KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Kansas City Royals and Major League Baseball have announced their 2026 schedule. Here’s everything you need to know about where and when the Boys in Blue will play next season.
Opening Day
The Royals will open the season on the road with the earliest Opening Day in franchise history, a Thursday, March 26 game in Atlanta against the Braves. It’s one day earlier than the previous earliest Opening Day in franchise history, which was set this year. It’s also just the third time, dating back to 2015, that the Royals have opened the season away from Kansas City.
After the three-game stint in Atlanta, the Royals will host their own Opening Day on Monday, March 30, against the Minnesota Twins.
World Cup impacts
With Kansas City hosting games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Arrowhead Stadium, the Royals schedule will have to maneuver around several games during the summer. From June 18-21, the Royals will host a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The teams will play Thursday and Friday before an off day Saturday for a World Cup game, wrapping the series up on Sunday.
On Friday, July 3, the Royals will have an off day before a Saturday-Sunday-Monday series against the Philadelphia Phillies from July 4-6.
Balanced schedule
MLB continues its balanced schedule in 2026 with the Royals playing games against all 29 teams.
The Royals will play 52 games against AL Central opponents, 62 league games against the AL East and AL West, and 48 interleague games. Of those interleague games, the Royals will play on the road in Atlanta (March 26-29), St. Louis (May 15-17), Cincinnati (June 1-3), Washington (June 15-17), New York (July 7-9), Colorado (July 31-Aug. 2), Los Angeles (Aug. 10-12) and Pittsburgh (Sept. 18-20).
AL Central matchups
Kansas City plays the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians for seven times at home and six times on the road. The Royals play six games at home and seven games on the road against the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins.
Holidays at home
The Royals will be in Kansas City for all the major holidays in the 2026 season. They’ll play at Kauffman Stadium on Easter Sunday vs. Milwaukee (April 5), Mother’s Day vs. Detroit (May 10), Memorial Day vs. the Yankees (May 25), Father’s Day vs. St. Louis (June 21), Independence Day vs. Philadelphia (July 4) and Labor Day vs. Arizona (Sept. 7).
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