How to watch the Hungry Jack's NBL27 season from anywhere
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The Hungry Jack's NBL27 season starts on Saturday, September 19th, 2026, when Melbourne United hosts the Adelaide 36ers at John Cain Arena at 7:30PM AEST. The 10-team league plays 165 games across 21 rounds, with the regular season running until February 14th, 2027, followed by the Finals Series. The Sydney Kings arrive as defending champions after a record-breaking NBL26 campaign for the league.
In Australia, every game is live on ESPN, available through Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, and Fetch, while the Saturday night double-header and the Finals Series are live and free on the 9Network and 9Now. In New Zealand, ESPN is available through Sky. International fans can watch via NBA TV and the NBA App in the US and Canada, and EuroLeague TV across the UK and Europe.
If you are traveling abroad or live in a country without an official broadcaster, a VPN can help you access your usual streaming service or the free 9Now stream from anywhere.
Where to watch the NBL27 season
Below is an overview of official broadcasters showing Hungry Jack's NBL27 games in different countries. All details were confirmed at the time of writing.
| Country | Streaming service | Price | Notes |
| Australia | Kayo Sports / Foxtel / Disney+ / Fetch | Kayo Standard from AU$29.99/month | Every game live on ESPN, Disney+ requires an eligible plan |
| Australia | 9Now | Free | Saturday double-header live, Finals Series, NBL Overtime. Requires a free account, email only |
| New Zealand | Sky | Sky subscription | Every game live on ESPN |
| United States | NBA TV | NBA TV subscription | Live games all season; also available via the NBA App and select TV providers |
| Canada | NBA TV | NBA TV subscription | Live games all season via the NBA App and participating providers |
| United Kingdom | EuroLeague TV | Paid monthly or annual pass | Live NBL coverage |
| Europe | EuroLeague TV | Paid monthly or annual pass | Greece, Italy, Germany, France, Spain-adjacent markets, Nordics, and more |
| Balkans | Arena Sport / Sportklub | Paid | Croatia and Slovenia on Arena Sport; Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Montenegro on Sportklub |
The NBL says NBL27 is broadcast across 35 countries. Additional confirmed partners include Maincast in Ukraine and Douyin, Leisu Sports, and Penguin Sports in China.
How to watch the NBL27 season for free with a VPN
The Saturday night double-header streams live and free on 9Now, the official streaming platform of the 9Network in Australia. 9Now is ad-supported, so no subscription is required. However, it is geo-restricted and only available with an Australian IP address. If you are in the US, UK, Canada, or anywhere outside Australia, you will need a VPN to access the free live games.
- Choose a VPN. We recommend NordVPN for streaming. It operates thousands of servers worldwide, including Australian locations, and uses the fast NordLynx protocol for smooth HD streaming of live basketball.
- Install the VPN app. Download and install the VPN on your device, such as Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, or a supported smart TV.
- Connect to an Australian server. Open the app and select Australia to get an Australian IP address.
- Go to 9Now. Create a free account with your email and find the live NBL game.
- Start streaming for free. Watch both Saturday games live at 5:30PM and 8:00PM AEST/AEDT, or stream highlights on demand.
How to watch the NBL while traveling
If you are an Australian fan traveling abroad, 9Now and your ESPN platforms will block access outside Australia. Connect to an Australian VPN server before opening the app, and the steps in the guide above apply. You will need your 9Now account or your existing Kayo, Foxtel, Disney+, or Fetch login.
If you are based outside Australia, here are your direct options in major markets:
- United States and Canada: Live NBL games are available on NBA TV and through the NBA App throughout the season, either as a standalone subscription or through participating TV providers.
- United Kingdom and Europe: EuroLeague TV carries live NBL action across the UK, Greece, Italy, Germany, France, the Nordics, and other territories, with monthly and annual passes available.
- New Zealand: Every game is live on ESPN via Sky.
For viewers in countries without a confirmed broadcaster, the free 9Now stream is the most practical option. Because 9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, a VPN connection to an Australian server may restore access to the free stream.
Why you need a VPN to watch the NBL27 season
Broadcasters pay for the right to show the NBL only in specific countries. That is why the same game is free on 9Now in Australia but unavailable there if you are overseas, and why viewers in the US need NBA TV while viewers in the UK need EuroLeague TV. When you open a geo-blocked service from the wrong country, the platform detects your location and refuses the stream, showing you an error message.
A VPN solves this by changing your virtual location. Connect to a server in Australia, and 9Now treats you as a local viewer, unlocking the free Saturday games and Finals coverage. The same applies if you are an Australian resident traveling abroad who wants to keep using a paid Kayo or Foxtel subscription you already have.
