Why there are no NBA games tonight: Election Day in the United States
The league left Tuesday, November 3, 2026 without games so fans and players can participate in the U.S. congressional elections; play resumes Nov 4 with 14 matchups.
Basketball fans will not see NBA action tonight: the league scheduled no games for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The strike-through on the calendar comes because Americans are voting in the U.S. congressional elections on Election Day.
The NBA cleared the day to encourage fans, players and team staff to take part in the electoral process and use their right to vote. The league first introduced this Election Day pause in 2022, and the break has been included again in the 2026–27 season calendar.
Schedule impact and return
Play resumes the following day: on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the schedule lists 14 matchups. The short interruption is designed to concentrate games on surrounding dates so teams and viewers can observe Election Day.
All 30 NBA teams took the court the night before the pause; on Monday, November 2, 2026 every franchise played as part of the packed opening-week schedule.
For fans who had planned to watch basketball on November 3, the next opportunity will be the full slate of contests beginning Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
Photo: press material from the event
