For the current MLS calendar, the regular season ends on Decision Day, Nov. 7, 2026 ; playoffs follow after that, and MLS also has a schedule pause for the FIFA World Cup from May 25 to July 16.

New signings don’t all start at one single moment — MLS roster-building activity begins in the offseason, with free agency opening on Dec. 10, 2025 for the 2025-26 offseason cycle, followed by other roster mechanisms like waivers and the SuperDraft in December.

What that means

  • Season end: regular season ends on Decision Day, then playoffs run afterward.
  • Signings/roster moves: clubs can start making offseason moves before the new season, with free agency and related processes opening in December.
  • 2026 note: MLS’s 2026 schedule is unusual because of the World Cup break, so the calendar is more spread out than a normal year.

In plain English

If you mean “when does MLS stop for the year,” the regular season wraps in early November, then the playoffs decide the champion. If you mean “when can teams start adding players,” the answer is the offseason — especially once free agency opens and other roster windows kick in.