The Celtics’ 2026-27 schedule is out, and it comes with the kind of dates fans circle immediately: a loaded slate of national TV games, a long Western swing, and Jaylen Brown’s first regular-season trip back to Boston on Jan. 21.
Boston will be on national television at least 27 times this season, with the league spotlight hitting plenty of marquee matchups. The Celtics open Oct. 20 at Detroit on NBC/Peacock, then get the Knicks at home on Oct. 23 on Prime. Early on, they’ll also see the Bulls, Nets, Bucks, 76ers, Mavericks, and Magic in a busy first month.
The stretch run is packed too. Boston has the Heat on Christmas Day on ABC, the Cavaliers on Dec. 28 on NBC/Peacock, the Lakers on Feb. 2 on NBC/Peacock, the Warriors on Feb. 10 on ESPN, the 76ers on Mar. 7 on ABC, the Knicks on Apr. 4 on NBC/Peacock, and the Bucks on Apr. 11 to close the regular season.
There’s also a clear rhythm to the calendar. The Celtics’ longest road trip runs from Dec. 30 through Jan. 9, a six-game trip out west that includes stops at Chicago, Utah, Portland, Phoenix, the Lakers, and the Clippers.
Before that, they’ll spend seven straight games at home from Dec. 14 through Dec. 28.
A few other notable dates stand out on the schedule. Boston hosts the Wizards on Dec. 16 on ESPN, gets the Lakers on Feb. 2, and welcomes Brown back to TD Garden for the first regular-season game against him on Jan. 21, when the 76ers come to town on Prime.
Here’s the full Celtics slate:
Oct. 20 @ Pistons NBC/Peacock
Oct. 23 Knicks Prime
Oct. 26 Bulls
Oct. 27 Nets
Oct. 30 Bulls
Nov. 1 @ Magic
Nov. 2 @ Rockets
Nov. 4 Bucks
Nov. 6 @ Hornets
Nov. 8 @ Bucks
Nov. 10 @76ers NBC/Peacock
Nov. 11 @ Raptors
Nov. 15 Mavericks
Nov. 16 Magic Peacock
Nov. 18 @ Nuggets
Nov. 21 @ Kings
Nov. 22 @ Warriors
Nov. 24 @ Wizards NBC/Peacock
Nov. 27 Hawks
Nov. 29 @ Spurs
Nov. 30 @ Mavericks
Dec. 2 Hornets
TBD *Depends on NBA Cup results
Dec. 13 @ Nets
Dec. 14 Wizards
Dec. 16 Wizards ESPN
Dec. 18 Jazz
Dec. 20 Pistons
Dec. 23 Trail Blazers
Dec. 25 Heat ABC
Dec. 28 Cavaliers NBC/Peacock
Dec. 30 @ Bulls
Jan. 1 @ Jazz
Jan. 2 @ Trail Blazers
Jan. 4 @ Suns
Jan. 7 @ Lakers Prime
Jan. 9 @ Clippers
Jan. 11 Rockets
Jan. 13 Knicks ESPN
Jan. 16 Nets
Jan. 18 @ Wizards
Jan. 20 Pacers
Jan. 21 76ers Prime
Jan. 23 Hornets
Jan. 25 Raptors NBC/Peacock
Jan. 27 Clippers
Jan. 29 Suns
Jan. 31 @ Raptors
Feb. 2 Lakers NBC/Peacock
Feb. 4 @ Hornets Prime
Feb. 5 Hawks
Feb. 7 @ 76ers NBC/Peacock
Feb. 9 Nuggets
Feb. 10 Warriors ESPN
Feb. 12 Timberwolves Prime
Feb. 14 Raptors
Feb. 17 @ Thunder ESPN
Feb. 18 @ Grizzlies
Feb. 26 Cavaliers ESPN
Feb. 28 @ Timberwolves NBC/Peacock
Mar. 2 @ Pacers
Mar. 5 @ Pistons ESPN
Mar. 7 76ers ABC
Mar. 9 @ Bulls
Mar. 11 Grizzlies
Mar. 12 Thunder Prime
Mar. 14 @ Knicks ABC
Mar. 16 Kings
Mar. 18 Magic
Mar. 21 Pelicans
Mar. 23 @ Nets
Mar. 24 Spurs ESPN
Mar. 27 @ Heat
Mar. 28 @ Pelicans
Mar. 30 @ Pacers
Apr. 1 @ Cavaliers Prime
Apr. 2 Heat
Apr. 4 @ Knicks NBC/Peacock
Apr. 7 @ Magic
Apr. 9 @ Hawks
Apr. 11 Bucks
In Other News...
Celtics Are Back In The East Race For One Big Reason
The Celtics have a familiar path back into the East conversation, and it starts with the kind of frontcourt help that can change how a team survives the long grind of the season. Boston added Mitchell Robinson, a move that gives the roster another defensive anchor and a different look around a group trying to keep pace with the conferences deeper contenders.
In a league where the Timberwolves, Pistons and Pacers are all being framed as possible dark horse threats, Boston does not need much imagination to rejoin the race. The broader point is simple enough: teams can go from afterthought to problem quickly, and the Celtics now have one key reason to believe they can stay in that mix rather than watch it from the outside. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Simmons Just Framed The Celtics Jaylen Brown Gamble Perfectly
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Simmons also pointed to the ripple effects beyond the headline move, including what it could mean for the teams overall rotation and the growth of younger players already in the pipeline. Even with that broader context, he made clear that the deal did not sit comfortably with him, which says plenty about both Browns value and the uncertainty Boston invites whenever it chooses long-term fit over familiar production. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Mitchell Is Giving The Celtics A Reason To Watch Him Closely
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What stood out most was the defense, where Mitchell's activity and disruption gave Boston a useful look at how he can fit around the edges of an NBA roster. Summer League can be an imperfect gauge, but it can also reveal whether a young player has a translatable skill, and Mitchell's case gave the Celtics a reason to keep watching closely as he begins the next stage of his development. [Read more 🡒]
