National Lacrosse League Releases 2026 Playoff Schedule : Dates, Start Times, Location, How To Watch

Single-elimination quarterfinals set to kick off this weekend

The National Lacrosse League has officially unveiled the full schedule for the 2026 NLL Playoffs. The postseason begins this Friday, April 24, as the top-seeded Vancouver Warriors host the Halifax Thunderbirds in the opening quarterfinal matchup.Vancouver earned the No. 1 overall seed and will enjoy home-floor advantage throughout the entire playoffs after posting the league’s best regular-season record.

How to Watch 2026 NLL Playoff

All 2026 NLL playoff games will be available live on:

ESPN+

TSN+

NLL+ (with applicable territory restrictions)

Additional broadcast details, including linear TV coverage on TSN and ESPN networks, will be announced on Tuesday.The 2026 NLL Playoffs promise high-stakes, fast-paced lacrosse as the league’s elite teams battle for the right to hoist the Champion’s Cup.

2026 NLL Playoff Format

Since the 2023-24 season, the NLL has used a single-table playoff format. The top eight teams qualify regardless of division, creating a true merit-based postseason where the strongest teams compete for the championship.The quarterfinals will be single-elimination, with the higher seed hosting each series:

No. 1 vs. No. 8

No. 2 vs. No. 7

No. 3 vs. No. 6

No. 4 vs. No. 5

Winners will advance to a best-of-three semifinal series, followed by a best-of-three finals.

2026 NLL Playoffs Schedule

Quarterfinals: (Single Elimination)

Friday, April 24 – Saturday, April 25

(8) Halifax Thunderbirds at (1) Vancouver Warriors – Friday, April 24 | 10:00 p.m. ET

(7) San Diego Seals at (2) Colorado Mammoth – Saturday, April 25 | 9:00 p.m. ET

(6) Toronto Rock at (3) Saskatchewan Rush – Saturday, April 25 | 9:00 p.m. ET

(5) Buffalo Bandits at (4) Georgia Swarm – Saturday, April 25 | 7:30 p.m. ET

NLL Semifinals (Best-of-Three)

Thursday, April 30 – Sunday, May 3

Thursday, May 7 – Sunday, May 10 (if necessary)

NLL Finals (Best-of-Three)

Thursday, May 14 – Sunday, May 17

Thursday, May 21 – Monday, May 25 (if necessary)

Note: If both semifinal series are sweeps, the Finals could begin as early as the weekend of May 7-10.

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