The 2026 MLB playoffs begin on September 29 with four best-of-three Wild Card Series. The next round, the Division Series, opens on October 3; the NLCS begins on October 11, the ALCS on October 12; and Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for October 23. MLB says the schedule is official but remains subject to change.
2026 MLB playoff calendar
MLB's published sequence makes it possible to follow the postseason without relying on matchups, which are determined by the final standings and the results of each round. The dates below follow the official 2026 MLB postseason schedule.
| Round | Format | Key dates | Deciding game, if necessary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card Series | Best of 3 | Sept. 29 and 30; Oct. 1 if necessary | Game 3 on Oct. 1 |
| Division Series | Best of 5 | Begins Oct. 3 | NLDS: Game 5 on Oct. 9; ALDS: Game 5 on Oct. 10 |
| NLCS | Best of 7 | Begins Oct. 11 | Game 7 on Oct. 19 |
| ALCS | Best of 7 | Begins Oct. 12 | Game 7 on Oct. 20 |
| World Series | Best of 7 | Games 1 and 2 on Oct. 23 and 24; Games 3 and 4 on Oct. 26 and 27 | Game 7 on Oct. 31 |
How the bracket works before the Wild Card round
The postseason includes 12 teams, six from the American League and six from the National League. Each league sends its three division champions and three Wild Card teams. Seeding sets the bracket:
- Seeds 1 and 2: the two division winners with the best records receive byes and advance directly to the Division Series.
- Seed 3 vs. seed 6: play one Wild Card Series.
- Seed 4 vs. seed 5: play the league's other Wild Card Series.
MLB does not reseed after this round. The 4-vs.-5 winner faces the No. 1 seed in the Division Series; the 3-vs.-6 winner faces the No. 2 seed. This structure is detailed in MLB's official playoff format guide.
Best-of-three Wild Card: what it means in practice
The Wild Card is not a single elimination game. Each matchup is a best-of-three series: the first team to win two games advances. Game 1 is scheduled for September 29, Game 2 for September 30, and Game 3, only if necessary, for October 1.
Home field works differently from later rounds: every game is played at the higher seed's ballpark. That means the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds host their entire respective series. If a team goes up 2-0, Game 3 is not played.
This compresses the round into a three-day window and removes travel from the series itself. For fans, the simplest rule is: there is no home-field switch in the Wild Card round; the higher-ranked team stays home from start to finish.
Division Series: the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds enter
All four Division Series begin on October 3 and are played as best-of-five series. Home field follows a 2-2-1 pattern: the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2 and, if necessary, Game 5.
The dates are not identical between the leagues. In the National League, Games 2, 3, 4 and 5 are scheduled for October 4, 6, 7 and 9. In the American League, Games 2, 3, 4 and 5 are scheduled for October 5, 7, 8 and 10. Games 4 and 5 are played only if the series requires them.
LCS: when the league championship series begin
The National League Championship Series begins on October 11; the American League Championship Series begins on October 12. Both are best-of-seven series using a 2-3-2 home-field pattern: the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2 and also Games 6 and 7 if needed.
If they go the distance, the NLCS ends on October 19 and the ALCS on October 20. The winners become the two league representatives in the World Series.
2026 World Series: dates from Game 1 through a possible Game 7
The World Series begins on October 23 and is also best of seven, using a 2-3-2 format. Unlike rounds organized by seeds within each league, MLB says World Series home-field advantage goes to the league champion with the better 2026 regular-season record.
| Game | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Oct. 23 | At the home of the team with the better 2026 record |
| Game 2 | Oct. 24 | Same home team as Game 1 |
| Off/travel day | Oct. 25 | No game |
| Game 3 | Oct. 26 | At the other team's home park |
| Game 4 | Oct. 27 | At the other team's home park |
| Game 5 | Oct. 28 | If necessary; at the other team's home park |
| Off/travel day | Oct. 29 | Applies if the series reaches Game 6 |
| Game 6 | Oct. 30 | If necessary; back at the better-record team's home park |
| Game 7 | Oct. 31 | If necessary; deciding game at the better-record team's home park |
Text version of the 2026 MLB playoff bracket
- Wild Card A: seed 3 vs. seed 6 → winner faces seed 2 in the Division Series.
- Wild Card B: seed 4 vs. seed 5 → winner faces seed 1 in the Division Series.
- Division Series: four best-of-five series → two winners per league advance.
- LCS: the two remaining teams in each league play a best-of-seven → the winner takes the league title.
- World Series: American League champion vs. National League champion, best of seven.
What to check as each round approaches
The calendar framework is published, but MLB explicitly notes that dates are subject to change. Game times and matchups depend on the final playoff field and how each series develops. The main place to verify the latest version is MLB's official postseason page.
To plan without relying on specific matchups, the essential dates are Sept. 29 for the Wild Card opener, Oct. 3 for the Division Series, Oct. 11–12 for the LCS round and Oct. 23 for the start of the World Series.
