The 2026 NBA Finals begin on Wednesday, 3 June, with Game 1 tipping off at 8:30 p.m. ET (1:30 a.m. BST on 4 June). The series will determine the NBA champion for the 2025-26 season, pitting the Eastern Conference winner against the Western Conference winner in a best-of-seven format. The defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder are the heavy favourites to return, while the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, and Denver Nuggets lead the pack of challengers.
What to Expect
The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, enter the 2026 playoffs as the team to beat after winning their first championship since the franchise relocated from Seattle in 2008. The Thunder sit at the top of the Western Conference standings and are the clear betting favourites at +135. However, the San Antonio Spurs have emerged as genuine contenders, going 18-2 since the All-Star break behind the continued development of Victor Wembanyama, and trail Oklahoma City by just 2.5 games in the West.
In the East, the Boston Celtics are favourites to represent the conference after their 2024 championship and remain among the league’s elite. The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks are also in the mix, while the Detroit Pistons have been one of the season’s biggest surprises, with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren both earning All-Star selections. The 2026 Finals series runs from 3 June to a potential Game 7 on 19 June, with games scheduled every two to three days.
Recent NBA Finals winners include the Thunder (2025), Celtics (2024), Nuggets (2023), Warriors (2022), and Bucks (2021). The Boston Celtics hold the all-time record with 18 championships, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers with 17.
How to Watch
In the United States, ABC holds exclusive broadcast rights to the NBA Finals, with all games tipping off at 8:30 p.m. ET. Streaming is available via ESPN+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream. In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports carries live NBA playoff and Finals coverage. Canadian viewers can watch on Sportsnet, while Australian coverage is available on ESPN via Kayo Sports. NBA League Pass provides international access in most other territories globally.
Venue and Tickets
Game 1 takes place at the home arena of the team with the better regular-season record. The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, with the lower seed hosting Games 3, 4, and 6. NBA Finals tickets are typically among the most expensive in professional basketball, with prices varying significantly depending on the teams involved and arena. Tickets are available through official team box offices, Ticketmaster, and secondary market platforms such as StubHub and SeatGeek.