Raptors Specialty Nights 2026–27: Lowry Retirement & More

Raptors Specialty Nights — 2026–27 Season Guide

The Toronto Raptors bring back their fan-favorite Specialty Nights every season — themed home games that turn Scotiabank Arena into more than just a game night.

The 2026–27 schedule is out, and the Raptors open at home on Wednesday, October 21 against the Chicago Bulls. The headline news this season: Kyle Lowry — the franchise's "Greatest Raptor of All Time" — will have his No. 7 jersey retired on January 10, 2027, becoming just the second player in franchise history to receive the honor after Vince Carter. Below is the full breakdown of this season's theme nights, what happens at each one, and when to buy if a specific night is the one you care about.

🗓️ The Full 2026–27 Specialty Night Slate

So far, this is the only specialty night slate the Raptors have confirmed for 2026–27 — and it's the biggest one in franchise history. The rest of the calendar (City Nights, heritage nights, other giveaway games) is typically announced in the weeks following the schedule release, and this page will be updated as those land.

Kyle Lowry T-Shirt Night — Thu, Jan 7 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: a collectible Kyle Lowry T-shirt for fans at the door as GROAT Weekend kicks off
Kyle Lowry Bobblehead Night — Fri, Jan 8 vs. Utah Jazz: a limited-edition Kyle Lowry bobblehead giveaway
Kyle Lowry Jersey Retirement Night — Sun, Jan 10 vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Lowry's No. 7 is raised to the rafters in a postgame ceremony alongside the 2019 championship banner

🏆 GROAT Weekend — Kyle Lowry's Jersey Retirement (Jan 7–10)

Kyle Lowry — the point guard who ran Toronto's 2019 championship team and remains the franchise's all-time leader in assists, steals, and three-pointers made — is getting his No. 7 jersey retired, and the Raptors built an entire weekend around it, dubbed GROAT Weekend (Greatest Raptor of All Time).

Thu, Jan 7 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 PM ET): Collectible Kyle Lowry T-shirt giveaway, plus special programming to open the weekend
Fri, Jan 8 vs. Utah Jazz (7:30 PM ET): Limited-edition Kyle Lowry bobblehead giveaway
Sun, Jan 10 vs. Philadelphia 76ers — Lowry's hometown team: Postgame jersey retirement ceremony with Lowry, his family, and former teammates. Former Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, now with Philadelphia, will be in the building.

Lowry becomes only the second player in franchise history to have his number retired, joining Vince Carter (No. 15, retired November 2024). The Raptors are also running a contest for one fan to win a pair of tickets to all three GROAT Weekend games — details are being shared on the team's social channels.

Tip: expect all three nights — especially Jan 10 — to price well above a normal January game. If the ceremony itself is what you want to be there for, buy early.

🌆 City Nights — What to Expect

City Nights celebrate the soul of the 6ix — City Edition threads, city pride, and in-arena experiences that feel closer to a festival than a regular game.

Based on how the Raptors have run City Nights in recent seasons, here is what fans have typically seen (details vary by game, and 2026–27 activations have not been confirmed):

In-game giveaways — often 1,200–2,500+ total giveaways depending on the night
City Edition items — jerseys, t-shirts, wristbands, stickers
Halftime feature — special performance or Mascot Showdown
Meet & greet — Raptor, Carlton, Stripes & more
Music & in-arena energy — DJ 4Korners
Extra activations — arcade experience, sponsor pop-ups, limited merch

Tip: City Nights stack multiple reasons to attend — theme + giveaways + merch + entertainment. These nights tighten inventory earlier than a standard game, so don't wait last minute.

🎁 Giveaway Nights

Giveaway games are the ones that move fastest. A tangible takeaway — a bobblehead, a mask, a limited t-shirt — pulls in collectors and casual fans on top of the regular crowd, and most promos are while supplies last.

Recent seasons have included Raptors x WWE masks, a Raptors x Bills collaboration tee, an exclusive Canada Raptors shirt, and the "North Side Originals" giveaway. Expect a similar mix this season once the slate is confirmed.

Tip: for giveaway nights, the doors time matters as much as the tip-off time. Arrive early.

🍁 Heritage & Community Nights

A large share of the Raptors' specialty calendar celebrates the communities that make up Toronto. Across the last two seasons that has included Indigenous Heritage Night, Caribbean Heritage Game, Canada Basketball Night, Women's Empowerment Night, Pride Night, Giants of Africa, and MLSE Foundation Awareness Night.

These games usually feature special programming, community spotlights and in-arena tributes rather than merch giveaways — a different kind of night, and often an easier ticket than a giveaway game.

Specialty Night Buying Tips

Theme + giveaway nights: buy earlier than you normally would — demand spikes when there's a tangible takeaway
Midweek Specialty Nights: can offer better value than weekends, unless a major crossover theme boosts demand
Arrive early: most giveaways are while supplies last
Opening week: the home opener is its own event — treat it like a theme night for pricing
GROAT Weekend (Jan 7–10): the Jan 10 jersey retirement will price like a marquee event — buy earlier than you would for a normal Sunday game against Philadelphia
Resale listings: always confirm whether ticket-linked perks transfer when buying from a season seat holder

FAQ

What are Raptors Specialty Nights?

Themed home games with in-arena activations — giveaways, entertainment, community themes, sponsor pop-ups, and more.

When is Kyle Lowry's jersey retirement?

Sunday, January 10, 2027, in a pregame ceremony when the Raptors host the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena. His No. 7 will hang alongside the 2019 championship banner — only the second number retired in franchise history after Vince Carter's No. 15.

When are the 2026–27 specialty nights announced?

The Raptors typically confirm the slate in the weeks or even months after the NBA schedule release. This page is updated as nights are confirmed.

What happens at City Nights?

City Edition jerseys/court plus giveaways and activations including City Edition items, halftime features, meet & greets, and music.

Do theme night perks transfer when I buy resale?

Typically Raptors giveaways are usually handed out at your seats, so they generally do. Ticket-linked offers (discount bundles, pre-purchase merch) may not — confirm with the seller before you buy.