The 2026 MLB postseason starts on Tuesday 29 September 2026 with the Wild Card Series and the World Series begins on Friday 23 October, running to a possible Game 7 on Saturday 31 October. Twelve teams qualify, six from each league, and every round is on FOX, TBS, ESPN and MLB Network in the US. The 2026 regular season opened on 25 March with the Giants and Yankees and finishes in late September. Postseason games are added to our MLB calendar as matchups are set; the schedule, key dates and how to watch are below.
Key facts
| Regular season | 25 March – late September 2026, 162 games per team |
| Wild Card Series | From Tuesday 29 September 2026 (best of three) |
| Division Series | Early October (best of five) |
| League Championship Series | Mid-October (best of seven) |
| World Series | Game 1 Friday 23 October 2026; Game 7 if needed Saturday 31 October |
| Defending champions | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| All-Star Game | Played 14 July 2026 at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia |
Next MLB games
Upcoming postseason and marquee games with first pitch in US Eastern and UK time.
| Date | Game | First pitch (ET / UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 28 Aug – 30 Aug | Yankees vs Red Sox | All day |
| Fri 25 Sep – 27 Sep | Dodgers vs Giants: Season Finale | All day |
| Tue 29 Sep – 1 Oct | MLB Wild Card Series | All day |
| Sat 3 Oct – 12 Oct | MLB Division Series | All day |
| Tue 13 Oct – 22 Oct | MLB Championship Series: ALCS | All day |
| Tue 13 Oct – 22 Oct | MLB Championship Series: NLCS | All day |
See every fixture on the calendar →
2026 postseason and World Series dates
| Date | Round |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 29 September 2026 | Wild Card Series begin (best of three, all games at the higher seed) |
| Early October | Division Series (best of five) |
| Mid-October | League Championship Series (best of seven) |
| Friday 23 October | World Series Game 1 |
| Saturday 24 October | World Series Game 2 |
| Monday 26 October | World Series Game 3 |
| Tuesday 27 October | World Series Game 4 |
| Wednesday 28 October | World Series Game 5 (if needed) |
| Friday 30 October | World Series Game 6 (if needed) |
| Saturday 31 October | World Series Game 7 (if needed) |
How to watch
Tickets
Postseason tickets are sold by the qualifying clubs once matchups are confirmed, through MLB.com and Ticketmaster, with the World Series hosted by the team with the better regular-season record for Games 1, 2, 6 and 7.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026 MLB postseason start?
The 2026 MLB postseason starts on Tuesday 29 September 2026 with the Wild Card Series.
When is the 2026 World Series?
The 2026 World Series begins on Friday 23 October 2026 and runs to a possible Game 7 on Saturday 31 October.
What channel is the World Series on?
In the United States every World Series game is on FOX, streaming on FOX One. In the UK, TNT Sports carries the games.
How many teams make the MLB playoffs?
Twelve: the three division winners and three wild cards from each league. The top two seeds in each league skip the Wild Card round.
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