MLB The Show 26, the latest entry in San Diego Studio’s acclaimed baseball simulation series, is set to launch on March 17, 2026, with Digital Deluxe Edition early access starting March 13. You can find all the latest news and videos here.
The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch (with compatibility for Nintendo Switch 2). Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees slugger and 2026 Team USA World Baseball Classic captain, returns as the cover athlete—his second time gracing the cover after MLB The Show 18.
Pre-orders are live across platforms, with two main editions:
| Edition | Price | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $69.99 | MLB The Show 26 base game + 5 The Show Packs |
| Digital Deluxe | $99.99 | Base game + 20 The Show Packs + 2 WBC Choice Packs + 1 Legend Choice Pack + 1 Equipment Pack + Double Daily Rewards + Cover Athlete Bat Skin Pack + WBC Uniform Pack + 20K Stubs™ |
A 10% loyalty discount applies to Digital Deluxe for owners of MLB The Show 21 or later (22+ for Switch).
San Diego Studio has been rolling out reveals via trailers, deep-dive blogs, PlayStation Blog posts, and live Feature Premiere streams. Here’s a chronological breakdown of all major announcements, with embedded official YouTube videos.
January 27: Cover Athlete Reveal – Aaron Judge Returns
The hype kicked off with Aaron Judge’s cover reveal trailer, celebrating his AL home run record (62 in 2022), three MVP awards, and leadership in the WBC.
February 3: First Gameplay Trailer & Initial Feature Tease
The first-look gameplay trailer showcased refined ShowTech physics, new animations (500+), and modes like expanded Road to the Show (RTTS), Negro Leagues Season 4, World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Diamond Dynasty (DD), and Franchise upgrades. Key teases: 11 new colleges (19 total), Road to Cooperstown, Big Zone hitting, Bear Down Pitching, and new stadiums (Tokyo Dome, Estadio Hiram Bithorn).
February 5: Feature Premiere – Gameplay Deep Dive
The inaugural live stream and overview trailer detailed ShowTech enhancements: new attributes (e.g., catcher pop time, fielder reactions), Plate Coverage Indicator slider, knee-down catcher animations, and clutch mechanics like Bear Down Pitching (elite focus meter).
Feature Premiere: Gameplay (Full VOD)
What’s New?! Gameplay Updates (Overview Trailer)
February 7-9: Nintendo Switch Gameplay Trailer
A platform-specific trailer confirmed smooth performance on Switch, highlighting on-the-go play with all core features intact.
February 10: Road to the Show Blog & Trailer
The RTTS blog expanded on amateur years: high school recruiting to 19 colleges (e.g., Clemson, Arkansas, Florida), official NCAA College World Series, goal-setting, perk overhauls (e.g., Heart Attack for exit velo boosts), trade requests, and career sim/re-entry.
What’s New?! Road to the Show (Trailer – PlayStation)
February 12: Feature Premiere – Road to the Show
Live deep dive on RTTS immersion, with VOD recaps and college gameplay footage (e.g., Clemson).
February 13-19: Curtain Call Blogs & Presentation Premiere
RTTS recap blog, followed by presentation updates: dynamic commentary (Jessica Mendoza, Boog & Singy), stat-casts, college traditions/chants, WBC signage, enhanced atmospheres (fireworks, CO2). Latest Feature Premiere focused here.
Ongoing: New Legends Revealed
Teasers dropped for legends like Roy Campanella (Hall of Famer, 3x MVP), Félix Hernández (“King Félix”), plus fan-confirmed additions like Albert Pujols, Buster Posey.
Other Key Features Across Reveals
| Mode | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Diamond Dynasty | Red Diamond rarity, WBC cards/ballparks/programs, Parallel Mods, revamped Mini-Seasons/PXP. |
| Franchise | Trade HUB/Logic, smarter lineups/rotations, player regression, Custom Game Entry. |
| Negro Leagues S4 | New legends, uniforms, stadiums honoring overlooked history. |
All Official YouTube Videos (In Release Order)
-
1. Cover Reveal
-
2. Gameplay Trailer
-
3. Gameplay Feature Premiere VOD
-
4. Gameplay Updates Overview
-
5. Switch Gameplay Trailer
-
6. RTTS Trailer
-
7. RTTS Feature Premiere VOD
-
8. Presentation Feature Premiere VOD
More Feature Premieres and content drops are expected weekly leading to launch.
