Everything you need to know about 2026 HOF induction

Two of the greatest outfielders of their generation and the best power-hitting second baseman in MLB history are just about ready to have their day in Cooperstown.

Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent will be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 26. Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

When does the induction ceremony take place, and how can I watch it?

The induction ceremony begins on Sunday, July 26, at 1:30 p.m. ET. It will be televised exclusively on MLB Network. It will be streamed at MLB.com and in the MLB App, and broadcast on SiriusXM MLB Network Radio. The ceremony, which is expected to last between two to three hours, will also be simulcast at https://baseballhall.org/.

Where is the ceremony held?

The ceremony will be held on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center, which is located on lower Susquehanna Avenue, one mile south of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Can fans attend?

Yes. More than 25,000 fans typically attend the induction ceremony. Lawn seating for the ceremony is unlimited and free of charge. Keep the conditions in mind, since the event is held outdoors -- rain or shine (unless severe weather forces a cancellation). The weather in Cooperstown can be hot in July, so attendees are advised to bring a cap and sunscreen. There will be refreshments sold at the site.

Professional interpreters are provided for the hearing impaired, and service dogs are welcome at the ceremony, although they must remain on a leash or harness at all times.

Who is being inducted? How and why were they selected?

Beltrán and Jones were elected by eligible voters from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, while Kent was elected via the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.

Players on the BBWAA ballot needed to be selected on at least 75% of submitted ballots to earn induction. Beltrán had his name checked on 84.2% of ballots submitted. The nine-time All-Star is one of only five players in AL/NL history with at least 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases, joining Willie Mays, Andre Dawson, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez. Beltrán was the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year with the Royals and captured three Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers during a 20-year career spent with the Royals, Astros, Mets, Giants, Cardinals, Yankees and Rangers. He also won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2013.

Beltrán had a historic postseason run with the Astros in 2004, highlighted by eight homers in 12 playoff games. He won a World Series title with Houston 13 years later, his final season in MLB.

Jones was still a teenager when he became a household name in the baseball world. The Curaçao native was just 19 years old when he smashed two homers for the Braves at Yankee Stadium in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series. Over the next 11 seasons with Atlanta, Jones developed into one of the best defensive center fielders to grace the game. He won 10 Gold Gloves -- tied for the second-most among outfielders behind only Mays and Clemente (12) -- and was selected to five All-Star teams. After stints with the Dodgers, Rangers, White Sox and Yankees, Jones closed his 17-year career in 2012 with 434 career home runs.

He earned 78.4% support from the BBWAA in his ninth year on the ballot. It marked the end of an unprecedented ascension; Jones' 7.3% of support in his first year on the ballot (2018) is the lowest of any player who was eventually voted into the Hall by the BBWAA.

• Jones among biggest risers in HOF voting history

Kent, a 20th-round Draft pick by the Blue Jays in 1989, was a slightly-above-league-average hitter (107 OPS+) through his first five MLB seasons, split between Toronto, Cleveland and the Mets. Things changed drastically once he was traded to the Giants before the 1997 season. Kent hit 175 home runs, made three All-Star teams and won three Silver Sluggers during his six-year run in San Francisco. It culminated in 2000, when he was named NL MVP.

Kent was an All-Star with the Astros in 2004 and the Dodgers in 2005 before retiring after the 2008 season. He hit 351 of his 377 home runs as a second baseman, making him the all-time leader at the position. He also drove in 1,518 runs, and his eight seasons with at least 100 RBIs are the most among players at the keystone position as well. Kent, who never reached 50% in 10 years on the BBWAA ballot, received 14 votes from the 16-member Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.

Which caps will the new Hall of Famers have on their plaques?

Beltrán will be the third player to have a Mets logo on his Hall of Fame plaque, following in the footsteps of Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza. Beltrán made five All-Star teams in seven seasons with the Mets, who will retire his No. 15 on Sept. 19.

Jones will be the 12th player to enter the Hall as a Brave, and Kent will be the 16th player to represent the Giants in Cooperstown.

• HOF players and managers, broken down by team

Is anyone else being honored?

Joe Buck (Ford C. Frick Award): Buck will receive the award for broadcasting excellence 39 years after his father, Jack. From 1996 through 2021, Joe was the play-by-play announcer for 24 World Series, 26 League Championship Series and 21 All-Star Games on FOX.

Paul Hoynes (BBWAA Career Excellence Award): Hoynes has been a Cleveland Indians/Guardians beat writer since 1983 and has covered more than 6,000 games for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com.

Bill White (Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award): An eight-time All-Star, White played 13 seasons in the big leagues (1956-69) and won seven Gold Gloves. He then moved into broadcasting in 1971 and called Yankees games for most of the next 18 years. He served as National League president from 1989-94, making him one of the highest-ranking Black executives in all of sport.

Buck, Hoynes and White will be recognized during the Hall of Fame Awards Presentation, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 25.

How many other Hall of Famers will attend?

More than 60 Hall of Famers are expected to attend this year’s festivities.

What other events take place during Hall of Fame Weekend?

Hall of Fame Weekend starts on Friday, July 24, with Ozzie Smith's "Turn Two with Ozzie" museum fundraiser. The event will include special guests Robin Yount and Billy Wagner. Following the Hall of Fame Awards Presentation honoring Buck, Hoynes and White on Saturday afternoon, fans will get to see the new and returning Hall of Famers during the Parade of Legends on Saturday night. The parade is scheduled to begin at 6 ET.

Is the Hall of Fame and Museum open to the public during induction weekend?

Yes! The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open throughout Induction Weekend.

Friday, July 24: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. ET
Saturday, July 25: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET
Sunday, July 26: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. ET
Monday, July 27: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. ET