The 2026 National League Championship Series begins Sunday, October 11, and runs through a possible Game 7 on Monday, October 19. It is best of seven and airs on FOX or FS1, with FOX Deportes in Spanish, and the winner advances to the World Series, which starts Friday, October 23.
| Detail | NLCS |
|---|---|
| Game 1 | Sunday, Oct. 11 |
| Game 7, if needed | Monday, Oct. 19 |
| Format | Best of 7; higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 |
| TV | FOX or FS1; FOX Deportes |
Who Can Get There
The NLCS matchup is the two NLDS winners. Milwaukee, the NL’s No. 1 seed, would have home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs 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