The final months of 2026 have plenty to offer to sports fans, with two new campaigns due to get underway. The NBA is all set to go, with its schedule confirmed, with the regular season set to start on 20 October. Pro Kabaddi fans are facing a wait, with Season 13 yet to be confirmed. Let’s take a look at the details.
Pro Kabaddi League Season 13 Faces a Delayed Start
The Pro Kabaddi League has become one of India's most important domestic sporting competitions, but Season 13 is taking longer than usual to take shape. As of September 2026, Mashal Sports has not announced an official start date, and the player auction has not been formally scheduled.
This is certainly a big change from what we saw in 2025. Season 12 began on 29 August and ended on 31 October. The championship was won by Dabang Delhi K.C after he beat Puneri Paltan in the final.
As it stands, reports suggest the Season 13 auction could take place in the second half of October. If so, the competition could start in early December. The Asian Games are an important factor, with the kabaddi tournament taking place in September in Japan.
Several leading Indian players may well arrive at the PKL auction having recently competed internationally. Their performances may influence how franchises approach recruitment, particularly if players enter the auction following an impressive Asian Games campaign.
What We Know About PKL Season 13
While the fixture list is yet to be confirmed, there are still points that give us some idea of what to expect:
- The existing 12 franchises are expected to participate again.
- Dabang Delhi K.C. enters the new season as defending champions.
- The Season 13 auction is expected to be the next major step before the campaign begins.
- Reports currently point towards a possible December start, rather than the October period associated with some previous seasons.
- Venues, match dates and the Season 13 playoff format have yet to be officially confirmed.
Players Could Shape the PKL Auction
The timing of the Asian Games adds something important to the build-up. Big names, such as Pawan Sehrawat, Naveen Kumar, Arjun Deshwal, and Aslam Inamdar, have all been involved in India’s preparations. This places some of the PKL’s best-known names in the spotlight just before the expected auction.
This leads to an unusual situation for franchises. Recent international performances will likely strengthen a player's value, while teams will also need to consider fitness and workload as they assemble their squads.
For those who bet on sports, the same uncertainty makes early judgments about Season 13 hard to make. Previous results will, of course, provide useful context, but the auction, confirmed squads, and eventual competition format will offer far more information about each franchise's prospects.
The NBA Has a Firm October Start
The NBA has much greater certainty. The 2026/27 regular season officially begins on 20 October, starting another 82-game campaign that will run until 11 April 2027.
Opening day features three games:
- Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons
- Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs
The Knicks begin the campaign as defending NBA champions, while Oklahoma City and San Antonio meet in a matchup involving two Western Conference teams with ambitions of competing deep into the season.
The opening weeks will quickly lead into another major part of the calendar. Emirates NBA Cup group play begins on 30 October, leaving teams little time to settle before games with added tournament significance arrive.
Major NBA Dates Ahead
The regular season runs for almost six months, but several dates stand out after opening night.
October and November
The regular season begins on 20 October, with NBA Cup group play starting ten days later. The NBA will also stage another international regular-season game in Mexico City on 7 November.
January
The league's international program takes center stage in January 2027. San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans will meet in Paris on 14 January before playing again in Manchester on 17 January.
The Manchester fixture gives British basketball followers a rare opportunity to watch a regular-season NBA contest without traveling to North America.
February
The trade deadline falls on 11 February, potentially reshaping the championship race during the second half of the campaign. NBA All-Star 2027 will then take place in Phoenix from 19 to 21 February.
April
The regular season concludes on 11 April, with all 30 teams scheduled to play. Attention will then turn towards the postseason and the battle for the 2027 NBA championship.
The NBA Title Race Takes Shape
The New York Knicks begin the 2026/27 season with the challenge of defending their championship, but the length of an NBA campaign makes repeating exceptionally difficult. An 82-game regular season leaves plenty of time for injuries to top players, changes in form, and unexpected contenders to pull some surprise results before the playoffs arrive.
Oklahoma City will again attract considerable attention in the Western Conference, while San Antonio enters another season with expectations continuing to rise around Victor Wembanyama. Their opening-night meeting gives both teams an immediate chance to make an early statement, although October results rarely reliably indicate how the conference will look by April.
A Busy End to 2026
October will mark the NBA's return, with opening night followed quickly by the NBA Cup. The Pro Kabaddi League timetable is less certain, but the expected auction should provide the first clear picture of Season 13 before the competition begins.
For followers of either sport, the next few months offer very different forms of anticipation. The NBA already has its dates and matchups in place, while PKL still has important decisions to make. By the end of 2026, however, both should offer supporters another season of high-level competition.
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