The early access period for NBA 2K26 is about to begin. 2K's latest iteration of the popular basketball game releases on September 5, but for those who purchased certain editions of the game, you'll be able to start playing a full week before. Now, we have official confirmation regarding exactly when early access starts across the globe.
With changes to MyTeam, The City, and more, there's a whole lot to look forward to when it comes to NBA 2K26's release. And that doesn't even include the bonuses and various cover athletes. As revealed via the official NBA 2K account on X, early access for 2K26 starts today - August 29. However, depending on where you live, the start time will change slightly.
NBA 2K26 Early Access Date & Start Times
Early Access By Country & Region
NBA 2K26 Early Access map
The early access period for NBA 2K26 will start at 1 pm ET on Friday, August 29, 2025. It goes live for everyone across the globe at the same time. For easy reference, here's the time conversion based on what time zone and region you're in:
Pacific Time/United States - 10:00 am
Mountain Time/United States - 10:00 am
Central Time/United States - 12:00 pm
Eastern Time/United States - 1:00 pm
United Kingdom (BST) - 6:00 pm
Central Europe (CEST) - 7:00 pm
Hong Kong - 12:00 am (on August 30)
Japan - 1:00 am (on August 30)
Australia - 2:00 am (on August 30)
Early access allows players to join a full week before NBA 2K26 launches globally on September 5, 2025, so it's definitely a nice incentive. Additionally, those in EA will have full access to the game, although some rewards from pre-orders and editions may not be live until the global release date.
How To Join Early Access For NBA 2K26
Editions & Pricing Explained
NBA 2K26 Kelsey Plum
NBA 2K26 Kelsey Plum
You can get early access to NBA 2K26 in a couple of ways. Two of the three main editions for NBA 2K26 offer early access, but you'll have to pay a bit more for it. Both the Superstar Edition (priced at $99.99) and the Leave No Doubt Edition (priced at $149.99) offer 7-day early access. Currently, this is the only way to play NBA 2K25 before it fully releases in September.
A 7-day early access period is pretty generous, especially in an era where many games offer only 2 to 3 days, and both editions come with bonuses (and different cover athletes) that can make it worth the extra cost. For those looking to get a head start in NBA 2K26, getting EA is a surefire way to begin the fun early.