MLB 2026 streaming guide: How to watch every baseball game this season
For how beautifully simplistic baseball is as a sport, it's pretty ironic how complicated it has become to watch it on TV. Every year of the streaming era, watching live sports becomes a bit more convoluted — and 2026 is no different. This year, Major League Baseball has two new national broadcast partners, plus a new deal with ESPN. And that's on top of the already complicated streaming service lineup. Let's get into it.
If you can't fathom missing a single inning, we've got your guide to watching the 2026 MLB season, including which streamers you'll need and all of the best ways to save.
When does the 2026 MLB season start?
The 2026 Major League Baseball season officially opens with a special game on Wednesday, March 25 when the New York Yankees take on the San Francisco Giants at 8:05 p.m. ET. Traditional Opening Day falls on Thursday, March 26 for the remaining 28 teams — that's the earliest scheduled traditional Opening Day in MLB history. The regular season runs through late September, with each team playing a total of 162 games.
What channels or streaming services do I need to watch baseball?
In 2026, you'll need a collection of channels and/or streaming services in order to catch every game your favorite MLB team plays. But first, let's break it down into two categories: national versus local broadcasts. As you can probably guess, national broadcasts target a nationwide audience and air on major networks. Local broadcasts serve only specific, regional communities.
MLB national broadcasts
MLB has added new broadcast partners for games on national TV for the 2026 season on top of the already substantial lineup from last season. In 2026, national games will air across ABC/ESPN, Fox/FS1, MLB Network, TBS, Apple TV, NBC/Peacock and Netflix. In other words, you'll need a variety of channels if you want to catch every game. It's not as straightforward as simply subscribing to a single streaming service or having cable.
ABC/ESPN — ESPN will exclusively air 30 regular season games across this year's schedule beginning on April 15. Three of those games will air on the over-the-air parent network ABC on Sundays.
Fox/FS1 — Fox and FS1 combined will air over 85 regular season games in 2026, including 23 "Baseball Night in America" Saturday primetime matchups. You'll also need these networks for the NLDS and NLCS playoff series, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
NBC/Peacock — For the first time in 25 years, MLB coverage returns to NBC, starting with an Opening Day doubleheader on March 26. The main network, combined with NBC Sports and Peacock, will air 27 primetime games and 34 afternoon games in 2026. It will be the new home to Sunday Night Baseball this season and some games will be exclusive to Peacock.
Netflix — Netflix started dabbling in sports the past couple years, starting with the NFL on Christmas Day. This year, the streamer will also be the home of three exclusive MLB events: the 2026 season opener on March 25, the Home Run Derby, and the "Field of Dreams" game on Aug. 13.
Apple TV — The home to Friday Night Baseball since 2022, Apple TV typically hosts doubleheaders on Fridays that are exclusive to the streamer with no local blackouts.
MLB Network — The league's official network airs a couple of games each week throughout the regular season.
TBS — Not only does TBS air games on Tuesdays throughout the regular season, beginning with the Yankees vs. Mariners on March 31, but it's also the home to 2026's ALDS and ALCS playoff rounds.
MLB local broadcasts
Local broadcasts are a whole different beast. These broadcasts only serve specific regions and air on RSNs (regional sports networks). The majority of games throughout the regular season air on these networks. To put it simply, if you're a fan of your local team and want to watch as many games as possible, you'll need access to your team's RSN. If you're a fan of a team from a different region, you'll be blacked out from watching games on that team's RSN. Instead, you'll need access to MLB.TV, which airs every out of market MLB game (more on that below). It's unnecessarily complicated, but that's the way of watching sports in 2026.
What is an RSN and which one do I need?
While the NFL offers national broadcasts of most games with specific in-market choice games, the MLB, NBA, and NHL complicate things exponentially with regional sports networks (RSNs). These are basically sports-specific TV networks dedicated to a designated local market or geographic area. If you live in the same region as your favorite team, you'll need to know which RSN broadcasts your team's games. Examples include MASN+, Gotham Sports, Nationals.TV, and SNLA+. It's worth noting that with the collapse of the FanDuel Sports Network conglomerate, many teams now use MLB itself for their RSN.
Take a peek at MLB.TV's single-team packages to see if your team's RSN is included — 22 out of 30 teams are. The other eight teams have their own separate subscriptions. For a complete list of each team's RSN, see the FAQs below.
In-market vs. out-of-market games
If you really only care about your local team, you'll be able to tune into most games through your team's RSN since you're considered in market. Most RSNs offer direct subscriptions for you to watch online or subscriptions through MLB.TV. These vary in price from about $99 to $139 per season. Of course, these subscriptions won't include nationally broadcast games on ABC/ESPN, Fox/FS1, MLB Network, and TBS, but will include the majority of the season. You can also access RSNs through cable or a pay-TV subscription (like Fubo or DirecTV Stream) that includes your team's RSN.
