​Where to watch MLB Draft 2026: Start time, TV schedule, channel, live stream for Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 picks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. A new wave of elite baseball talent is ready to take center stage at the 2026 MLB Draft. The Chicago White Sox sit atop the draft board with the No. 1 overall pick, kicking off a two-day event packed with franchise-altering prospects. Unlike the traditional three-day format, this streamlined schedule condenses the drama into a thrilling weekend window during All-Star Week in Philadelphia.
There are essentially three top contenders for the No. 1 pick, making the White Sox’s decision highly anticipated. Fort Worth, Texas, Christian High School shortstop Grady Emerson offers a left-handed bat with elite, five-tool potential. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, a polished college star who has earned widespread praise, is another strong option. Also in the mix is Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey, who posted a sparkling .397/.519/.772 line as a junior for the Yellow Jackets. The suspense over who will go first will cascade through the rest of the order as MLB teams scout and plan for the franchise-defining future that begins with the draft.
Here’s everything you need to know about watching the 2026 MLB Draft, including full TV schedules, live streaming details, and the complete first-round order. TV channel coverage for Day 1 is split between NBC and MLB Network. NBC will carry the opening hour featuring picks 1 through 10, after which coverage shifts to MLB Network, MLB.com, and related digital platforms for the remainder of the first day’s rounds. Day 2 coverage (Rounds 5 through 20) will stream exclusively on MLB’s digital platforms, including MLB.com, MLB.TV, and MLB+. For viewers seeking to watch the main network broadcasts online, DIRECTV offers live streaming of the event. A free trial is available, and DIRECTV provides access to a broad slate of sports channels, including TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network, all in one package.
Start your viewing with the following schedule and channels, and note that the 2026 MLB Draft is a multi-day event unfolding at the Philadelphia Convention Center in conjunction with Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week, designed to deliver a comprehensive look at the future of the sport:
Day 1 – Saturday
– Rounds 1 through 10: Time 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET
– Channel/stream: NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV
– Subsequent rounds (11 through 40) from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET
– Channel/stream: MLB Network, DIRECTV, MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+
Day 1 – Additional rounds and coverage
– Rounds 1 through 40: 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock, and DIRECTV, then continuing with MLB Network and digital platforms for extended coverage as rounds proceed.
Day 2 – Sunday
– Rounds 5 through 20: 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET
– Channel/stream: MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+
Notes and logistics
– The event will originate from the Philadelphia Convention Center as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week festivities.
– The schedule consolidates what used to be a three-day format into a streamlined, highly accessible weekend window, designed to maximize drama and anticipation for top prospects and franchise decisions.
For fans seeking the most direct access, the official streaming options include MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+, andDIRECTV’s streaming service for the live network broadcasts. As always, stay tuned to The Sporting News for continuing coverage and analysis, and consider adding The Sporting News as a preferred source by clicking here. The 2026 MLB Draft promises to spotlight a new generation of players destined to shape the league for years to come.