It’s launch week for MLB The Show 26, and if you’re a fan of the franchise, you’re probably counting down until you can jump in-game. Early access kicks off for Digital Deluxe Edition owners on March 13, offering a full four day-early access before everyone gets their hands on the Standard Edition on March 17.
Grab early access as you rip open packs, start building your squad, and get a headstart on the meta while everyone else waits.
Here’s When You Can Play, Broken Down by Time Zone
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The official servers for MLB The Show 26 go live at midnight Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, March 13, 2026. That’s the official early access release date confirmed by MLB The Show. Here’s when the game drops for different time zones:
- Eastern Time (ET): 12:00 AM on March 13
- Central Time (CT): 11:00 PM on March 12
- Mountain Time (MT): 10:00 PM on March 12
- Pacific Time (PT): 9:00 PM on March 12
All early access gameplay progress carries over seamlessly to the full launch, so those stubs and cards you pull during early access will be yours to keep. It’s the same pattern the franchise has nailed previously, hitting PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch all at once.
How To Unlock MLB The Show 26 Early Access
You’ll need to own the Digital Deluxe Edition of MLB The Show 26 in order to play during Early Access. It’s priced at $99.99 and up for pre-order since February 3. No physical Collector’s Edition this year, and no tech test either. If you want it early, the digital edition is the only way.
What’s In The Digital Deluxe Edition?
The Digital Deluxe Edition bundle is stacked with rewards, boosting Diamond Dynasty players who want to dominate early. Here’s everything included in the pack.
- Full MLB The Show 26 game
- Up to 4 days of early access
- 20 The Show Packs
- 2 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Choice Packs
- 1 Legend Choice Pack
- 1 WBC Uniform Pack
- 1 Equipment Pack
- Double Daily Rewards
- Cover Athlete (Aaron Judge) Bat Skin Pack
- 20,000 Stubs
You’ll also get other pre-order bonuses like a Gold Choice Pack to help you flip cards and build your squad even faster.
Get Ready For Early Access Day
Update your consoles ahead of time, link your MLB The Show account so you have cross-progression ready, and check theshow.com for any last-minute server patches. Something to note: there’s no cross-save from 25 to 26, and the stadium vaults reset, so you’re starting from scratch this year. For Now and Later packs from 25, they drop on March 17.
Published: Mar 9, 2026 02:42 pm