The 2026 MLB Division Series begins Saturday, October 3. Four best-of-five series (two ALDS, two NLDS) send the winners to the League Championship Series. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in each league earn a bye through the Wild Card round and host the survivors. Here is the schedule, the TV breakdown, and a free printable best-of-five tracker.
2026 MLB Division Series Schedule
| Round | Dates | Format | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALDS (x2) | Oct 3 – Oct 10 | Best-of-5 (2-2-1) | TBS / truTV / HBO Max |
| NLDS (x2) | Oct 3 – Oct 10 | Best-of-5 (2-2-1) | FOX / FS1 / Fox Deportes |
How the Division Series Matchups Are Set
The top two seeds in each league sit out the Wild Card round and open the Division Series at home. The No. 1 seed hosts the lower-seeded Wild Card survivor, and the No. 2 seed hosts the other. Exact opponents lock once the best-of-three Wild Card round finishes on October 1, and the winners advance to the best-of-seven League Championship Series starting October 11.
More 2026 MLB Postseason
- 2026 MLB Wild Card Series: matchups and TV
- 2026 MLB postseason bracket
- 2026 MLB postseason TV schedule
- 2026 World Series schedule and printable
When does the 2026 MLB Division Series start?
Saturday, October 3, 2026. Each Division Series is a best-of-five, and games run through October 10 if they go the distance.
What channel is the Division Series on?
The two ALDS air on TBS, truTV and HBO Max; the two NLDS air on FOX, FS1 and Fox Deportes.
