On Monday, Major League Baseball announced its 2026 postseason schedule. Here is everything you need to know.
You can also view the schedule in its entirety at MLB.com/postseason. All dates are subject to change.
When does the postseason begin?
It won’t wait for October this year. The action gets underway on Tuesday, Sept. 29, with Game 1 of each of the four best-of-three Wild Card Series, presented by AbbVie. Each Game 2 is scheduled for Sept. 30, while each Game 3 (if necessary) would be played on Oct. 1.
Does every playoff team participate in the Wild Card Series?
No. The top two seeds in each league get a bye through the Wild Card Series, which pits each league’s No. 3 seed against its No. 6 seed, and its No. 4 seed against its No. 5 seed. The higher seed in each Wild Card Series hosts all three games.
The winners of the Wild Card Series advance to the Division Series to face those top seeds.
When does the Division Series start and end?
All four Division Series, presented by Booking.com, will get underway on Saturday, Oct. 3. The DS is a best-of-five round, with a 2-2-1 format, and the top two seeds in each league host the first two games of their series, as well as Game 5 (if necessary). If one or two NLDS Game 5s are necessary, those would be played Oct. 9. If one or two ALDS Game 5s are necessary, those would be played Oct. 10.
When does the League Championship Series start and end?
The best-of-seven League Championship Series round will begin with Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday, Oct. 11. The ALCS will get underway the following day on Oct. 12. The LCS round has a 2-3-2 format, and the higher seed hosts Games 1-2 and Games 6-7 (if necessary). Game 7 of the NLCS, if necessary, would be played on Oct. 19. Game 7 of the ALCS would be played on Oct. 20.
Does the start date of the World Series depend on when the ALCS and NLCS end?
No, not this year.
So when does the World Series start and end?
Game 1 of the 2026 World Series, presented by Capital One, is set for Friday, Oct. 23. The World Series is a best of seven, with a 2-3-2 format, and the team with the better 2026 record hosts Games 1-2 and 6-7 (if necessary). There are travel days on Oct. 25 and 29, with the latter dependent on the series lasting more than five games.
If a winner-take-all Game 7 is needed to decide the 2026 World Series champion, that game would be played on Halloween night (Saturday, Oct. 31).
How can I watch the 2026 postseason?
All Wild Card Series games will be broadcast on NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports Network. It will be the first time NBC has hosted postseason baseball since the 2000 AL Championship Series between the Mariners and Yankees.
The ALDS and ALCS will be simulcast on TBS, truTV and HBO Max. The NLDS and NLCS will be broadcast on FOX or FS1, along with FOX Deportes.
All World Series games will be broadcast on FOX, along with FOX Deportes.
What if I’m an MLB.TV subscriber?
All postseason games telecast on TNT Sports platforms, FOX and FS1 will be available to MLB.TV subscribers who are authenticated subscribers to the applicable network through a participating pay TV provider.
What if I want to watch a Spanish-language broadcast?
In addition to FOX Deportes’ coverage, 2026 postseason games also will be telecast in Spanish on Universo and Univision.
How can I listen to the 2026 postseason?
All 2026 postseason games will air live on ESPN Radio, while Univision Radio will provide Spanish-language audio coverage.
WILD CARD SERIES
Presented by AbbVie
Tuesday, Sept. 29
ALWC A, Game 1 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)
ALWC B, Game 1 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)
NLWC A, Game 1 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)
NLWC B, Game 1 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)
Wednesday, Sept. 30
ALWC A, Game 2 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)
ALWC B, Game 2 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)
NLWC A, Game 2 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)
NLWC B, Game 2 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)
Thursday, Oct. 1
ALWC A, Game 3 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)*
ALWC B, Game 3 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)*
NLWC A, Game 3 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)*
NLWC B, Game 3 (NBC/Peacock/NBCSN)*
* if necessary
DIVISION SERIES
Presented by Booking.com
Saturday, Oct. 3
ALDS A, Game 1 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
ALDS B, Game 1 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
NLDS A, Game 1 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
NLDS B, Game 1 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
Sunday, Oct. 4
NLDS A, Game 2 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
NLDS B, Game 2 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
Monday, Oct. 5
ALDS A, Game 2 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
ALDS B, Game 2 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
Tuesday, Oct. 6
NLDS A, Game 3 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
NLDS B, Game 3 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
Wednesday, Oct. 7
ALDS A, Game 3 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
ALDS B, Game 3 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
NLDS A, Game 4 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)*
NLDS B, Game 4 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)*
Thursday, Oct. 8
ALDS A, Game 4 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*
ALDS B, Game 4 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*
Friday, Oct. 9
NLDS A, Game 5 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)*
NLDS B, Game 5 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)*
Saturday, Oct. 10
ALDS A, Game 5 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*
ALDS B, Game 5 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*
* if necessary
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Sunday, Oct. 11
NLCS Game 1 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
Monday, Oct. 12
ALCS Game 1 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
NLCS Game 2 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
Tuesday, Oct. 13
ALCS Game 2 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
Wednesday, Oct. 14
NLCS Game 3 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
Thursday, Oct. 15
ALCS Game 3 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
NLCS Game 4 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
Friday, Oct. 16
ALCS Game 4 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
NLCS Game 5 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)*
Saturday, Oct. 17
ALCS Game 5 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*
Sunday, Oct. 18
NLCS Game 6 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)*
Monday, Oct. 19
ALCS Game 6 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*
NLCS Game 7 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)*
Tuesday, Oct. 20
ALCS Game 7 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*
* if necessary
WORLD SERIES
Presented by Capital One
Friday, Oct. 23
Game 1 -- at better 2026 record (FOX/FOX Deportes)
Saturday, Oct. 24
Game 2 -- at better 2026 record (FOX/FOX Deportes)
Monday, Oct. 26
Game 3 (FOX/FOX Deportes)
Tuesday, Oct. 27
Game 4 (FOX/FOX Deportes)
Wednesday, Oct. 28
Game 5 (FOX/FOX Deportes)*
Friday, Oct. 30
Game 6 -- at better 2026 record (FOX/FOX Deportes)*
Saturday, Oct. 31
Game 7 -- at better 2026 record (FOX/FOX Deportes)*
* if necessary