When Will the NBA MVP be announced? Timeline, format, and latest race update
With a little over a week left of the NBA regular season, the MVP race is intensifying. Here’s when we’ll know the final winner.
As the 2025–26 NBA regular season winds down, the NBA MVP race is heating up. There is just a little over a week left for players to prove themselves, but even after the season ends, we will have to wait a little bit to find out who the winner is.
When will the NBA MVP be announced?
The NBA has not yet officially confirmed a specific date for the 2026 MVP announcement. That’s not unusual though. The league typically waits until the postseason is underway before revealing its major awards.
Unlike events like the NBA Draft or NBA Finals, the MVP announcement is flexible, often tied to broadcast windows and playoff matchups. That means fans are often left waiting, even after the regular season ends, for official confirmation.
Based on recent years, however, we have a strong idea of the timeline. The last game of the regular season is April 12 this year, and MVP voting is completed shortly after that. Then, the award is usually announced in mid-to-late May, often during the playoffs
For example, last season’s MVP was revealed on May 21 during the playoffs, just before a conference finals game on TNT. So we can expect the 2026 NBA MVP announcement sometime in mid-to-late May, likely during a nationally televised playoff broadcast.
How is the MVP announced?
The NBA no longer holds a single awards show like it briefly did in the past. Instead, the MVP, along with other major awards, is revealed individually during the postseason.
Typically, finalists are announced shortly after the regular season and the winner will be revealed live on TV (often TNT). If the player’s team is still in the playoffs, the trophy is often presented before a home playoff game. That usually creates some memorable moments, with MVP ceremonies happening in front of home crowds at the height of the postseason.
The 2026 MVP race right now
While the announcement date remains unclear, the race itself is starting to come into focus. According to the latest odds and projections, this year’s MVP race is shaping up as a two-player battle, with a few outside contenders still in the mix.
Favorites
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Nikola Jokic
Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as the betting favorite, with odds tightening significantly in recent weeks, in some markets reaching around -250 to -1000, signaling strong momentum.
Meanwhile, Jokic remains right behind him, continuing to put up elite all-around numbers, including near triple-double production.
Other contenders
- Luka Doncic
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Victor Wembanyama
These players remain in the conversation, but currently sit a tier behind the two frontrunners based on odds and recent MVP ladder updates.
With the regular season entering its final stretch, a few factors could still swing the MVP vote:
- Team success (especially seeding in a competitive Western Conference)
- Games played (players must meet eligibility thresholds)
- Narrative momentum in the final weeks
We’ve already seen this race fluctuate over the course of the season, and a strong closing run could still impact how voters view the top candidates. While the exact date remains unconfirmed, fans should be watching closely in mid-to-late May, when the league is likely to reveal its biggest individual honor during the playoffs.
And when that moment comes, all signs point to a showdown between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, a race that’s still unfolding as the regular season reaches its final days.
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