The Miami Heat will host “A Night in Vice City” with Rockstar Games on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, against the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center, the night before GTA 6 launches. Tip-off is 7:00 p.m. ET. The team will wear a black-and-pink Nike x Cactus Jack uniform, play on a one-night court and sell Burger Shot and Cluckin’ Bell food in the arena. Here is the time in your region, which jersey is which, and how the game lines up with your GTA 6 unlock.
Last checked on November 7, 2026. Official Date, time, concessions, court and uniform sale come from the Miami HEAT’s own Vice City page on nba.com. Jersey details were also shown by the Heat on Friday, November 6 and covered by Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report.
Tip-off time by region
| Region | Local tip-off | Label |
|---|---|---|
| US Eastern (Miami, New York) | Wed Nov 18, 7:00 p.m. | Official |
| US Central | Wed Nov 18, 6:00 p.m. | Our math |
| US Pacific | Wed Nov 18, 4:00 p.m. | Our math |
| UK (GMT) | Thu Nov 19, 00:00 | Our math |
| Spain, France, Germany (CET) | Thu Nov 19, 01:00 | Our math |
| Japan (JST) | Thu Nov 19, 09:00 | Our math |
| Sydney (AEDT) | Thu Nov 19, 11:00 | Our math |
Our math Converted from 7:00 p.m. EST (UTC-5) = 00:00 UTC on November 19. Reported One outlet lists ESPN as the U.S. broadcaster; check your local listings.
Heat game vs GTA 6 unlock: who gets to watch first?
GTA 6 unlocks at midnight local time on November 19 on PS5 and Xbox, per Rockstar and the store listings (see release time by country). That creates an odd overlap:
| Where you are | GTA 6 unlocks | Heat tip-off | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Eastern | Nov 19, 00:00 ET | Nov 18, 19:00 ET | Tip-off is 5 hours before unlock. A normal NBA game (about 2h15m) ends roughly 2.5 hours before midnight. |
| US Pacific | Nov 18, 21:00 PT | Nov 18, 16:00 PT | Unlock is 5 hours after tip-off, same gap as the East Coast. |
| UK | Nov 19, 00:00 | Nov 19, 00:00 | Unlock and tip-off happen at the same moment. Pick one. |
| Spain, France, Germany | Nov 19, 00:00 CET | Nov 19, 01:00 CET | GTA 6 is already playable one hour before tip-off. |
Our math Game length is a typical NBA broadcast window, not a schedule from the Heat.
Two jerseys: which one is which
| Version | Chest | Patch | Availability | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-court (players) | “HEAT” wordmark, pink with grid texture | Robinhood sponsor patch | On court only | Official |
| Swingman (fans) | “Vice City” neon pink script | GTA VI “VI” logo | Limited, on sale Nov 18 at A Night in Vice City | Official |
| Shared details | Upside-down Nike Air mark (Cactus Jack signature) | Cactus Jack tag, six pink stars on shorts | Matching shorts sold with the Swingman | Official |
Reported Outlets read the six stars as a nod to GTA’s six-star wanted level; the Heat have not explained them. The Heat’s page lists the fan uniform as available on November 18 at the event and has not announced an online drop. Separate “Court Culture Vice City” apparel (tees, bomber, cap) is already on sale at the Heat store, in person and online.
What is happening inside Kaseya Center
- Official Burger Shot at sections 105, 120, 308 and 324; Cluckin’ Bell at section 325.
- Official Vice City court: “special hardwood built for Vice City,” one night only.
- Official More game-night activations promised; the Heat say details are still to come.
Checklist if you are going
- Plan the jersey early: limited quantities, on sale only from November 18.
- Food sections are fixed; Cluckin’ Bell is only at section 325.
- If you bought GTA 6 digitally, start your preload on November 10 so it is installed before you leave. Our storage and download calculator estimates the time for up to 212 GB.
- Boxed copy? It is a code in the box (no disc), with retail availability from November 12. See digital vs physical.
FAQ
When is the Miami Heat GTA 6 Vice City night?
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center, tip-off 7:00 p.m. ET.
What time is the Heat vs Bucks Vice City game in the UK and Europe?
00:00 GMT on Thursday, November 19 in the UK and 01:00 CET in Spain, France and Germany.
Can I buy the Heat Vice City jersey online?
The Heat list the Nike x Cactus Jack “Vice City” uniform as available for purchase on November 18 at the event and have not announced an online release. Other Vice City apparel is on the Heat store online.
Do the Heat wear the Vice City script jersey?
No. Players wear an on-court version with the HEAT wordmark. The Vice City script jersey with the GTA VI logo is the fan Swingman.
Is GTA 6 out before the Heat game ends?
In the US, no: GTA 6 unlocks at midnight local time on November 19, after the game. In the UK unlock and tip-off are simultaneous, and in central Europe GTA 6 unlocks an hour before tip-off.