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MLB The Show 26 – Release Date, Early Access, Preorders, & Editions

7 February 2026

MLB The Show 26 will be releasing soon, and no matter how you may feel about Aaron Judge being the cover athlete (again), this latest iteration will hopefully provide enough changes and updates to make it worth it. Ahead of launch, we already have quite a few details coming in.

As usual, San Diege Studio is releasing info a bit at a time, with a recent gameplay trailer dropping last week. As we near the release date, expect more details and trailers, including those showcasing players’ OVRs and in-game features. Early access has also been confirmed, along with a few different editions to choose from. Here’s everything to know about MLB The Show 26.

MLB The Show 26 Release Date & Early Access

MLB The Show 26 will be released on March 17, 2026, for PlayStation 6, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch (no Switch 2, sadly). You can get up to 4 days of early access by purchasing the Digital Deluxe Edition, no matter which platform you choose. That means early access for MLB The Show 26 begins March 12, 2026, at 9 pm PT (or March 13, 2026, at midnight ET).

MLB The Show 26 Gameplay Details

A new gameplay trailer (which you can view above) has arrived for MLB The Show 26, showing off some new and returning features, as well as a few that have been refined. The confirmed gameplay features right now are:

ShowTech Gameplay Enhancements — Get more control on the mound and at the plate with Bear Down Pitching and Big Zone Hitting
Road To The Show — Play your way from high school all the way to Cooperstown.
Diamond Dynasty — All new ways to compete including the full The World Baseball Classic tournament.
Franchise — Turn a franchise into a dynasty with a revamped Trade Experience.
Storylines — Negro Leagues Season 4

There will also be all-new legends, uniforms, and a new stadium introduced into MLB The Show 26. More specific changes on each game mode will be revealed in the coming months, so keep an eye out.

MLB The Show 26 Preorders & Editions

Pre-orders for MLB The Show 26 started on February 3, 2026, which means you can pre-order the game now. You can check out the Pre-order page on the official site for additional details. Currently, there are two editions of the game available, no matter which console you’re playing on. A Gold Choice Pack is available as a pre-order bonus for all editions, and Digital Deluxe Edition buyers get the 4-days of early access as well.

The Standard Edition for MLB The Show 26 is $69.99 on Xbox and PS5, and $59.99 on Switch. The Standard Edition comes with the following:

MLB The Show 26
5 The Show Packs

The Digital Deluxe Edition for MLB The Show 26 is $99.99 for PS5, Xbox, and Switch. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the following perks:

Early access to MLB The Show 26
20 The Show Packs
2 WBC Choice Packs
1 Legend Choice Pack
1 WBC Uniform Pack
1 Equipment Pack
Double Daily Rewards
1 Cover Athlete Bat Skin Pack
20,000 Stubs

Depending on how you play the game, the Digital Deluxe Edition may or may not be worth it. I’ve personally found the additional packs to be a good head-start, but I am a bit disappointed there’s no physical Deluxe Edition this year (so far at least). With a little over a month to go before MLB The Show 26 releases, you’ve got plenty of time to decide for yourself.