It feels like just yesterday that we were celebrating the release of MLB The Show 25, but it’s a new year, and MLB The Show 26 is just over the horizon. We have just about a month to go before the launch, and while you might be worried about the edition you’re going to buy, you also have to keep in mind exactly when the game is going be released. You can know the release date very easily, but if you want to play as soon as MLB The Show 26 drops, you need to know the release times for your specific time zone.
However, there’s also the early access issue to factor into the equation. Just like years past, you can play MLB The Show 26 a few days early if you spend some extra money. In the guide below, we’ll go over the current release times planned for the game, how to get early access, and when the game is officially going live.
All Release Times For MLB The Show 26
At the time of writing, Sony has not officially confirmed what precise times MLB The Show 26 will become available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or Nintendo Switch. However, given that MLB The Show hasn’t changed up its release format in several years, we can make a solid assumption for when the game will go live on all platforms.
MLB The Show 26 launches worldwide on March 17, 2026, and players should expect to play as soon as it hits midnight in the Eastern Time Zone on March 17, with a few exceptions. The exceptions are for the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones, where MLB The Show 26 will launch at these times:
- Central Time Zone: 11:00 PM on March 16
- Mountain Time Zone: 10:00 PM on March 16
- Pacific Time Zone: 9:00 PM on March 16
For any player in the Eastern Time Zone or earlier, the game launches on March 17.
If you’re playing on Xbox or PlayStation, you could attempt to try the New Zealand trick to play several hours earlier. As New Zealand is the first time zone to reach midnight, you can set your console’s region to New Zealand to fool it into thinking that’s the current time in your area. However, since the game is releasing worldwide at the same time, this will more than likely not work.
For anyone truly looking to play early, though, you can simply buy early access to MLB The Show 26. If you have early access, you can start playing on March 13, giving you four full days to get a headstart on everyone else.
On March 13, MLB The Show 26 will launch its early access period at midnight in the Eastern Time Zone, just like the worldwide launch. This means players in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific Time Zones can once again technically start playing on March 12 late at night.
Everything that happens during the early access period carries over to the full release, so it’s well worth it to fans who want an advantage in whatever game mode they’re fond of. However, it won’t come free, as you’ll have to fork over some extra cash for the right to play four days early.
How To Get Early Access In MLB The Show 26
Early access in MLB The Show 26 is only obtained through a single method: purchasing the Digital Deluxe Edition. Specifically, you’ll want to pre-order the edition, as this ensures you can start playing as soon as March 12-13 rolls around. However, if you purchase the edition any time during the period between March 13 and March 17, you can still have early access as soon as the game installs. The only difference is you won’t get to play right as early access begins if you purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition after March 13.
The Digital Deluxe Edition of MLB The Show 26 costs $100, which is $30 more than the Standard Edition ($40 more on the Switch). It comes with a variety of bonus content, but it’s up to you to decide if all the extras are worth a little more money. Of course, if you want to play four days early, that’s the only route you can take.
