What NBA International Games are Scheduled for the 2026-2027 Season?

Since 1978, the NBA has played games abroad to grow the global brand and attract basketball fans from all over the world.

This season, the Denver Nuggets will play the Indiana Pacers in Mexico City, Mexico, and the New Orleans Pelicans will play the San Antonio Spurs in Paris, France, and Manchester, England.

The first game was played 48 years ago in Tel Aviv, Israel, where Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated the reigning champion Washington Bullets 98-97.

For years, the NBA has expanded its fanbase and revenue not only for its players, but also for the teams and the fans.

That being said, China, the leader in broadcasting and revenue, the Philippines, leads the world in per-capita NBA following and fan engagement, Europe, holds an estimated 300 million pro-basketball fans and has plans for a joint venture with FIBA, Canada, anchored by the Toronto Raptors, is a hybrid market for NBA fans, and Latin America serves as a primary hub for regular-season global games in Mexico City.

Meanwhile, Mexico City has hosted the most regular-season games outside of the United States and Canada with 15, while The O2 Arena in London has hosted ten.

Aside from regular-season games this season, the NBA held four international preseason games; the Toronto Raptors faced the Miami Heat on October 3rd from Quebec City, the Dallas Mavericks faced the Houston Rockets on October 9th and October 11th from Macao, and the Toronto Raptors faced the Los Angeles Clippers on October 10th from Vancouver.

Overall, the National Basketball Association’s international games foster cross-cultural exchange and promote the league and game's value of worldwide inclusivity.