The 2026 Major League Baseball regular season starts with a special Opening Night game on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, followed by a full slate of Opening Day games on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

When does baseball season start 2026?

Key dates at a glance

  • Opening Night: Giants vs. Yankees on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
  • Full Opening Day (most teams’ first game): Thursday, March 26, 2026.
  • This is the earliest traditional Opening Day in MLB history.

So if you’re asking “when does baseball season start 2026” , circle March 25–26, 2026 on your calendar.

Why this start is a big deal

  • MLB scheduled 2026 to begin earlier than usual so the full 162-game season fits cleanly while also accommodating events like the 2026 World Cup later in the summer.
  • March 26, 2026 is specifically called out as the earliest traditional Opening Day on record, beating prior late‑March starts.

That means more chilly early-spring games, but also a bit more breathing room later in the year.

Other 2026 baseball dates fans care about

Even if your main question is “when does baseball season start 2026,” a few more dates help frame the year:

  • Regular season runs: March 25–September 27, 2026.
  • Postseason begins: September 29, 2026.
  • All-Star Game: July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park, timed with the U.S. 250th anniversary.

These milestones shape the rhythm of the 2026 baseball calendar.

Quick forum-style take

“So when does baseball season start 2026 for real?”
If you’re a Yankees or Giants fan: March 25, under the lights. Everyone else: March 26 is your Opening Day.

In casual fan talk and forum discussions, people will likely say the season “starts March 26, 2026,” but hardcore fans will point to that March 25 Giants–Yankees showcase as the true first pitch of the year.

TL;DR:
For “when does baseball season start 2026”:

  • First game: March 25, 2026 (Giants vs. Yankees).
  • Full Opening Day: March 26, 2026, earliest traditional Opening Day ever.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.