The Memphis Grizzlies are giving fans an early look at what’s coming next, with an open practice, a busy preseason slate and a long list of “Grizz Around Town” appearances leading into the 2026-27 season.
The headline event is set for Oct. 4 at FedExForum, where the Grizzlies will hold their annual free open practice. Doors open at noon, and the workout starts at 1 p.m. The first 500 fans through the door will receive an autographed player photo.
That practice comes one day before Memphis opens preseason play in Atlanta on Oct. 5 against the Hawks. The Grizzlies have four preseason games on the schedule, including home dates at FedExForum on Oct. 7 against the Orlando Magic and Oct. 16 against the Charlotte Hornets.
The regular season begins Oct. 21 at home against the Utah Jazz.
Memphis is also lining up community events ahead of the season, starting with Grizzlies Day with the Memphis Redbirds on Sept. 12 at AutoZone Park. Isaiah Stewart will make an appearance, and the first 5,000 fans will get a replica Grizzlies jersey.
Stewart arrived in Memphis in a draft-day trade after spending his first six NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons.
With a revamped roster and several familiar faces gone since last season began, the open practice and preseason games will offer fans their first real look at a new chapter in Memphis.
The team’s 2026 “Grizz Around Town” calendar includes a wide range of appearances across the city and surrounding area, beginning Aug. 30 with a Concert at Legacy Park at the National Civil Rights Museum from 7-9 p.m. and a 901 Day Celebration on Beale Street from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Other stops on the schedule include Grizz Thursdays at The Grove on Sept. 10, Sept.
17, Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 at the Germantown Performing Arts Center from 5-8 p.m.; Grizz Night at Overton Park Shell on Sept. 18, Sept.
25, Oct. 3 and Oct. 10; the Germantown Festival on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 at the Germantown Civic Club Complex; Cooper-Young Festival on Sept. 19; Latin Fest 901 and the City of Lakeland LAMP Concert Series on Sept.
26; Wing Wars and the Gumption Revival Lantern Parade on Oct. 3; Wine on the River on Oct.
10; Boo at the Ballpark on Oct. 17; and the Le Bonheur Pumpkin Run on Oct. 17.
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That kind of reset naturally invites a hard conversation about who stays and who can be used to accelerate the process. The Grizzlies already have a handful of promising young players who could draw interest if the right deal comes along, and that is where the real tension sits for a team trying to balance patience with progress. [Read more 🡒]
