Baseball season swings early every year with MLB Spring Training and Opening Day lined up. Beginning in February, fans can catch their favorite players up close for preseason practices and games as they prepare for Opening Day in March. Below, learn more about Major League Baseball’s treasured preseason experience and find your team’s Spring Training schedule and Opening Day tickets.
What’s the Difference: Spring Training, Preseason, Opening Night vs Opening Day
Following the World Series in October, fans and teams alike set their sights on the next race to the pennant. The MLB preseason formally begins in February with Spring Training, when players report to their teams for the first time. Spring Training splits teams into two leagues: the Cactus League in Arizona and the Grapefruit League in Florida. Typically, Spring Training ends shortly before Opening Day.
As the annual season kickoff, Opening Day remains one of the most cherished MLB traditions. Often held in late March or early April, Opening Day becomes an all-day baseball event as nearly every team takes the field. While the league has presented several variations on the opening game, including international matchups in Japan, South Korea and Australia, Opening Night has become a common alternative to Opening Day. Hosted during primetime just hours before Opening Day, Opening Night makes the ballpark lights shine a little brighter for the first game of the MLB season.
What to Expect on Opening Night & Opening Day
Opening Day serves as an unofficial holiday to many sports fans, so expect a celebration no matter which team is hosting. While all 30 teams don’t normally play on Opening Day, and events like Opening Night and MLB international games have moved up the season’s first pitch, Opening Day still holds all the prestige and pageantry of the regular season’s league-wide launch.
The 2026 MLB season opens on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with an Opening Night matchup between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at San Francisco’s Oracle Park. The game will be streamed globally at 8:05 p.m. ET / 5:05 p.m. PT via Netflix. MLB Opening Day 2026 follows on March 26 with a full, 14-game slate.
MLB Spring Training
Ahead of the MLB regular season, all 30 teams participate in Spring Training. Each team plays about 30 games during the month-long, preseason period designated for player conditioning, team practice and roster adjustments. However, for fans, Spring Training lets fans take in the game and scout their favorite players from up close in smaller, intimate ballpark settings. Spring Training splits Major League Baseball into two divisions: the Cactus League in Phoenix, Arizona and its surrounding cities and the Grapefruit League in central and southern Florida.
Cactus League (Arizona)
Spring Training descends on the Valley of the Sun as 15 MLB teams head to the Cactus League in the Phoenix metropolitan area. With 10 ballparks all within approximately 45 to 75 minutes from each other, fans have the opportunity to enjoy multiple games and teams in one trip to Phoenix. The Cactus League runs from mid-February to late March.
Which Teams Play in the Cactus League?
The following MLB teams compete in the Cactus League:
Spring Training Ballpark: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
City: Scottsdale, Arizona
Capacity: 11,000
Spring Training Ballpark: Hohokam Park
City: Mesa, Arizona
Capacity: 10,500
Spring Training Ballpark: Sloan Park
City: Mesa, Arizona
Capacity: 15,000
Spring Training Ballpark: Camelback Ranch
City: Phoenix, Arizona
Capacity: 13,000
Spring Training Ballpark: Goodyear Ballpark
City: Goodyear, Arizona
Capacity: 10,311
Spring Training Ballpark: Goodyear Ballpark
City: Goodyear, Arizona
Capacity: 10,311
Spring Training Ballpark: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
City: Scottsdale, Arizona
Capacity: 11,000
Spring Training Ballpark: Surprise Stadium
City: Surprise, Arizona
Capacity: 10,500
Spring Training Ballpark: Tempe Diablo Stadium
City: Tempe, Arizona
Capacity: 9,558
Spring Training Ballpark: Camelback Ranch
City: Phoenix, Arizona
Capacity: 13,000
Spring Training Ballpark: American Family Fields of Phoenix
City: Phoenix, Arizona
Capacity: 10,000
Spring Training Ballpark: Peoria Sports Complex
City: Peoria, Arizona
Capacity: 12,339
Spring Training Ballpark: Scottsdale Stadium
City: Scottsdale, Arizona
Capacity: 12,000
Spring Training Ballpark: Peoria Sports Complex
City: Peoria, Arizona
Capacity: 12,339
Spring Training Ballpark: Surprise Stadium
City: Surprise, Arizona
Capacity: 10,500
What to Expect at Cactus League Games
Each Spring Training, the Cactus League brings MLB action to the Phoenix metropolitan area with a unique preseason baseball experience that could include:
- Games in medium-sized ballparks with 10,000 to 15,000-person capacity.
- On-field debuts for new players and rookies.
- Public spectating for batting practice, pitching and field conditioning.
- Opportunity to meet your favorite players and ask for a photo or autograph if you arrive early.
- Team-hosted Spring Training events you can attend.
- Experience of cheering along with many of your team’s most dedicated fans in an outdoor, family-friendly atmosphere.
Cactus League Travel & Stadium Notes
Planning for Cactus League Spring Training games comes with the same travel considerations as a regular season MLB game, except fans will likely need to plan for longer, multi-day trips. By plane, fans can arrive at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). By car, Cactus League stadiums can be easily accessed via Interstate 10, Route 60, Loop 101 or Loop 202.
Cactus League parking prices, stadium features and entry details vary by ballpark. Before arrival, verify the stadium’s parking guidelines, entry policies and various offerings.
Grapefruit League (Florida)
Preseason baseball shines in the Sunshine State as the Grapefruit League hosts 15 MLB teams during Spring Training. The Grapefruit League ballparks span coast-to-coast in central and southern Florida, with games running from mid-February to late March.
Which Teams Play in the Grapefruit League?
