Chicago Bulls 2026-27 Schedule Unveiled: Key Dates and Matchups
The Chicago Bulls on Thursday announced the full 82-game schedule for the 2026-27 season, charting a path for the first year under new vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham and coach Tiago Splitter. The Bulls will open the season on October 21 on the road against the Toronto Raptors, and their first home game is scheduled three nights later against the Washington Wizards.
Despite drafting Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 pick to pair with Matas Buzelis in their rebuild efforts, the Bulls still landed only three nationally televised games: December 1 against the reigning champion New York Knicks, January 4 at the Indiana Pacers, and January 20 at the Brooklyn Nets.
NBA Cup Nights
The Bulls will host two East Group C games - November 13 against the Atlanta Hawks and November 20 against the Washington Wizards - and hit the road for two others - October 30 versus the Boston Celtics and November 25 at the Charlotte Hornets - in the NBA Cup. Eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds: the team with the best record in each of the six groups and two wild-card teams in each conference.
This year, the knockout rounds of the in-season tournament will take place in the city of the higher-seeded team. The NBA Cup championship game will be played on December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Bulls have not advanced out of the group stage of the NBA Cup since its introduction to the league in 2023.
Hometown Return
One date is certainly circled on Wilson's calendar: the December 29 matchup against the Hawks in Atlanta. The Bulls will play host to the Hawks on November 13, but the road matchup will mark Wilson's first opportunity to play an NBA game in front of a hometown crowd. The rookie told the Tribune during Summer League that playing in front of Atlanta fans would be one of his most highly anticipated moments of the season.
Rookie Rivalries
While Wilson is looking forward to his first game in his hometown, most of the league will be tracking how the rookie matches up against the other top talent in the 2026 draft class. One of those questions will be answered early in the schedule. The Bulls home opener on October 24 will pit Wilson against No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa and the Wizards. The Bulls won't face the No. 2 pick in the draft until December 16, when they play host to Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz. Wilson won't see his final top-four matchup until March 13, when the Bulls will face Cameron Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies for the first time at the United Center.
Familiar Faces
After more than half of the roster was traded away at the deadline last season, this year's schedule will offer an opportunity for a series of reunions between Bulls fans and longtime former players. Coby White will return to Chicago with the Charlotte Hornets on March 6 (and again April 7). Local product Ayo Dosunmu will make his way back on January 14 with the Minnesota Timberwolves. And among the other returnees to the United Center will be Nikola Vučević on March 15 with the Orlando Magic.
Notable Home Games
The Bulls will host a slate of interesting opponents throughout the season, headlined by their first game against LeBron James and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers on November 8. Other notable United Center matchups include a December 1 game against the reigning champion Knicks and a February 4 visit from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Last result: Dallas Mavericks 149-128 Chicago Bulls (2026-04-13). The Bulls have recently struggled, with a recent form of 2 wins and 3 losses in their last 5 games, with the last 2 losses. The team is looking to turn their season around with their new schedule and matchups.
