The 2026 NBA Summer League tips off on July 3 and runs through July 19, spanning three separate events across California, Utah, and Las Vegas. All 30 NBA teams will compete, with 76 games scheduled for the Las Vegas portion alone.
This year’s Summer League carries extra weight. The 2026 NBA Draft on June 23-24 sits just days before the action starts, and top prospects like AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson could make their professional debuts within a week of hearing their names called.
NBA Summer League 2026 Complete Fixtures
The 2026 Summer League breaks into three distinct events: the California Classic (July 3-6), the Salt Lake City Summer League (July 4, 6-7), and the Las Vegas Summer League (July 9-19
California Classic Schedule (July 3-6)
The Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors co-host the eighth annual California Classic across two venues. Chase Center in San Francisco runs games on July 3, 5, and 6. Golden 1 Center in Sacramento hosts action from July 4-6.
I’ve always thought this event is underrated as a Vegas preview. Seven teams across two arenas, with multiple lottery picks in the mix. This year’s field backs that up.
Chase Center, San Francisco
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| July 3, 2026 | Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs | 8:00 PM |
| July 3, 2026 | Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers | 10:30 PM |
| July 5, 2026 | Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat | 4:30 PM |
| July 5, 2026 | Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs | 7:00 PM |
| July 6, 2026 | Golden State Warriors vs. Miami Heat | 7:30 PM |
| July 6, 2026 | San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers | 10:00 PM |
Source: NBA.com / Golden State Warriors
Games on July 3 and July 5 are open to the public. July 6 games are broadcast-only and closed to fans. The Warriors-Lakers opener on July 3 tips off at 10:30 PM ET, giving West Coast fans a prime-time showdown to start the summer.
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| July 4, 2026 | Golden State Warriors vs. Milwaukee Bucks | 3:00 PM |
| July 4, 2026 | Sacramento Kings vs. Brooklyn Nets | 5:00 PM |
| July 5, 2026 | Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets | 3:00 PM |
| July 5, 2026 | Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors | 5:00 PM |
| July 6, 2026 | Brooklyn Nets vs. Golden State Warriors | 8:00 PM |
| July 6, 2026 | Sacramento Kings vs. Milwaukee Bucks | 10:00 PM |
Source: NBA.com / Sacramento Kings
Salt Lake City Summer League Schedule (July 4, 6-7)
The Utah Jazz host a four-team, round-robin tournament at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the University of Utah campus. The event runs across three days with six total games. Specific matchup pairings and tip-off times have not been announced yet.
| Date | Matchup | Venue | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 4, 2026 | TBD vs. TBD | Jon M. Huntsman Center | TBD |
| July 4, 2026 | TBD vs. TBD | Jon M. Huntsman Center | TBD |
| July 6, 2026 | TBD vs. TBD | Jon M. Huntsman Center | TBD |
| July 6, 2026 | TBD vs. TBD | Jon M. Huntsman Center | TBD |
| July 7, 2026 | TBD vs. TBD | Jon M. Huntsman Center | TBD |
| July 7, 2026 | TBD vs. TBD | Jon M. Huntsman Center | TBD |
Source: NBA.com / Utah Jazz
The Jazz moved the event to the Huntsman Center for the second straight year because the Delta Center is undergoing renovations. The Jazz, Hawks, Grizzlies, and Thunder will each play every opponent at least once before heading to Las Vegas. Memphis returns for its eighth consecutive year in Salt Lake City. OKC makes it five straight.
The round-robin format gives all four teams three games in four days. That tight schedule mirrors the pace teams will face in Vegas, making it a useful warm-up for coaches evaluating their rosters.
NBA Summer League 2026 Schedule: Las Vegas (July 9-19)
The Las Vegas NBA Summer League runs 11 days and features all 30 NBA teams. Alongside players and coaches, NBA officials use Summer League games to prepare for the upcoming season.
The NBA has not released specific game-by-game matchups yet. Once announced, the full schedule will include tip-off times and venue assignments across both arenas on the UNLV campus.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 9-19, 2026 |
| Total Games | 76 |
| Teams | All 30 NBA franchises |
| Venues | Thomas & Mack Center, Cox Pavilion |
| Location | UNLV Campus, Paradise, Nevada |
| TV Coverage | NBA TV, ESPN |
Source: NBA.com
Each team plays at least five games. The first four count toward preliminary standings, and the top four teams advance to the playoffs on July 18-19. The remaining 26 teams play a fifth consolation game.
Las Vegas has hosted the NBA Summer League since 2004. A recently approved $4.25 million multi-year sponsorship from the LVCVA keeps the event in Vegas through 2028. The 2026 edition alone is projected to draw more than 76,000 out-of-town visitors and generate over 132,000 hotel room nights for the local market, per the LVCVA.