The following MLB teams compete in the Grapefruit League:
Spring Training Ballpark: CoolToday Park
City: Venice, Florida
Capacity: 7,473
Spring Training Ballpark: Ed Smith Stadium
City: Sarasota, Florida
Capacity: 8,500
Spring Training Ballpark: JetBlue Park at Fenway South
City: Fort Myers, Florida
Capacity: 10,823
Spring Training Ballpark: Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium
City: Lakeland, Florida
Capacity: 8,500
Spring Training Ballpark: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches
City: West Palm Beach, Florida
Capacity: 7,858
Spring Training Ballpark: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium
City: Jupiter, Florida
Capacity: 6,871
Spring Training Ballpark: William H Hammond Stadium
City: Fort Myers, Florida
Capacity: 9,300
Spring Training Ballpark: Clover Park
City: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Capacity: 7,160
Spring Training Ballpark: George Steinbrenner Field
City: Tampa, Florida
Capacity: 11,026
Spring Training Ballpark: BayCare Ballpark
City: Clearwater, Florida
Capacity: 8,500
Spring Training Ballpark: LECOM Park
City: Bradenton, Florida
Capacity: 8,500
Spring Training Ballpark: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium
City: Jupiter, Florida
Capacity: 6,871
Spring Training Ballpark: Charlotte Sports Park
City: Port Charlotte, Florida
Capacity: 7,670
Spring Training Ballpark: TD Ballpark
City: Dunedin, Florida
Capacity: 8,500
Spring Training Ballpark: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches
City: West Palm Beach, Florida
Capacity: 7,858
What to Expect at Grapefruit League Games
Each Spring Training, the Grapefruit League brings MLB action to much of Florida with a unique preseason baseball experience that could include:
- Games in medium-sized ballparks with 7,000 to 11,000-person capacity.
- On-field debuts for new players and rookies.
- Public spectating for batting practice, pitching and field conditioning.
- Opportunity to meet your favorite players and ask for a photo or autograph if you arrive early.
- Team-hosted Spring Training events you can attend.
- Experience of cheering along with many of your team’s most dedicated fans in an outdoor, family-friendly atmosphere.
Grapefruit League Travel & Stadium Notes
Along with general travel logistics like packing and parking, Grapefruit League Spring Training games typically require planning for extended trips. Due to the Grapefruit League’s spread-out map of stadiums in Florida, fans traveling via plane will have the choice of several major airport hubs like Orlando International Airport (MCO), Tampa International Airport (TPA), Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).
Grapefruit League parking prices, stadium features and entry details vary by ballpark. Before arrival, verify the stadium’s parking guidelines, entry policies and various offerings.
World Baseball Classic Exhibition Games
The 2026 MLB Spring Training season will feature the rare addition of exhibition games tied to the World Baseball Classic. The international baseball tournament, held for the first time since 2017, returns in March 2026. Prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic’s official kickoff on March 6, MLB Spring Training will host 28 exhibition games between MLB clubs in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues versus the WBC-qualifying national teams. The Spring Training-WBC games will take place on Tuesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
Spring Breakout
During Spring Training, MLB spotlights many of Major League Baseball’s biggest prospects in a series of can’t-miss, preseason matchups called Spring Breakout. The Spring Training showcase series was introduced in 2024 with plans to expand into a tournament-style event in 2027. For 2026, Spring Breakout consists of 16 games played between March 19 and 22.
Tickets, Presales & VIP Packages
Tickets for MLB Spring Training, Opening Night and Opening Day games can be purchased via Ticketmaster.
Typically, the MLB Spring Training game schedule releases in November after the preceding season’s World Series concludes. Tickets for teams playing in the Cactus League and Grapefruit League often go on sale in early January. After seats go up for grabs, fans can also find tickets they can trust via Ticketmaster.
To purchase MLB tickets via Ticketmaster, fans should follow these steps:
- Sign in to your Ticketmaster Account, or create an account if you haven’t already.
- Verify your profile details and update your billing information.
- Find your team at ticketmaster.com/mlb and select your game date.
- Open the event’s seat map and use the search filters to compare options.
- Select seats and review the All In Pricing total before confirming the purchase.
How to Find the Preseason Schedule & Buy Official Tickets
Team schedules and tickets for MLB Spring Training can be located on individual team pages via Ticketmaster.
Before gameday, make sure to verify the venue’s bag policies and entry procedures.
MLB Spring Training & Opening Day FAQs
What is Spring Training?
Spring Training in Major League Baseball is the preseason period for team practice, player development and roster management. Annually in February, all 30 teams report to either Arizona’s Cactus League or Florida’s Grapefruit League and play about 30 exhibition games over the course of one month. As a traditionally fan-forward event series, Spring Training brings fans closer to the action than any other time of the season. Arrive early to greet players at the dugout and check your team’s page for tickets to additional Spring Training events.
When do the Cactus League teams play in 2026?
The 2026 Cactus League season begins on February 20 and ends on March 24.
When do the Grapefruit League teams play in 2026?
The 2026 Grapefruit League season begins on February 20 and ends on March 24.
Are VIP packages available for MLB Spring Training?
Teams may offer VIP packages or special ticket offers for Spring Training games. Check your team’s Ticketmaster page for availability.
How long is a Spring Training game?
MLB Spring Training games last nine innings, with no extra innings allowed. An average MLB game spans about two hours and 30 minutes.
How do I buy Opening Day tickets?
Tickets for MLB’s Opening Day games are available via Ticketmaster.
When is Opening Night and Opening Day in 2026?
MLB Opening Night 2026 takes place on Wednesday, March 25, leading off with the San Francisco Giants hosting the New York Yankees at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California. The 2026 Opening Day slate will feature all of the remaining 28 teams playing on March 26.
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