For one night, Miami’s NBA team will not play as Miami. The Heat have teamed up with Rockstar Games for “A Night in Vice City” on November 18, 2026, the evening before Grand Theft Auto VI launches. The team takes the floor as “Vice City”, with a new court and a new uniform. Searches for the Miami Heat GTA 6 uniform have exploded since the announcement, so here is what is confirmed, what has not been shown yet, and how the rest of Miami is being turned into Rockstar’s fictional city.
Key facts
- Event: “A Night in Vice City”, Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks.
- Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 — one day before GTA 6 releases.
- Venue: Kaseya Center, Miami.
- TV: national broadcast on ESPN, with tip-off reported for 7 p.m. ET.
- What changes: a custom Vice City court, a redesigned uniform and in-arena activities.
- Merch: a Vice City collection is already on sale through the Heat’s official store.
What is “A Night in Vice City”?
The Heat announced the partnership at the start of October. As the team puts it, the Heat are trading Miami for Vice City for a single game, their home matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. It is a one-night takeover rather than a season-long sponsorship: the branding, the court and the uniform are all built for November 18.
The date is the point. Grand Theft Auto VI arrives on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, so the game tips off on the eve of what is expected to be the biggest entertainment launch of the year.
The Miami Heat GTA 6 uniform and court: what we know
The team has described the uniform as completely reimagined for the night, and the game will be played on hardwood made for the event. Sports design site SportsLogos notes that this will be the fourth Vice-themed court the Heat have used.
What the Heat have not done yet is publish full, detailed images of the final kit. Until that happens, treat any “leaked” jersey mock-up on social media with caution.
The Heat already had a “Vice” identity
This crossover works because the franchise has been here before. The Miami Heat’s “Vice” City Edition line is one of the most popular alternate looks in the NBA:
| Season | Uniform | Look |
|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Vice | White, with neon pink and blue accents |
| 2018–19 | Vice Nights / Sunset Vice | Black, then pink |
| 2019–20 | ViceWave | Blue |
| 2020–21 | ViceVersa | Pink-to-blue gradient |
Those jerseys were inspired by the same 1980s Miami imagery that gave Grand Theft Auto its Vice City in the first place. A Rockstar version closes the loop.
How to watch the Miami Heat’s Vice City game
The matchup is part of ESPN’s national schedule, and reports list a 7 p.m. ET tip-off. Broadcast details can shift, so check the Heat’s official schedule closer to the date. If you want the merchandise, the Vice City collection of T-shirts, hoodies and hats is available now from the Heat’s official store, and popular sizes may not last until November.
Miami is turning into Vice City
The basketball game is only one piece of a wider GTA 6 campaign across South Florida:
- The Kaseya Center sign. A “Welcome to Vice City” sign was installed on the roof of the arena on September 22. TechTimes reports it covers roughly 4,700 square feet, cost around $975,000 and is visible from planes approaching Miami International Airport.
- Miami Beach. On September 10, the Miami Beach City Commission voted 4–3 to let the city manager negotiate a deal with Rockstar. The branding can go up from October 15 and has to come down by December 31. It is deliberately discreet: “Vice City” and “VI” marks on privately operated beach chairs and umbrellas, with the city expecting close to $4 million in return.
- Downtown Miami. A separate proposal for large banners downtown during the same October 15 to December 31 window has passed a first reading.
- Beyond Florida. A mural of Jason and Lucia was spotted being painted in Brooklyn, New York, in the first days of October.
Not everyone is happy about it. The Miami Beach vote was close, and local officials have questioned whether a city should promote a series built around crime. The majority’s argument was simple: GTA 6 is coming to Miami with or without the city’s involvement.
If you want to see how closely the game mirrors the real thing, read our guides to Vice City’s downtown and its Wynwood-style art district.
What the campaign tells us about the release date
Stadium takeovers, city contracts and rooftop signs are booked months ahead and are expensive to cancel. Every one of these deals is anchored to GTA 6’s launch week in November.
That lines up with what the companies have said in public. Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson told Japanese magazine Famitsu in late August that the game will ship on time, and Take-Two reiterated the November 19 date in its August 7 earnings release. Add the LOVE Magazine cover and the Game Informer cover story, and the picture is consistent: this is a launch campaign, not a holding pattern.
FAQ
When is the Miami Heat GTA 6 game?
“A Night in Vice City” takes place on November 18, 2026, when the Heat host the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center. GTA 6 launches the next day.
Will the Heat really play as “Vice City”?
Yes, for one game. The team has said it is trading Miami for Vice City for the night, with a special uniform and a custom court.
Can you buy the Miami Heat GTA 6 jersey?
A Vice City merchandise collection is on sale through the Heat’s official store. The team has not yet detailed every item tied to the on-court uniform, so check the store for updates.
Is the Miami Heat GTA 6 uniform the same as the old Vice jerseys?
No. The Heat describe it as a completely reimagined design for this event, although it follows the Vice City Edition tradition the team started in 2017–18.
Is GTA 6 set in Miami?
GTA 6 is set in Vice City, Rockstar’s fictional take on Miami, and across the wider state of Leonida, which is inspired by Florida.
