Sportsnet in Canada, ESPN in Australia, and various partners across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
History and Records
The NBA Finals have been contested annually since 1947, when the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Chicago Stags. In the decades since, the championship series has produced some of the most iconic moments in sporting history. The Boston Celtics hold the record for the most NBA championships with 18 titles, including an unprecedented eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966 under the leadership of Bill Russell. The Los Angeles Lakers are close behind with 17 titles (including five won as the Minneapolis Lakers).
Together, the Celtics and Lakers account for 35 of the 79 championships awarded, nearly 45% of all titles in league history. Their rivalry has produced 12 Finals meetings, more than any other pairing. The Golden State Warriors sit third on the all-time list with seven championships. The 2025 title won by the Oklahoma City Thunder was notable as the seventh consecutive year with a unique champion, the longest such streak in NBA history.
Other historic milestones include Michael Jordan’s six Finals victories with the Chicago Bulls (1991-93, 1996-98), each accompanied by a Finals MVP award. The longest Finals series in terms of games played is seven, which has occurred on numerous occasions, most recently in 2025 when the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in the deciding game.
Tickets and Attendance
NBA Finals tickets are among the most sought-after in professional sport, with prices varying significantly depending on the teams involved, seating location, and the stage of the series. Upper-level seats typically start from around $1,000, while courtside seats can command anywhere from $10,000 to over $50,000 per ticket. For decisive Game 6 or Game 7 matchups, prices can escalate further, with premium courtside seats occasionally exceeding $75,000.
Tickets are distributed through the participating teams’ box offices and official ticketing partners, with Ticketmaster serving as the NBA’s official marketplace. Secondary market platforms including SeatGeek, StubHub, and Vivid Seats also offer Finals tickets, though buyers should exercise caution and purchase only from verified resellers. Tickets typically go on sale shortly after the Conference Finals conclude and the two participating teams are confirmed, usually in late May or early June.
For those unable to attend in person, many NBA teams and sponsors organise official watch parties and fan zones in their respective cities during the Finals.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the 2026 NBA Finals start?
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals tips off on Wednesday 3 June at 8:30 p.m. ET (1:30 a.m. BST on Thursday 4 June).
Where are the 2026 NBA Finals being held?
The Finals are played at the home arenas of both participating teams, alternating in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. The exact venues will be confirmed once the Conference Finals conclude.
How can I watch the NBA Finals?
In the US, all games air exclusively on ABC. In the UK, Amazon Prime Video holds the rights. NBA League Pass provides international coverage in over 200 countries.
Who won the NBA Finals last year?
The Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA Finals, defeating the Indiana Pacers 4-3 in a seven-game series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Finals MVP after scoring 29 points in the deciding Game 7.
How many games are in the NBA Finals?
The NBA Finals are a best-of-seven series. The first team to win four games is crowned champion. The series can end in as few as four games (a sweep) or go the full seven.