Major League Baseball's 2026 playoffs get underway on Sept. 29, two days after the conclusion of the regular season, with the best-of-three wild card series proceeding the best-of-five division series that begin the next weekend.
This is the fifth year with baseball's new postseason format that includes three division winners and three wild card teams from each league. The third-ranked division winner and the wild card teams face off in the three-game series that are hosted by the teams with the better records.
The best-of-seven League Championship Series begin on Monday, Oct. 11 (National League) and Tuesday, Oct. 12 (American). The 2026 World Series begins on Friday, Oct. 23, with home-field advantage for the best best-of-seven Fall Classic
going to the team with the better regular season record. If the World Series goes the distance, Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series two years in a row and are seeking to become the first NL team to ever three-peat.
Here's a full look at MLB's 2026 postseason schedule:
MLB wild card series schedule
The best-of-three AL and NL wild-card playoffs will begin with all four series playing on the same days. The division winners with the worst overall record in each league, along with the wild-card teams with the best record in each league will host all games.
- Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29
- Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 30
- Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 1 (if necessary)
MLB Division Series schedule
The best-of-five AL and NL division series will open with all four series on the same day. However, the AL and NL games will be staggered going forward.
AL division series
- Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Game 2: Monday, Oct. 5
- Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 7
- Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 8 (if necessary)
- Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 10 (if necessary)
All ALDS games will air on TBS/truTV/HBO Max.
NL division series
- Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 6
- Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 7 (if necessary)
- Game 5: Friday, Oct. 9 (if necessary)
All NLDS games will air on Fox/FS1.
MLB League Championship Series schedule
The best-of-seven AL and NL championship series will begin on Oct. 11 and 12.
AL championship series
- Game 1: Monday, Oct. 12
- Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 13
- Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 15
- Game 4: Friday, Oct. 16
- Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 17 (if necessary)
- Game 6: Monday, Oct. 19 (if necessary)
- Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 20 (if necessary)
All ALCS games will air on TBS/truTV/HBO Max.
NL championship series
- Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 11
- Game 2: Monday, Oct. 12
- Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 14
- Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 15
- Game 5: Friday, Oct. 16 (if necessary)
- Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 18 (if necessary)
- Game 7: Monday, Oct. 19 (if necessary)
All NLCS games will air on Fox/FS1.
When is the World Series?
The best-of-seven World Series will begin on Oct. 23 at the home park of the team with the better regular-season record.
- Game 1: Friday, Oct. 23
- Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 24
- Game 3: Monday, Oct. 26
- Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 27
- Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 28 (if necessary)
- Game 6: Friday, Oct. 30 (if necessary)
- Game 7: Saturday, Oct. 31 (if necessary)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When do MLB playoffs start? 2026 postseason and World Series schedule
