SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres today announced details surrounding the 2026 National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park presented by AbbVie against the Chicago Cubs. Right-handed pitcher Michael King will take the mound against the Cubs for Game 1 with the game beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT. Limited tickets and suites are still available for Wild Card games at Petco Park at www.padres.com/postseason. Fans are strongly encouraged to arrive early for all postseason games at Petco Park.
Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series will take place on Tuesday, September 29, and all fans in attendance will receive a Postseason Rally Towel presented by motorola razr. Fans will be treated to a pregame ceremony that will feature all the pageantry of postseason baseball including the unfurling of the United States-shaped flag. Jon Foreman, lead singer and guitarist from the San Diego based Grammy Award winning band Switchfoot, will perform the National Anthem. A surprise guest will throw the game’s Ceremonial First Pitch, and Navy Band Southwest's Musician Second Class Hailey Amick will perform God Bless America prior to the 7th-inning stretch.
Gallagher Square will open to fans two-and-a-half hours prior to the first pitch of each game, while all remaining Petco Park gates will open two hours prior to first pitch. On Tuesday, September 29, Gallagher Square will open at 4:30 p.m., which includes access to the Padres New Era Team Store and Power Alley in right field. All remaining gates at the ballpark with access to the seating bowl open at 5:00 p.m. This will afford fans the opportunity to enter early and enjoy all Petco Park has to offer. There will be a special Postseason Pregame Party in Gallagher Square prior to each game beginning two-and-a-half hours before first pitch (4:30 p.m. on Tuesday) until the game begins, featuring live music and photo opportunities. Padres Season Ticket Members can also enjoy Member Happy Hour at designated Member Happy Hour locations before each game beginning when gates open until the game’s first pitch. Fans should be in their seats no later than 40 minutes prior to the first pitch of each game to enjoy the entire pregame ceremony.
With a sellout crowd for the Wild Card Series at Petco Park, fans are advised to enter the ballpark early and pre-purchase parking. Fans can purchase parking for off-site locations, including the San Diego Convention Center and Bayfront Hilton, by visiting www.padres.com/transportation. Guests without pre-purchased parking passes are encouraged to utilize public transportation or rideshare services and take advantage of a convenient pickup and drop off rideshare location at the Bayfront Hilton.
Continuing through the 2026 postseason, standard Petco Park security procedures, including walk-through metal detectors, will be in place for every game. All fans must be screened as they enter the ballpark. For enhanced ballpark security and to accelerate the entry process for all guests, Petco Park prohibits bags except for clutches and purses no larger than 5” X 7”, single-compartment clear plastic bags not exceeding 12” X 6” X 12” or infant and medical bags. Additional information, including a list of items that are permitted and prohibited at Petco Park, can be found at https://www.mlb.com/padres/ballpark/entry-policies.
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will continue to offer all three Trolley Lines —the Sycuan Green Line, the UC San Diego Blue Line and the Orange Line —for fans during the postseason with direct service to Petco Park and increased service following the game. The UC San Diego Blue Line will run southbound from UTC to Petco Park daily, providing a convenient stop for fans at the 12th and Imperial station in Downtown. The North County Transit District (NCTD) will offer COASTER service with southbound trains departing from Oceanside Transit Center. Free parking is available at all North County Coaster stations and Coaster Regional Day passes include free trolley connections. For more information and updates, visit the Petco Park transportation page at www.padres.com/transportation.
Game 2 of the Wild Card Series at Petco Park will take place on Wednesday, September 30, with the game beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT. Gallagher Square will open to fans at 4:30 p.m., with all remaining gates opening at 5:00 p.m. Fans can enjoy the Postseason Pregame Party in Gallagher Square starting at 4:30 p.m. with photo opportunities and live music prior to first pitch, and all fans in attendance will receive a Postseason Rally Towel presented by Sycuan Casino Resort. A surprise guest will throw the game’s Ceremonial First Pitch, recording artist and saxophonist Jason Brown, who was the first person to ever play the National Anthem at Petco Park in 2004, will perform Wednesday’s National Anthem, and Marine Band San Diego's Sergeant Elizabeth Marino and Corporal Jacob Leonard will sing God Bless America during the 7th-Inning stretch.
If necessary, the Padres will host Game 3 of the Wild Card series at Petco Park on Thursday, October 1, with the time of first pitch to be determined and the opportunity to advance to the National League Division Series on the line. Gallagher Square will open two-and-a-half hours prior to first pitch on Thursday with access to the Postseason Pregame Party, while all other Petco Park gates will open two hours before first pitch. Fans attending Game 3 will receive a Postseason Rally Towel presented by Southwest Airlines to use when cheering on the Padres as they compete to clinch their spot in the next postseason series. A surprise guest will throw the game’s Ceremonial First Pitch, Singer/Songwriter and NBC’s “The Voice” Season 27 alumna Tinika Wyatt will sing the National Anthem, and Coast Guard Machinery Technician First Class Mike Dalager will perform God Bless America during the 7th-Inning Stretch.
Exclusively for the 2026 postseason, Petco Park will offer several new concessions items at select locations throughout the ballpark, which include the Surf and Turf Sandwich, Tuna Poke Crunchy Taco and Spicy Tri Tip Nacho. Details on the postseason food menu can be found at www.padres.com/foodguide along with the entire Petco Park Food Guide.
Tickets for the 2026 Padres postseason games at Petco Park are extremely limited. Fans can learn more about access and details at www.padres.com/postseason. Limited suites are available for 2026 home postseason games for fans looking to cheer on the Padres with a group of friends or family. The best way to unlock access to a suite during the postseason is by placing a deposit on a suite for the 2027 regular season. Fans who request more information will be contacted by a dedicated Padres representative. More information is available at www.padres.com/suites.
Petco Park offers completely digital ticketing, and fans are encouraged to download the MLB Ballpark app and select the Padres as their favorite team to access their digital tickets throughout the Padres’ postseason schedule. As a cashless venue, credit cards, Padres Pay, and other forms of digital payment will be accepted at all Petco Park concessions and retail locations.
All game times and Petco Park gate times for the Wild Card series are subject to change and will be communicated to fans as soon as possible if they change.