If you’re looking for sports games tonight in the United States on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the schedule is especially busy. The main nationally relevant games include two MLB Division Series games, four NBA preseason games, and nine NHL games.
The exact games available to you can depend on your time zone, television provider, and local broadcast rights, but the national schedule gives a useful starting point.
MLB Games Tonight
The biggest games tonight are in the MLB postseason.
The Los Angeles Dodgers play the Atlanta Braves at 6:00 p.m. ET in an NLDS game. Later, the Milwaukee Brewers play the San Diego Padres at 9:30 p.m. ET. Both games are scheduled to air nationally on FS1.
These are postseason games rather than ordinary regular-season matchups, so they are likely to receive significant attention from baseball fans.
| Game | Start time | National TV |
|---|---|---|
| Dodgers at Braves | 6:00 p.m. ET | FS1 |
| Brewers at Padres | 9:30 p.m. ET | FS1 |
Times are Eastern Time.
NBA Games Tonight
The NBA is in preseason, and four games are scheduled for October 6.
Brooklyn visits Charlotte at 7:00 p.m. ET. New Orleans plays Oklahoma City at 8:00 p.m. ET, Denver visits Utah at 9:00 p.m. ET, and the Los Angeles Lakers play Golden State at 10:00 p.m. ET.
The NBA schedule is therefore spread across the evening, with the Lakers-Warriors matchup providing a late-night option for fans on the East Coast.
These are preseason games, so they do not carry the same regular-season standings implications as games beginning October 20.
NHL Games Tonight
There are nine NHL games scheduled for October 6.
The early group includes five games starting at 7:00 p.m. ET:
- Nashville Predators at Toronto Maple Leafs
- Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens
- Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings
- Utah at New Jersey Devils
- Minnesota Wild at Buffalo Sabres
The New York Islanders then play the New York Rangers at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by St. Louis at Chicago at 8:00 p.m. ET. Vegas visits Seattle at 9:40 p.m. ET, and Florida plays Los Angeles at 10:00 p.m. ET.
What Time Does the Sports Action Start?
For viewers using Eastern Time, the first major games begin at 6:00 p.m. with Dodgers-Braves.
At 7:00 p.m., the schedule becomes much busier because NBA and NHL games begin around the same time.
The late window includes MLB’s Brewers-Padres game at 9:30 p.m., along with NHL and NBA games continuing into the evening.
That makes tonight a good example of why checking the complete schedule is useful rather than searching for one league alone.
Tonight’s Main Schedule
| Time ET | Sport | Game |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 p.m. | MLB | Dodgers at Braves |
| 7:00 p.m. | NBA | Nets at Hornets |
| 7:00 p.m. | NHL | Several games |
| 8:00 p.m. | NBA | Pelicans at Thunder |
| 8:00 p.m. | NHL | Blues at Blackhawks |
| 9:00 p.m. | NBA | Nuggets at Jazz |
| 9:30 p.m. | MLB | Brewers at Padres |
| 9:40 p.m. | NHL | Golden Knights at Kraken |
| 10:00 p.m. | NBA | Lakers at Warriors |
| 10:00 p.m. | NHL | Panthers at Kings |
All times are Eastern Time.
Are There Any NFL Games Tonight?
There is no NFL game listed in the main Tuesday, October 6 schedule.
The NFL’s regular-season schedule is concentrated around its usual weekly game windows, so Tuesday is not normally a major NFL night.
If you’re specifically looking for football, college football and other competitions may offer options, but the major professional game schedule tonight is dominated by MLB, NHL, and NBA preseason action.
What Should You Watch?
That depends on what type of sports you prefer.
For high-stakes baseball, the MLB Division Series games are the obvious choice. These are postseason contests and therefore have much greater consequences than preseason basketball.
For hockey fans, the nine-game NHL schedule offers the widest range of choices.
For basketball fans, the Lakers-Warriors game is a late option, while the earlier games provide several other preseason choices.
Remember Your Time Zone
National schedules are often published in Eastern Time, but your local start time may be different.
For example, a 6:00 p.m. ET game begins at 5:00 p.m. Central, 4:00 p.m. Mountain, and 3:00 p.m. Pacific.
Always check the local listing before planning your evening, especially for games on regional networks.
Bottom Line
Tonight, Tuesday, October 6, 2026, is packed with sports.
The headline events are the Dodgers vs. Braves at 6:00 p.m. ET and Brewers vs. Padres at 9:30 p.m. ET, both in the MLB postseason. The NHL has nine games, while the NBA has four preseason games.
Because television rights can vary by location, check your local listings for the final channel and availability.