NBA Summer League 2026 Teams
All 30 NBA franchises compete in the Las Vegas Summer League, making it the largest annual basketball event outside the regular season. The California Classic features seven teams across two venues. The Salt Lake City Summer League has four.
Las Vegas Summer League Teams
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | Dallas Mavericks |
| Boston Celtics | Denver Nuggets |
| Brooklyn Nets | Golden State Warriors |
| Charlotte Hornets | Houston Rockets |
| Chicago Bulls | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Detroit Pistons | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Indiana Pacers | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Miami Heat | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| New York Knicks | Phoenix Suns |
| Orlando Magic | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Sacramento Kings |
| Toronto Raptors | San Antonio Spurs |
| Washington Wizards | Utah Jazz |
Source: NBA.com
Every franchise uses Summer League to evaluate draft picks, undrafted free agents, two-way contract players, and G League call-ups competing for regular-season roster spots. Many future high-flyers first make their mark here before becoming elite finishers, much like the players featured in our Top 10 Most Dunks in NBA History ranking.
California Classic Teams
| San Francisco (Chase Center) | Sacramento (Golden 1 Center) |
|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | Brooklyn Nets |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Golden State Warriors |
| Miami Heat | Milwaukee Bucks |
| San Antonio Spurs | Sacramento Kings |
Source: NBA.com
The Warriors are the only team playing at both venues. Golden State sends a separate entry to each site, giving their coaching staff extra evaluation time across the California Classic.
Salt Lake City Summer League Teams
The four Salt Lake City participants also play in Las Vegas. Here are the teams heading to Utah:
- Utah Jazz (host)
- Atlanta Hawks
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Oklahoma City Thunder
Source: NBA.com / Utah Jazz
Even though OKC and Atlanta made the playoffs this season, both teams control other clubs’ lottery picks and hold multiple first-round selections in the 2026 draft. That means as many as four lottery picks and seven total first-rounders could see action in Salt Lake City this July.
NBA Summer League 2026 Venues
Las Vegas has hosted the NBA Summer League since 2004, and the 2026 edition marks the event’s return to the UNLV campus for another year. The Thomas & Mack Center handles the marquee matchups. Cox Pavilion sits directly connected to the main arena and hosts simultaneous games throughout the day. One ticket covers the full day at both venues.
Las Vegas Venue Details
| Venue | Location | Basketball Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas & Mack Center | UNLV Campus, Paradise, NV | 18,000 |
| Cox Pavilion | UNLV Campus, Paradise, NV | 2,454 |
Source: UNLV Athletics / Thomas & Mack Center
All 2026 Summer League Venues
| Venue | City | Event | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Center | San Francisco, CA | California Classic | 18,064 |
| Golden 1 Center | Sacramento, CA | California Classic | 17,608 |
| Jon M. Huntsman Center | Salt Lake City, UT | SLC Summer League | 15,000 |
| Thomas & Mack Center | Paradise, NV | Las Vegas Summer League | 18,000 |
| Cox Pavilion | Paradise, NV | Las Vegas Summer League | 2,454 |
Sources: UNLV Athletics, NBA.com, University of Utah Athletics
Five arenas across four cities. That is a lot of basketball in 17 days. In my experience watching Summer League over the years, the Cox Pavilion games are where you find the real hidden gems. Smaller crowd, closer seats, and the same level of competition.
NBA Summer League 2026 Key Dates
The timeline from draft night to the championship game moves fast. Here are the dates that matter most for the 2026 NBA Summer League schedule.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 NBA Draft (Round 1) | June 23, 2026 |
| 2026 NBA Draft (Round 2) | June 24, 2026 |
| Free Agency Negotiations Open | June 30, 2026 |
| California Classic Begins | July 3, 2026 |
| Salt Lake City Summer League Begins | July 4, 2026 |
| Free Agent Signings Begin | July 6, 2026 |
| California Classic Ends | July 6, 2026 |
| Salt Lake City Summer League Ends | July 7, 2026 |
| Las Vegas Summer League Begins | July 9, 2026 |
| Las Vegas Preliminary Games End | July 17, 2026 |
| Las Vegas Semifinal Games | July 18, 2026 |
| Las Vegas Championship Game | July 19, 2026 |
Source: NBA.com
Rookies get drafted on June 23-24 and could play their first California Classic game just nine days later on July 3. That is a tight turnaround. Most first-round picks will have barely a week of team practices before stepping on the court.
Conclusion: Three Events, 30 Teams, and 76 Games Make the 2026 NBA Summer League the Biggest Yet
The 2026 NBA Summer League spans July 3 through July 19 across five venues and four cities. All 30 NBA teams compete, with 76 games in Las Vegas alone. The short window between draft night and tip-off means rookies hit the court with barely a week of practice.
In my view, the real Summer League winners are not lottery picks. They are the undrafted guards, two-way forwards, and second-round selections fighting to change the direction of their careers.
