The 2026 World Series starts tonight, Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. ET, when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Every game airs on FOX and FOX Deportes and streams on FOX One. Whoever wins, baseball gets a first-time champion. Neither franchise has ever won the Fall Classic.
Below you’ll find the full schedule with start times for each U.S. time zone, every way to watch with or without cable, options for viewers in Canada and elsewhere, and a quick look at how both teams got here.
2026 World Series schedule: Rays vs. Brewers
The series is best-of-seven, so the first team to four wins takes the title. Milwaukee hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7, and Tampa Bay hosts Games 3, 4 and 5. Every game starts at 8 p.m. ET, according to MLB’s official postseason schedule.
| Game | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Fri., Oct. 23 | Rays at Brewers | 8 p.m. | FOX |
| Game 2 | Sat., Oct. 24 | Rays at Brewers | 8 p.m. | FOX |
| Game 3 | Mon., Oct. 26 | Brewers at Rays | 8 p.m. | FOX |
| Game 4 | Tue., Oct. 27 | Brewers at Rays | 8 p.m. | FOX |
| Game 5* | Wed., Oct. 28 | Brewers at Rays | 8 p.m. | FOX |
| Game 6* | Fri., Oct. 30 | Rays at Brewers | 8 p.m. | FOX |
| Game 7* | Sat., Oct. 31 | Rays at Brewers | 8 p.m. | FOX |
*If necessary.
What time is that where I live?
An 8 p.m. Eastern first pitch works out to 7 p.m. Central (Milwaukee’s time zone), 6 p.m. Mountain and 5 p.m. Pacific. If the series goes the full seven, Game 7 lands on Halloween night. U.S. clocks fall back one hour the next morning, on Nov. 1, so check our guide on when daylight saving time ends in 2026 if you’re planning anything for that weekend.
How to watch the World Series on TV
All seven possible games are on FOX, the regular broadcast network. Spanish-language broadcasts of every game are on FOX Deportes, and Univision is also airing Game 1 in Spanish, according to MLB.
Because FOX is an over-the-air network, you can also watch for free with a digital antenna if you’re within range of your local FOX station. That’s the cheapest option by far, and it doesn’t need an internet connection.
How to stream the World Series without cable
FOX One
FOX’s own streaming service, FOX One, carries every game live. It’s listed at $19.99 a month. Since every possible game falls between Oct. 23 and Oct. 31, a single month covers the whole series. FOX has advertised a free trial for new subscribers, but the length has varied, so check the current terms when you sign up. If you already pay for a TV package that includes FOX, you can sign in to the FOX One app with that provider instead of paying separately.
Live TV streaming services
Several live TV services include your local FOX channel. Here are their regular monthly prices as listed by LiveSportsOnTV. Prices and local channel availability change, so confirm on each service’s site before you subscribe.
- Sling Select: $24.99 a month
- Fubo Sports + News: $55.99 a month
- YouTube TV: $82.99 a month
- DIRECTV Entertainment: $89.99 a month
- Hulu + Live TV: $99.99 a month
If baseball is the only reason you’re signing up, FOX One or an antenna makes more sense than a full live TV bundle. The bigger packages are worth it mainly if you also want other channels for the NFL and the new NBA season, which we covered in our guide to watching the 2026-27 NBA season.
What about MLB.TV?
MLB.TV doesn’t get you around the TV requirement in the U.S. MLB says you can stream World Series games live in the U.S. only if you sign in with a participating pay TV provider that carries FOX. Full game replays show up on demand about 90 minutes after each game ends.
Watching from outside the U.S.
- Canada: Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English-language broadcaster for every postseason game. TVA Sports has the World Series in French, according to MLB.com. MLB.TV live streams aren’t available in Canada.
- Most other countries: MLB.TV streams World Series games live internationally, with Canada the exception.
Listening on the radio
ESPN Radio has national English-language coverage of every World Series game, and TUDN Radio carries Spanish-language radio broadcasts, per MLB.
How the Rays and Brewers got here
Milwaukee Brewers
The National League champion Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had won the previous two World Series, in the NLCS. They clinched on Oct. 15, so they’ll have had eight days off by Game 1, MLB.com noted. This is Milwaukee’s first World Series since 1982, when it lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games, according to NBC Sports. The franchise joined the majors in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots and hasn’t won a title since.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays won the American League pennant by beating the Cleveland Guardians in six games. They closed it out with a 7-3 win in Game 6 on Oct. 19 at Tropicana Field, behind two-run homers from Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero and 5 1/3 innings from Freddy Peralta, the AP reported. It’s the Rays’ third pennant. They lost the 2008 World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies and the 2020 Series to the Dodgers.
Game 1 probable pitchers
Jacob Misiorowski is the Brewers’ probable Game 1 starter, and Nick Martinez is expected to start for the Rays, according to NBC Sports. Lineups are usually posted a few hours before first pitch.
Frequently asked questions
What channel is the World Series on in 2026?
FOX, with Spanish-language coverage on FOX Deportes. Every game also streams on FOX One.
Can I watch the World Series for free?
Yes, if you can pick up your local FOX station with an antenna. FOX One has also advertised a free trial for new subscribers, so check the current offer.
When does the World Series end?
It ends when one team wins four games. The earliest possible finish is Game 4 on Tuesday, Oct. 27. If it goes seven, it ends on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Have the Brewers or Rays ever won the World Series?
No. The Brewers lost their only previous appearance in 1982, and the Rays are 0-2 in the Fall Classic. The 2026 champion will win its first title.
Where are the games played?
Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 are at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Games 3, 4 and 5 are at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
For more on how streaming has changed the way people watch live events, read our look at the future of streaming TV.
Featured photo: American Family Field in Milwaukee, by Michael Barera, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
