2026 World Series: Schedule, Tickets, Format & Fall Classic FAQs

Catch the exhilarating end to MLB’s playoffs every October with World Series tickets as Major League Baseball’s American League and National League champions face off in the sport’s final postseason matchup.

As the MLB Playoffs advance, prepare to round the bases one last time at the World Series with Ticketmaster, an Authorized Marketplace of MLB. Find the full 2026 World Series schedule, where the games are played, how the best-of-seven format and home-field advantage work and when World Series tickets become available, below.

2026 World Series Schedule and Dates

The 2026 World Series begins with Game 1 on Friday, October 23, 2026. If necessary, Game 7 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Saturday, October 31, 2026. However, a contending team only needs four wins to become World Series winners, so the Fall Classic could also wrap anytime between Game 4 on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 and Game 6 on Friday, October 30, 2026.

How Does the World Series Work?

The World Series is a best-of-seven matchup between the winners of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) and the National League Championship Series (NLCS), which concludes the MLB Playoffs every season. By securing a spot in the World Series, the two teams have “captured” their respective league’s pennant as the AL and NL champions. With four wins in the World Series, a team wins MLB’s championship.

In its full, seven-game schedule, the World Series follows a 2-3-2 format with the home-field advantage team hosting Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 at their home ballpark, while the opposing team hosts Games 3, 4 and 5 at their home venue. Home-field advantage is awarded to the team with the better regular-season record. Because the series runs for at least four games, the 2-3-2 scheduling format allows at least two games to be played on each team’s home field before a champion can be determined.

Where Is the World Series Played?

The World Series is played at the two home ballparks of the season’s respective American League championship and National League championship teams. The final best-of-seven matchup does not have a permanent host city or predetermined neutral site, and the location changes throughout the series with the potential of four total games (Games 1, 2, 6 and 7) at the ballpark for the team with home-field advantage and up to three games (Games 3, 4 and 5) at the opposing team’s home ballpark.

Home-field advantage in the World Series is determined by the best regular-season record. If both teams hold the same regular-season record, the tiebreaker for home-field advantage follows the same rules as the MLB Playoffs, which uses the head-to-head record, then intradivision record, then interdivision record.

Which Teams Are in the 2026 World Series?

The 2026 World Series will feature the respective pennant winners of the American League and National League. Within each league, the 2026 MLB Playoffs kick off with the Wild Card Series on Tuesday, September 29, followed by two best-of-five Division Series matchups and a single best-of-seven Championship Series, which could run through Tuesday, October 20 if Game 7 is necessary, leading up to the 2026 World Series.

As the World Series matchup is being set, find more details on the MLB Playoffs.

When Do World Series Tickets Go on Sale?

Tickets for the World Series can be purchased via Ticketmaster. World Series tickets typically become available once a team clinches its spot in the series, though exact timing varies. The schedule for World Series ticket release can depend on the participating teams, postseason results and when individual games are confirmed. Official tickets are often distributed first by the team to its season-ticket holders and randomly-selected fans via an application or lottery process.

Stay in the loop for World Series ticket releases by adding your MLB team to your Favorites.

How Can I Buy World Series Tickets?

You can buy World Series tickets on Ticketmaster, an Authorized Ticket Marketplace for MLB. Once the series matchup has been locked in, browse available ticket options on the participating teams’ Ticketmaster pages, compare seats, and complete your purchase with Ticketmaster’s simple and secure checkout process.

How Much Are World Series Tickets?

Prices for World Series tickets vary by factors such as matchup, ballpark, game number of the series, seat location and demand. The original ticket price for World Series tickets are determined by the team. Resale tickets — those sold by fans and season ticket holders, or professional resellers — are determined by the seller and can differ from the original ticket price. An average World Series ticket can cost anywhere between $1,000-$4,000.