For a full comparison of VPN options, see our guide to the best VPNs for streaming.
Best VPNs to watch the NBL27 season
The VPNs below have been tested by Cybernews researchers for live sports streaming, with fast speeds, reliable unblocking, and stable HD playback. All three handle the free 9Now stream and paid platforms like Kayo and NBA TV.
- NordVPN – best overall for streaming. NordVPN starts at $3.49/month and runs thousands servers across 225 locations, including plenty of Australian locations for 9Now. Its NordLynx protocol retained around 84% of baseline speeds in our tests, which is more than enough for HD basketball. Smart DNS support makes it easy to watch on smart TVs without a native VPN app. Read our full NordVPN review for details.
- Surfshark – best budget option. Surfshark starts at $2.49/month and allows unlimited simultaneous connections, so the whole household can stream at once. It operates 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, and WireGuard held around 83% of baseline speeds in our testing. Reliable unblocking of Australian free platforms makes it a strong pick for the Saturday double-header. See our Surfshark review for details.
- Proton VPN – best for privacy-focused users. Proton VPN starts at $2.99/month and is based in privacy-friendly Switzerland. It runs 20,700+ servers in 149 countries and even offers a solid free plan, though streaming performance is best on premium. Australian servers handle 9Now well, and speeds support smooth HD playback. See our Proton VPN review for details.
NBL27 season schedule and key dates
The regular season features 165 games across 21 rounds, with each of the 10 teams playing 33 games. The key dates for NBL27 are:
| Stage | Dates | Notes |
| Pre-season | August 6th - September 12th, 2026 | Includes the NBL Blitz |
| NBL Blitz | September 2nd - 6th, 2026 | Pre-season tournament |
| Regular season opens | September 19th, 2026 | Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers, John Cain Arena, 7:30 PM AEST |
| Regular season ends | February 14th, 2027 | South East Melbourne vs Brisbane, John Cain Arena |
| Finals Series | February–March 2027 | The top six teams qualify, live on ESPN and the 9Network |
The full fixture list, including game times, venues, and broadcast details, is available on NBL.com.au and the free NBL App.
NBL27 season preview
The Sydney Kings begin NBL27 as defending champions, with Championship Series MVP Kendric Davis returning to lead Brian Goorjian’s team. The Kings open their title defense against the Cairns Taipans at Afterpay Arena on Sunday, September 20th.
Melbourne United enter the season with major title ambitions and one of the league’s biggest off-season additions. Joe Ingles has signed a multi-year deal and is set to make his United debut against the Adelaide 36ers in the September 19th season opener. United have also added NBA guard Cole Anthony and Australian forward Luke Travers, giving the roster significant top-end talent.
The Perth Wildcats have also made major moves, including the signing of Anthony Dell’Orso on a three-year deal. They open their season at the RAC Arena against the South East Melbourne Phoenix on September 19th.
Adelaide will be tested immediately in the opening-night trip to Melbourne. The Illawarra Hawks, meanwhile, start their campaign away to the New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena on Sunday, September 20th.
The format remains unchanged: all 10 teams play 33 regular-season games, with the top 6 advancing to the Finals Series. Every regular-season game will be available live on ESPN.
FAQ
Where can I watch the Hungry Jack's NBL27 season?
In Australia, every game is live on ESPN (via Disney+, Kayo, Foxtel, and Fetch), with the Saturday double-header and Finals Series free on 9Now. In the US and Canada, games are on NBA TV and the NBA App. In the UK and Europe, coverage is on EuroLeague TV. See the where-to-watch table above for the full list.
When does the NBL27 season start?
The season tips off on Saturday, September 19th, 2026, with Melbourne United hosting the Adelaide 36ers at John Cain Arena at 7:30PM AEST. The regular season runs until February 14th, 2027, followed by the Finals Series.
How can I watch the NBL if I am traveling abroad?
If you are outside Australia, connect to an Australian VPN server with a reliable VPN like NordVPN before opening 9Now or your ESPN platform. This restores access to the free Saturday games and Finals coverage on 9Now with your free account. For paid subscriptions like Kayo or Foxtel, log in as usual once connected. Our guide to the best VPNs for streaming covers other reliable options.
Can I watch the NBL27 season for free?
Yes, the Saturday night double-header (games at 5:30PM and 8:00PM AEST/AEDT) and the Finals Series stream live and free on 9Now in Australia, with a free account. Viewers outside Australia can access the same free stream by connecting to an Australian VPN server.
How can I watch the NBL in the US and Canada?
Fans in the US and Canada can watch live NBL games all season on NBA TV and through the NBA App, either as a standalone subscription or via participating TV providers.
