2026-27 Kentucky Basketball Schedule: Dates, Roster, and Printable PDF – Sports Brackets
The 2026-27 Kentucky Basketball schedule and season officially tips off on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, against Kansas in the Champions Classic (Chicago). Highlighting the non-conference slate is a December 19 clash with North Carolina at MSG, a December 27 showdown with Indiana in Indianapolis, and the return of Gonzaga to Rupp Arena. While a preseason exhibition tour to the Bahamas or other overseas location is in the works, a regular-season game against St. John’s remains unconfirmed. SEC play begins in January 2027, with all games airing on ESPN, ABC, and the SEC Network.
2026-27 Kentucky Basketball Schedule
Here’s what we know about the 2026-27 Kentucky Basketball schedule so far. We will see a lot more movement as we move through the summer. The number of regular season games allowed this season is up to 32 from 31 now, so we’ll see 5-8 more games added with the schedule confirmed usually by the start of school / Labor Day.
Note: Early November “buy games” and the ACC/SEC Challenge opponent will be finalized in Summer 2026.
Note2: All games are of course subject to change until UK confirms the official schedule. Where you see exact dates have been confirmed by sources.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Location |
| Nov 10, 2026 | Kansas (Champions Classic) | United Center | Chicago, IL |
| Nov/Dec 2026 | ACC/SEC Challenge | TBD | TBD |
| Dec 19, 2026 | North Carolina (CBS Classic) | Madison Square Garden | New York, NY |
| Dec 2026 | Indiana | Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, IN |
| Dec 2026 | Gonzaga | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| Dec 2026 | Louisville | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | Missouri (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | Mississippi State (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | Texas (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | Ole Miss (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | Georgia (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | Oklahoma (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | Florida (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | at Florida (SEC) | O’Connell Center | Gainesville, FL |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | Tennessee (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | at Tennessee (SEC) | Thompson-Boling Arena | Knoxville, TN |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | Vanderbilt (SEC) | Rupp Arena | Lexington, KY |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | at Vanderbilt (SEC) | Memorial Gymnasium | Nashville, TN |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | at Alabama (SEC) | Coleman Coliseum | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | at Arkansas (SEC) | Bud Walton Arena | Fayetteville, AR |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | at LSU (SEC) | Pete Maravich Center | Baton Rouge, LA |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | at South Carolina (SEC) | Colonial Life Arena | Columbia, SC |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | at Auburn (SEC) | Auburn Arena | Auburn, AL |
| TBD (Jan-Mar 2027) | at Texas A&M (SEC) | Reed Arena | College Station, TX |
[FREE DOWNLOAD] 2026-27 Kentucky Basketball Printable Schedule (PDF)
Our high-resolution printable schedule is updated in real-time as tip-off times and TV networks are finalized. Includes the full 18-game SEC rotation and all neutral-site “mega-games.”
Key 2026-27 Schedule Storylines
- The CBS Sports Classic Shakeup: In a major move, Kansas has replaced St. John’s as a permanent fixture in this event. Kentucky will now face North Carolina on Dec. 19 at MSG. This change has put a potential Kentucky vs. St. John’s home-and-home on ice for now, though fans are still hoping Mark Pope and Rick Pitino can find a mid-week slot to make it happen.
- The Indiana “Dome” Game: The revival of the UK-IU series moves to a big stage at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 27. With 70,000+ seats available, this will be the most-attended game of the regular season.
- Gonzaga Finalizes the Series: The Bulldogs finally return to Rupp Arena in December. This is the penultimate game of the six-year series and is expected to be a top-10 matchup.
- Preseason Foreign Tour: Reports suggest Mark Pope is working on a preseason tour to the Bahamas or other overseas location (AseaOfBlue.com hat tip) for late summer 2026. Note: This would consist of exhibition games only and would not count toward the official 2026-27 regular-season record or schedule.
2027 College Basketball Resources
It’s never too early to look at the March Madness schedules. Here are the confirmed schedules and blank brackets for the men’s and women’s tournaments in 2027. If the committee expands the tournament for 2027, we’ll update these for you too.
Frequently Asked Questions: 2026-27 UK Basketball
Is Kentucky playing St. John’s this year? There is no confirmed game against St. John’s for the 2026-27 season. While there is a strong possibility both programs want to play, TV “footprint” clauses between FOX and CBS have made scheduling the matchup difficult.
Who does Kentucky play in the 2026 Champions Classic? Kentucky will face Kansas on November 10, 2026, in Chicago.
Is there a Bahamas tournament this year? While Kentucky is not currently scheduled for a regular-season tournament in the Bahamas (like the Battle 4 Atlantis), the team is exploring a preseason foreign tour to the islands for exhibition play.
When is the Kentucky vs. Louisville game? The annual rivalry game is expected to return to Rupp Arena in December 2026. Final dates are usually released in the fall.
