NBA Sits Out Election Day, Returns Wednesday
The NBA has no games scheduled on November 3, 2026, to encourage voting during the midterm elections. The league resumes play with 14 games on November 4.
The NBA has paused its schedule for Election Day on November 3, 2026, encouraging fans and people across the league to vote. It is the fourth time in five years that the league has left Election Day without games; all 30 teams played the night before, November 2.
This year’s midterms include gubernatorial elections in 36 states and contests for state legislative seats in nearly all 50 states. The league first adopted an Election Day pause in 2022, describing the move as part of an effort to support nonpartisan civic participation. It also kept games off the calendar on Election Day in 2023 and 2024, but scheduled six games in 2025, when voting was focused mainly on local contests and two governor races.
The NBA is due back on November 4 with 14 games. Orlando and Golden State are the only teams not scheduled to play. The slate includes Philadelphia at Detroit, Milwaukee at Boston, Cleveland at Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento.
Other U.S. leagues will play on November 3. The NHL has 11 games scheduled, while college football has two Mid-American Conference matchups: Ohio against Akron and Buffalo against Miami (Ohio).