For 2026, MLB is reverting to a swing-based format: instead of racing a timer, each hitter gets a set number of swings per round. It is a return to the Derby’s roots and a direct response to players who said the timed format left them exhausted. The result is a cleaner, more strategic competition where every swing counts.
The chart below lays out exactly how the new 2026 format works, round by round, plus the tiebreakers and the bracket. Take a look, then we’ll get into the details.
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What changed for 2026
The headline news for 2026 is that the Home Run Derby is ditching the clock. From 2015 through 2025, hitters raced against a timer, getting roughly three minutes or 40 pitches to launch as many homers as possible, often tiring themselves out by rushing through swings. Starting in 2026, MLB is reverting to a swing-based format: each hitter simply gets a fixed number of swings per round, 20 in the first round and 15 in each of the final two rounds.
This is the biggest format change since 2015, and it is essentially a return to the Derby’s pre-2015 roots, when hitters got a set number of “outs” rather than a ticking clock. Players reportedly pushed for the change because the timed format was exhausting, leading them to hack frantically rather than wait for good pitches to drive. The new system rewards patience and quality swings over frantic speed.
The bonus swing wrinkle
The cleverest part of the new format is what happens on a hitter’s final swing. Every swing counts against the allotment whether or not it produces a home run, so a hitter must make each one count. But there is a reward for finishing strong: if a player hits a home run on his final allotted swing, the 20th in round one or the 15th in later rounds, he keeps swinging until he records an out, meaning a swing that does not result in a home run.
This rule adds late-round drama, since a hitter on a hot streak can extend his turn indefinitely as long as he keeps going deep. It rewards a clutch finish and can produce thrilling runs where a slugger reels off five or six extra homers after his “last” swing. It is the modern Derby’s answer to keeping the tension high right to the end of each turn.
The bracket and how you advance
The competition keeps its eight-hitter, three-round structure. In round one, all eight sluggers hit in a single pool, and the four with the most home runs advance, no head-to-head matchups yet. From there it becomes a bracket: the four semifinalists are seeded by their round-one home run totals, and the top seed faces the fourth seed while the second faces the third in head-to-head duels. The two semifinal winners then meet in the final, where the higher total wins the trophy.
Tiebreakers vary by round. A tie in the first round is broken by home run distance, with the longest blast advancing. In the semifinals and final, a tie triggers a three-swing swing-off, with each hitter getting three extra swings to settle it. These rules ensure a clean winner without dragging the night out.
A new home on Netflix
The 2026 Derby also marks a major broadcast shift. After nearly three decades on ESPN, the Home Run Derby will stream exclusively on Netflix, which entered the MLB broadcasting world this season. The streaming giant reportedly worked with the league and players to design the new swing-based format, aiming to make the event snappier and more made-for-TV. The Derby takes place July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, one night before the All-Star Game.
Hosting in Philadelphia gives the event a built-in storyline, since Phillies sluggers like Kyle Schwarber would draw a roaring home crowd. The combination of a new format, a new broadcaster, and a passionate baseball city sets up one of the most anticipated Derbies in years.
Final Word
The 2026 Home Run Derby strips things back to basics: no clock, just a set number of swings and a simple goal, hit it as far and as often as you can. The swing-based format (20 in round one, 15 in the semifinal and final), the bonus-swing rule for finishing with a homer, and the eight-hitter bracket combine into a cleaner, more strategic competition than the frantic timed version it replaces.
When the sluggers step up at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, you will know exactly how it works: count the swings, watch for that clutch final-swing bonus, and follow the bracket to the trophy. It is the simplest, purest test of raw power in sports. For more on the weekend it headlines, see our list of MLB All-Star Game winners by year.