The MLB Playoffs are almost here. As summer wraps up, every MLB team in postseason contention is sharpening their skills, getting ready for three rounds of playoff action followed by the legendary Fall Classic, the World Series. 

How to Watch

Watch MLB on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

This year’s playoffs start a little earlier than past years, allowing more time in the schedule for firm start dates for each subsequent round. That means that, while we don’t yet know the teams that’ll play in these games, we do know when to start watching them. So, if you’re looking forward to the playoffs — including NBC Sports’ live coverage of MLB Wild Card games on NBC and Peacock — here’s a quick guide to when you should tune in. 

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When do the MLB Playoffs start?

The 2026 MLB Playoffs are set to begin with Wild Card games on September 29. That’s a shift from previous years, which have often kept the postseason confined to October, but the MLB is leaving plenty of space this year so we already know the start dates for each subsequent round. 

As we’ve already mentioned, select MLB Wild Card action will air live on NBC and Peacock at the end of September and beginning of October, so keep checking NBC Insider for details on teams and times for those games. 

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How long are the MLB Playoffs?

The MLB Playoffs run almost exactly one month, depending on how many games it takes to resolve this year’s World Series. The World Series itself is set to begin in late October, and if it runs all the way to Game 7, it’ll wrap up on Halloween night. So if we go the full allotted number of games, that’s 33 days of playoff baseball. 

The dates for each round of the 2026 MLB Playoffs

The MLB’s official postseason schedule was released just days ago, and lets us know when each of the three playoff rounds leading up the World Series will begin, and when they’ll wrap up. Here’s what that calendar looks like right now:

Wild Card Round (Best-of-3 Series): September 29 – October 1 (selected games on NBC and Peacock)Division Series (Best-of-5): October 3 – October 10 (if Game 5s are necessary)League Championship Series (Best-of-7):  October 11 – October 20 (if Game 7s are necessary)World Series (Best-of-7): October 23 – October 31 (if Game 7 is necessary)

For more on the MLB playoff picture, including standings for each team, head to NBC Sports.