CBA unveils 2026-27 schedule as promotion and relegation returns

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Chinese Basketball Association holds press conference for 2026-27 season in Beijing, China, October 12, 2026. /Weibo

The Chinese Basketball Association has announced its schedule for the 2026-27 season with the league's 32nd campaign set to resume a promotion and relegation system.

The new season will tip off on October 16 and feature a regular season of 46 rounds and 460 games. The playoffs will begin on April 11 under a 3-5-5-7 format. Last month, the CBA confirmed that the two lowest-ranked teams in the regular season will play the top two teams from the NBL in a home-and-away playoff series.

The winners will qualify for next season’s eligibility assessment after passing salary cap compliance reviews. Each club may register up to three foreign players during the registration period, with a maximum of six per club. The number of participating teams in the CBA Club Cup has increased to 24, comprising 20 CBA teams and four NBL teams.

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