MLB, NBC unveil Sunday Night Baseball, 'Star-Spangled Sunday' schedule and more

January 9th, 2026

Major League Baseball's return to NBC this season will feature a pair of marquee Opening Day matchups, Wild Card Series postseason games, a special "Star-Spangled Sunday" slate on July 5 and the return of Sunday Night Baseball and MLB Sunday Leadoff.

The network on Friday announced its schedule of MLB games for 2026, which will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. It includes 27 primetime MLB games across NBC, Peacock and NBCSN this season.

MLB is reuniting with NBC for the first time in 25 years -- the league and the network previously had broadcast partnerships from 1947-89 and from 1994 to 2000, which over the years included the World Series, All-Star Games and Games of the Week.

Here are some of the highlights of the 2026 game schedule:

Opening Day and postseason games

NBC and Peacock will air an Opening Day doubleheader on March 26.

In the first game, Juan Soto and the Mets will host reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and the Pirates at 1 p.m. ET. In the second game, the only primetime Opening Day game, the Dodgers will raise their World Series championship banner as they face the D-backs at Dodger Stadium at 8 p.m.

NBC will also air the Wild Card Series games for the 2026 playoffs.

Star-Spangled Sunday

The day after America celebrates its 250th Independence Day, NBC will have a special "Star-Spangled Sunday" showcase, where every MLB game will be presented nationally on NBC's platforms.

That includes two games broadcast on NBC, Mets-Braves in Atlanta at 12:30 p.m. and Padres-Dodgers in L.A. at 7 p.m., with the rest of the day's games on Peacock.

Sunday Night Baseball

Sunday Night Baseball returns on NBC for the 2026 season, starting with the Mariners hosting the Guardians at 7 p.m. on March 29.

The Sunday Night Baseball schedule for this season includes marquee matchups like the Cubs vs. the Cardinals on May 31, the Mets vs. the Phillies on June 21, the Yankees vs. the Red Sox on June 28, the Dodgers vs. the Yankees on July 19 and more.

MLB Sunday Leadoff

There will also be an 18-game Sunday Leadoff schedule, with early afternoon games broadcast mainly on Peacock throughout the season.

MLB Sunday Leadoff kicks off on May 3, when the American League pennant-winning Blue Jays face the Twins at 12:30 p.m.

Below is the schedule, with all times listed as ET.

2026 SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL & SPECIAL EVENT SCHEDULE

DateTimeGamePlatforms
March 26*1 p.m.Pittsburgh Pirates at N.Y. MetsNBC/Peacock
March 26*8 p.m.Arizona Diamondbacks at L.A. DodgersNBC/Peacock
March 297 p.m.Cleveland Guardians at Seattle MarinersPeacock
April 57 p.m.St. Louis Cardinals at Detroit TigersPeacock
April 127 p.m.Cleveland Guardians at Atlanta BravesNBC/Peacock
April 197 p.m.Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia PhilliesPeacock
April 267 p.m.L.A. Angels at Kansas City RoyalsPeacock
May 37 p.m.Texas Rangers at Detroit TigersPeacock
May 107 p.m.Detroit Tigers at Kansas City RoyalsPeacock
May 177 p.m.San Diego Padres at Seattle MarinersPeacock
May 247 p.m.Texas Rangers at L.A. AngelsPeacock
May 317 p.m.Chicago Cubs at St. Louis CardinalsNBC/Peacock
June 78 p.m.San Francisco Giants at Chicago CubsNBC/Peacock
June 147 p.m.Texas Rangers at Boston Red SoxNBC/Peacock
June 217 p.m.N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia PhilliesNBC/Peacock
June 287 p.m.N.Y. Yankees at Boston Red SoxNBC/Peacock
July 5**12:30 p.m.N.Y. Mets at Atlanta BravesNBC/Peacock
July 57 p.m.San Diego Padres at L.A. DodgersNBC/Peacock
July 197 p.m.L.A. Dodgers at N.Y. YankeesNBC/Peacock
July 267 p.m.N.Y. Yankees at Philadelphia PhilliesNBC/Peacock
August 27 p.m.Boston Red Sox at L.A. DodgersNBC/Peacock
August 98 p.m.Houston Astros at San Diego PadresNBC/Peacock
August 167 p.m.Seattle Mariners at Houston AstrosNBC/Peacock
August 233 p.m.San Francisco Giants at Boston Red SoxNBC/Peacock
August 303 p.m.Cincinnati Reds at Chicago CubsNBC/Peacock
August 307 p.m.Houston Astros at N.Y. MetsNBC/Peacock
Sept. 63 p.m.Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia PhilliesNBC/Peacock
Sept. 67 p.m.Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City RoyalsPeacock
Sept. 7***8 p.m.St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco GiantsNBC/Peacock
Sept. 137 p.m.San Diego Padres at San Francisco GiantsPeacock
Sept. 207 p.m.Milwaukee Brewers at Baltimore OriolesPeacock

* Opening Day (Thursday)
** Also on MLB Sunday Leadoff schedule (below)
*** Labor Day (Monday)

2026 MLB SUNDAY LEADOFF SCHEDULE

DateTimeGamePlatforms
May 312:30 p.m.Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota TwinsPeacock
May 10NoonWashington Nationals at Miami MarlinsPeacock
May 17NoonMiami Marlins at Tampa Bay RaysPeacock
May 24NoonPittsburgh Pirates at Toronto Blue JaysPeacock
May 31NoonToronto Blue Jays at Baltimore OriolesPeacock
June 73 p.m.Washington Nationals at Arizona DiamondbacksPeacock
June 14NoonMiami Marlins at Pittsburgh PiratesPeacock
June 213 p.m.Minnesota Twins at Arizona DiamondbacksPeacock
June 283 p.m.Athletics at L.A. AngelsPeacock
July 512:30 p.m.N.Y. Mets at Atlanta BravesNBC/Peacock
July 12NoonMilwaukee Brewers at Pittsburgh PiratesPeacock
July 19NoonChicago White Sox at Toronto Blue JaysPeacock
July 26NoonCleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay RaysPeacock
August 23 p.m.Milwaukee Brewers at L.A. AngelsPeacock
August 9NoonCincinnati Reds at Washington NationalsPeacock
August 16NoonBaltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay RaysPeacock
August 234 p.m.Cincinnati Reds at Arizona DiamondbacksPeacock
August 30NoonMiami Marlins at Washington NationalsPeacock