NBA Finals begin June 3 on ABC

The NBA published its 2026 Finals schedule on May 12, setting Game 1 for Wednesday, June 3, on ABC. The league said ABC will be the exclusive broadcaster for the championship series, which matches the winners of the Eastern and Western Conference playoffs. All games on the schedule are listed for 8:30 p.m. Eastern. The series can run as late as Friday, June 19, if a seventh game is needed. ### When does the series actually start? Wednesday, June 3, is the opening date on the NBA’s official schedule for the 2026 Finals. The league’s schedule page says Game 1 will tip at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. May 12 is the date attached to the NBA’s published Finals schedule. The league’s playoffs hub repeats that the Finals are scheduled to tip off June 3 on ABC. ### Which network has the broadcast? ABC is the exclusive broadcaster for the 2026 NBA Finals, according to the NBA’s schedule page. The league used that wording in its posted schedule and listed ABC next to every game in the series. (nba.com) The NBA’s Finals page also places the broadcast information directly in the game-by-game listing. (nba.com) Game 1, Game 2, Game 3 and Game 4 are all scheduled for ABC, with Games 5 through 7 also on ABC if necessary. ### What is the full game calendar? Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, and Game 2 for Friday, June 5, the NBA said. (nba.com) Game 3 is set for Monday, June 8, and Game 4 for Wednesday, June 10. Saturday, June 13, is the listed date for Game 5, while Tuesday, June 16, is the listed date for Game 6, according to the NBA. (nba.com) Friday, June 19, is the listed date for Game 7. The league marked Games 5, 6 and 7 as necessary only if the series extends that far. ### Who will play in the Finals? The Eastern Conference champion and the Western Conference champion will meet in the NBA Finals, the league’s playoffs site says. (nba.com) The matchup has not yet been set because the conference playoffs are still determining the two finalists. The NBA’s Finals hub is already live even without the teams filled in. (nba.com) The page identifies the event as the championship round of the 2025-26 season and links it to the broader 2026 playoffs bracket. ### Where can fans check the official schedule? NBA.com carries the official Finals schedule on both the league’s news page and its playoff hub. (nba.com) The two pages list the same dates, start times and ABC broadcast designation for all seven possible games. The next fixed date on that calendar is June 3, when Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. (nba.com) ET on ABC. If the series goes the distance, the last possible game is June 19. (nba.com)