Upcoming NBA Conference Finals dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Two series, one round from the Finals
The NBA conference finals are the third round of the NBA playoffs: two best-of-seven series, one in the Eastern Conference and one in the Western, played in late May. The winners are the conference champions and meet in the NBA Finals in June. Games are held in the home arenas of the four teams still alive, so the host cities are not known until the second round ends.
This page covers the round as a whole. For conference-specific detail, see the separate guides to the Eastern Conference Finals and the Western Conference Finals.
- Eastern Conference Finals: the winner receives the Bob Cousy Trophy.
- Western Conference Finals: the winner receives the Oscar Robertson Trophy.
- Series MVP: since 2022, the league has named a most valuable player for each conference finals.
Both trophies were redesigned and renamed in 2022 to honor two men who helped build the players' union. Each features a silver basketball divided into four sections, one for qualifying for the playoffs and one for each of the three rounds a team wins.
How a team gets there and who hosts which game
Each conference sends eight teams to the playoffs. The top six by record qualify directly, and seeds seven and eight come through the play-in tournament among the teams finishing seventh through tenth. Seeding is by record, and the bracket is built so the top two seeds in a conference can meet only in the conference finals.
Every series uses the 2-2-1-1-1 home pattern:
- Games 1 and 2: at the team with home-court advantage (the better regular-season record).
- Games 3 and 4: at the other team.
- Game 5: back at the higher seed, if necessary.
- Game 6: at the lower seed, if necessary.
- Game 7: at the higher seed, if necessary.
That pattern decides how many home games each arena can sell. The higher seed is guaranteed two home games and can host up to four; the lower seed is guaranteed two and can host three. The two series run in parallel, often on alternating nights, and their dates are confirmed only as the second round wraps up.
How conference finals tickets behave
Conference finals tickets come from the two teams in each series, usually with priority for their season-ticket holders, and the rest of the market runs through resale, where prices move with the series. The structure matters more than any one price:
- Tickets go on sale late and fast. Teams cannot schedule home dates until the matchup is set, so the buying window for Games 1 and 2 can be only a few days.
- If-necessary games are conditional. Games 5, 6 and 7 happen only if the series lasts. Read the refund or credit terms before buying a ticket for a game that may not be played.
- Elimination games carry the most demand. A potential clinching game at home, and above all a Game 7, draws far more interest than an early game.
- Long title droughts and big markets lift demand. A franchise returning to the round after many years brings out fans who have waited a long time.
- The series score moves the market daily. Demand for Game 4 looks very different at 2–1 than at 0–2.
Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee, which matters most for if-necessary games bought before a series begins.
Where to sit for a conference finals game
The arena changes from year to year, but the seating logic holds in every NBA building.
- Lower-bowl sideline: the best view of the game and the seats most worth paying for in a series this tense. Mid-level rows along the side beat the first rows behind the basket.
- Behind the baskets in the lower level: closer to the floor but with a flattened view of play at the far end.
- Upper level at center court: the value seat. You see the full floor and the crowd, and playoff atmosphere carries to the top rows.
- Courtside: the scarcest and most expensive seats, with an eye-level view that makes it harder to follow plays developing on the far side.
Expect home crowds to stand for long stretches, and some teams hand out shirts or towels for a coordinated look. If you are cheering for the visitors, a seat in the upper level is usually the more comfortable choice.
What a conference finals game is like
The conference finals feel different from a regular-season game. The building fills early, pregame introductions are louder and the crowd reacts to every possession. National TV sets the schedule: broadcasts rotate between conferences, and in 2026 NBC and Peacock carried the Western series while ABC and ESPN carried the Eastern series. Start times can shift late, so watch the team's announcements once you have a ticket.
- Arrive early. Security lines are longer at a sold-out playoff game, and the pregame introductions are part of the show.
- Check the arena's bag rules. Each NBA arena sets its own policy and many limit bag size; check the current rules before you go.
- Plan for overtime. In 2026, Game 1 of both series went to overtime for the first time in playoff history.
The NBA playoffs page carries the official bracket and schedule once the round is set.
From division finals to the modern conference title
The round began as division finals in 1949, the league's third season, when it was still the Basketball Association of America. The NBA realigned into two conferences in 1970, creating the conference finals. Series grew from best-of-three (1949–1950) to best-of-five (1951–1956) and have been best-of-seven since 1957. Conference trophies were first awarded in 2001.
- Most conference titles: the Los Angeles Lakers with 19, from 24 appearances, including eight straight Western Conference Finals from 1982 to 1989.
- Second most: the Boston Celtics with 11.
- Still waiting: the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers have reached the round without winning it, and the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans have never reached it.
- 2026: the New York Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the West. The Knicks then won the title in five games.
Frequently asked questions
When are the NBA conference finals played?
Both series are played in late May, after the first two playoff rounds and before the NBA Finals in June.
How many games are in a conference finals series?
Each series is best-of-seven, so it lasts four to seven games. The team with home-court advantage hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
What happens to a ticket for Game 6 or 7 if the series ends early?
Games 5, 6 and 7 are played only if necessary. Refund or credit terms depend on the seller and the team, so read them before you buy.
What trophy does the conference champion receive?
The Eastern champion receives the Bob Cousy Trophy and the Western champion receives the Oscar Robertson Trophy. Both were named in 2022.
Which team has won the most conference titles?
The Los Angeles Lakers, with 19 conference championships. The Boston Celtics are second with 11.
Who won the 2026 conference finals?
The New York Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the West.