The 2026 American League Championship Series begins Monday, October 12, and runs through a possible Game 7 on Tuesday, October 20. It is best of seven and airs on TBS, truTV and HBO Max, with the winner advancing to the World Series, which starts Friday, October 23.
| Detail | ALCS |
|---|---|
| Game 1 | Monday, Oct. 12 |
| Game 7, if needed | Tuesday, Oct. 20 |
| Format | Best of 7; higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 |
| TV | TBS, truTV and HBO Max |
Who Can Get There
The ALCS matchup is the two ALDS winners. Tampa Bay, the AL’s No. 1 seed, would have home field advantage if it advances.
2026 Postseason at a Glance
| Round | Dates | Format | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card Series | Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 | Best of 3, higher seed hosts every game | NBC, NBCSN, Peacock |
| ALDS | Oct. 3 to Oct. 10 | Best of 5 | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| NLDS | Oct. 3 to Oct. 9 | Best of 5 | FOX or FS1 |
| NLCS | Oct. 11 to Oct. 19 | Best of 7 | FOX or FS1 |
| ALCS | Oct. 12 to Oct. 20 | Best of 7 | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| World Series | Oct. 23 to Oct. 31 | Best of 7 | FOX |
Related
MLB playoff bracket · MLB playoff schedule · MLB playoffs TV schedule · Clinch scenarios · World Series odds