If you want to watch a team that's out of market for your region (say you're an Orioles fan living on the West Coast), you don't necessarily need to know which RSN your team plays on. Instead, you'll want to opt for an MLB.TV subscription instead. MLB.TV is Major League Baseball's official streaming service. It shows almost every game of every team for the entire regular season, with the exception of your local in-market games. In other words, Orioles fans living in Baltimore won't be able to watch Orioles games on MLB.TV. Orioles fans living outside the Baltimore region will. MLB.TV costs $29.99 per month or $149.99 for the season. The league has partnered with ESPN for the next couple of seasons, so you'll subscribe to MLB.TV through ESPN starting in 2026. Already have ESPN Unlimited? You can add MLB.TV to your existing subscription for a discounted price of $134.99 per season.
TL;DR: for in-market games, you'll need an RSN subscription or a pay-TV subscription that offers your RSN. For out-of-market games, you'll need MLB.TV.
How to watch MLB games in 2026
As stated before, subscribing to your team's RSN or MLB.TV is the best way to catch the most games throughout the regular season. However, there are also nationally broadcast games that your RSN won't broadcast, plus a few games on Apple TV+, Peacock, and Netflix. Watching sports in 2026 is so frustrating, y'all.
Here's a breakdown of which streaming services you'll need, how much they cost, and the best deals available to save a few bucks.
For out-of-market games: MLB.TV
Why we like it
MLB.TV All Teams package gives you access to every out-of-market game. If you live in a different region than your favorite team, this is your best bet to getting the most bang for your buck. It will also unlock full access to MLB Network. A subscription will run you either $29.99 per month or $149.99 for the entire season, which will save you nearly $90. If you want to save a little more, you can opt for a single-team package for $129.99. Just scroll down to where it says "view single-team packages" to select your team. If you have questions about the MLB streaming service through ESPN, this FAQ page should answer them.
Most RSNs and national broadcasts: Fubo
Why we like it
If you're looking to stream your home team's games on not only their RSN but also national broadcasts, Fubo gives you the most comprehensive coverage. Be sure to double-check that your team's RSN is listed in the Fubo channel list before committing (just search on the main page). Beyond the widest RSN coverage, it also gives you access to most of the main networks for national broadcasts — ABC/ESPN, Fox/FS1, MLB Network, NBC — with the exception of TBS. For those, you can just snag an HBO Max subscription. The Pro plan usually costs $73.99 per month, but you can get your first month for only $48.99 after a five-day trial.
Other live TV streaming options
While Fubo is the most comprehensive option for MLB coverage, there are also some honorable mentions:
DirecTV Stream — Choice package includes RSNs and major broadcast channels for $101/month (plus fees)
Sling TV — A la carte channel selection, starting at $29.99/month for your first month (no RSNs)
YouTube TV — Base package includes major broadcast channels for $67.99/month for 3 months after 10-day trial (no RSNs)
Hulu + Live TV — Base package includes major broadcast channels for $89.99/month after 3-day trial (no RSNs)
For Friday and Sunday night games: Apple TV + Peacock bundle
Why we like it
Once again, Apple has partnered up with the MLB to offer an exclusive doubleheader every Friday for Apple TV subscribers. The best part is there are no local broadcast restrictions. Subscribers can enjoy two marquee matchups as their Friday night ritual. If you're new to Apple TV, you'll get a free seven-day trial, then it'll cost you $12.99 per month.
Additionally, MLB games are back on NBC (Peacock) this season for the first time in over two decades. The network and its streaming platform are the new home to Sunday Night Baseball, as well as several other primetime and afternoon games in 2026. Peacock costs $10.99 per month for the Premium package.
Pro tip: Bundle Apple TV and Peacock for a double whammy. You'll pay just $14.99 ($2 more than Apple TV on its own) and get access to Friday Night Baseball and Sunday Night Baseball broadcasts.
Other streaming services you may need
While our picks above cover a good chunk of the MLB 2026 season, there are a few other things to note. Since Fubo, our top pick for a live TV streaming service, doesn't give you access to TBS, you may also want to sign up for an HBO Max subscription. HBO Max shows live TBS broadcasts on Tuesday nights throughout the season. You'll need the ad-free standard plan to watch, which costs $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year.
Yankees fans, in particular, will also need Prime Video to stream 21 exclusive games this season (the first falling on April 8). Yes, that means even though you have the YES Network or pay for a live TV streaming service with the YES Network, these games won't be viewable. Prime Video on its own costs $8.99 per month, while a full Prime membership is $14.99 per month.