CHARLOTTE, NC — Basketball season is getting closer in the Queen City. The Charlotte Hornets have officially released their 2026-27 regular-season schedule, giving fans their first look at the matchups coming to Spectrum Center this season.
Charlotte will begin the regular season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, October 21, before quickly returning home for an early Southeast Division matchup.
Hornets Open at Home Against Atlanta
The Hornets’ home opener is Friday, October 23, when the Atlanta Hawks visit Spectrum Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
Charlotte won’t have much time to recover, as the Hornets will be right back on their home floor the following evening. The Miami Heat come to Charlotte on Saturday, October 24 at 6 p.m., giving the Hornets back-to-back home games during opening weekend.
The early portion of the schedule will keep Charlotte busy. The Washington Wizards visit on October 26, followed by a road matchup against the Detroit Pistons on October 28.
Charlotte then begins Emirates NBA Cup competition on October 30 with a road game against Washington before returning home to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Halloween, October 31.
Major Matchups Coming to Spectrum Center
Several of the Eastern Conference’s biggest teams will make trips to Charlotte during the season.
The Boston Celtics visit Spectrum Center on November 6, while the Cleveland Cavaliers arrive on November 9.
The newly released schedule will also bring several of the NBA’s biggest stars and storylines through Charlotte over the course of the season, giving Hornets fans plenty of opportunities to see some of the league’s top talent in Uptown.
One of the most anticipated games on the entire schedule could come on February 15, when former Hornets star LaMelo Ball returns to Charlotte as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ball’s first trip back to Spectrum Center following his move to Minnesota is expected to be one of the season’s biggest homecoming storylines.
NBA Cup Games Included on Schedule
Charlotte will once again participate in the Emirates NBA Cup, with Group Play taking place during the opening portion of the season.
The NBA has initially scheduled 80 of each team’s 82 regular-season games. The Hornets’ final two opponents and dates will be determined by the results of NBA Cup Group Play, with those additional games taking place during the December 4-10 window.
NBA Cup Group Play begins October 30 and continues through November 27, with games played on designated Cup Nights. Teams that advance will move into the knockout portion of the tournament in December.
A New Season in the Queen City
The 2026-27 season officially begins across the NBA on October 20, while Charlotte gets underway one night later in Brooklyn.
The regular season will run through Sunday, April 11, 2027, when all 30 NBA teams are scheduled to be in action.
For Hornets fans, the schedule release officially starts the countdown to another season at Spectrum Center, with divisional rivalries, NBA Cup games, major homecomings and some of basketball’s biggest names all headed to Charlotte.
Key Hornets Dates
Oct. 21: Season Opener at Brooklyn Nets
Oct. 23: Home Opener vs. Atlanta Hawks — 7 p.m.
Oct. 24: vs. Miami Heat — 6 p.m.
Oct. 26: vs. Washington Wizards — 7 p.m.
Oct. 30: NBA Cup at Washington Wizards
Oct. 31: vs. Philadelphia 76ers — 6 p.m.
Nov. 6: vs. Boston Celtics — 7 p.m.
Nov. 9: vs. Cleveland Cavaliers — 7 p.m.
Feb. 15: LaMelo Ball returns to Charlotte with Minnesota
April 11: Final day of the NBA regular season
The complete 2026-27 Charlotte Hornets schedule and ticket information are available through the official Charlotte Hornets website.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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