Knicks 2026-27 season: opening night, key dates and prediction markets
The Knicks open their title defense on Tuesday, October 20, against the 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Key dates, the kinds of Knicks contracts and where New Yorkers can trade.
The short answer
The Knicks open the 2026-27 season as defending NBA champions on Tuesday, October 20, at 7:00 p.m. ET against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden, and raise their first championship banner since 1973 before the game. Knicks contracts can cover a single game, the NBA Cup, the conference or the 2027 title. In New York, the sports platforms we cover are available while a legal dispute is pending.
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Last checked October 5, 2026
Where things stand
- Season status: the regular season has not started. Opening night is Tuesday, October 20.
- Opening night: 76ers at Knicks, 7:00 p.m. ET, Madison Square Garden, on NBC and Peacock. LeBron James plays his first game for Philadelphia.
- Next: the Knicks visit Boston on Friday, October 23, then host Orlando on Sunday, October 25.
Last checked: October 13, 2026
Key dates: Knicks 2026-27 season
| Date | Game or event | Time (ET) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, October 20 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers (home) | 7:00 p.m. | Opening night and banner ceremony |
| Friday, October 23 | at Boston Celtics | 7:00 p.m. | First road game |
| Sunday, October 25 | vs. Orlando Magic (home) | 7:00 p.m. | |
| Tuesday, October 27 | vs. Detroit Pistons (home) | 8:00 p.m. | |
| Wednesday, October 28 | at Chicago Bulls | 8:00 p.m. | Second game in two nights |
| Friday, October 30 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 7:30 p.m. | First night of NBA Cup group play across the league |
| Friday, December 11 | NBA Cup championship game, Indianapolis | Settles NBA Cup contracts | |
| Friday, December 25 | vs. San Antonio Spurs (home) | Noon | Christmas Day game |
Opening night, NBA Cup and Christmas details are from the NBA's schedule announcement; the other games are from ESPN's Knicks schedule. Times can change, so confirm them before a game.
Which Knicks contracts can appear?
Availability changes by platform and date, but basketball markets commonly include:
- Single-game winner contracts
- Regular-season win totals
- NBA Cup winner contracts
- Eastern Conference and NBA championship contracts
- Awards such as MVP, on some platforms
A contract's price sits between $0 and $1 and shows what traders collectively imply about the stated outcome; our prediction markets vs. sports betting guide covers the format. Two contracts that sound alike can use different thresholds or deadlines, so check the exact question, the close time and the settlement source.
How does a title defense show up in the market?
A defending champion starts the season with a result already behind it, and that history is public. What a championship contract asks is narrower: will this team win the 2027 title? One opening-night game is one of 82, so a single result moves a season-long contract far less than it would in football. Injuries, trades and the playoff bracket matter more over time.
Contracts built around one player, such as awards, depend on how their rules treat missed games. Read those terms closely.
Why can the Garden's schedule matter?
Single-game contracts settle on one night, so the details of that night count: home or road, a second game in two nights, a nationally televised start time. The key-dates table marks the first back-to-back of the season. None of this tells you which way a price should move; it tells you what traders are weighing.
Are Knicks prediction markets available in New York?
ProphetX, Kalshi, Polymarket US and OG share one New York status for sports contracts: Available — dispute pending (as of October 13, 2026). Basketball listings differ from platform to platform, so check the status and the specific contract before trading. We keep the details current in our New York legality guide.
ProphetX's minimum age is 18 (or the local age of majority if higher); Kalshi's and Polymarket US's minimum age is 18; we recommend 21+.
More New York teams: Giants and Jets, Rangers and Islanders and the Liberty.
Sources
- NBA.com, 2026-27 regular season schedule: nba.com (checked October 13, 2026)
- NBA.com, season opener announcement: nba.com (checked October 13, 2026)
- ESPN, New York Knicks schedule: espn.com (checked October 13, 2026)
- New York status of Kalshi: New York State Attorney General, lawsuit against Kalshi (July 31, 2026): ag.ny.gov (checked October 13, 2026)
- New York status of Polymarket US: New York State Attorney General, lawsuit against Polymarket US (September 24, 2026): ag.ny.gov (checked October 13, 2026)
- Status and sources for all four platforms: our New York legality guide
Frequently asked questions
When is the Knicks' first game of the 2026-27 season?
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden, on NBC and Peacock.
When do the Knicks raise their championship banner?
Before the opening-night game on October 20. It is the franchise's first championship banner since 1973.
Who do the Knicks play on Christmas Day 2026?
The San Antonio Spurs, at Madison Square Garden at noon ET.
What kinds of Knicks contracts do prediction markets list?
Commonly single-game winners, season win totals, the NBA Cup, the Eastern Conference and the NBA championship. What is open depends on the platform and the date.
Can I trade Knicks contracts in New York?
Status in New York: Available — dispute pending (as of October 13, 2026) for the sports platforms we cover. See our New York legality guide for details.
18+ · T&Cs apply · Terms
New users only. T&Cs apply. ProphetX's minimum age is 18 (or the local age of majority if higher); we recommend 21+. Not available in Nevada. Trading involves risk.
