The 2026 World Series begins Friday, October 23, and runs through a possible Game 7 on Saturday, October 31. The two pennant winners are not set until the League Championship Series wrap up in late October, but the dates, format, and TV plans are already locked in. Here is the full game-by-game schedule, how to watch every game on FOX, and a free printable series tracker you can fill in once the matchup is decided.
2026 World Series: quick facts
- Dates: Friday, October 23 through Saturday, October 31, 2026 (if the series goes seven games)
- Format: Best-of-seven, 2-3-2 home-field format
- Home field: the pennant winner with the better 2026 regular-season record hosts Games 1, 2, 6, and 7
- TV: every game on FOX, plus FOX Deportes and FOX One
- Matchup: to be determined by the ALCS and NLCS
2026 World Series schedule and start times
Games marked “if necessary” are played only if the series is still going. All games air on FOX.
| Game | Date | Host | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Fri, Oct 23 | Better record | FOX |
| Game 2 | Sat, Oct 24 | Better record | FOX |
| Game 3 | Mon, Oct 26 | Other pennant winner | FOX |
| Game 4 | Tue, Oct 27 | Other pennant winner | FOX |
| Game 5 (if necessary) | Wed, Oct 28 | Other pennant winner | FOX |
| Game 6 (if necessary) | Fri, Oct 30 | Better record | FOX |
| Game 7 (if necessary) | Sat, Oct 31 | Better record | FOX |
Download the free printable World Series tracker
Print the one-page scorecard, write in the two pennant winners once the LCS ends, and track every game and your champion pick.
Download the printable 2026 World Series tracker (PDF)
How the 2-3-2 format works
The World Series uses a 2-3-2 home-field arrangement. The pennant winner with the better regular-season record hosts Games 1 and 2, the other club hosts Games 3, 4, and 5, and the series returns to the higher seed for Games 6 and 7 if needed. Unlike some earlier eras, home field is set purely by record, not by which league won the All-Star Game. The first team to four wins is the champion.
How to watch the 2026 World Series
Every game airs on FOX, with Spanish-language coverage on FOX Deportes and streaming on FOX One. If you have a TV provider, you can also stream through the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com with your login. First pitch times will be set once the matchup and travel are finalized, but expect prime-time windows for the marquee weeknight and weekend games.
How the two teams get here
The World Series field is decided by the League Championship Series, which run October 11 to 20. Follow the whole road with our printable 2026 MLB postseason bracket and the full postseason TV schedule for every round. Bookmark this page: we will drop in the two teams and exact start times as soon as the pennants are decided.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026 World Series start?
Game 1 is Friday, October 23, 2026. If the series goes the distance, Game 7 would be Saturday, October 31.
What channel is the 2026 World Series on?
Every game airs on FOX, with Spanish-language coverage on FOX Deportes and streaming on FOX One.
How is home-field advantage decided?
The pennant winner with the better 2026 regular-season record hosts Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 under the 2-3-2 format.
Who is playing in the 2026 World Series?
The matchup is set by the ALCS and NLCS, which finish in late October. Check back here and on our postseason bracket, and we will update the teams as soon as they clinch.
