​The 2026 MLB Draft is poised to kick off Day 2 of MLB All-Star Week, bringing a new wave of top prospects into the spotlight. The event begins in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, with the first round slated to start at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Like last year’s event in Atlanta, the draft will unfold over two days, with rounds 1 through 4 taking place on Saturday and rounds 5 through 20 following on Sunday. Interestingly, Saturday’s selections will be announced while several key early-season games precede the All-Star break across the country.
The Chicago White Sox hold the No. 1 overall pick this year. The AL Central club, entering Year 2 of the Will Venable era on the South Side, has a rich menu of options to consider for the top selection. Potential choices include UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey, and Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson. A number of teams will begin the draft with a penalty: the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers each received a 10-pick penalty for surpassing the second Competitive Balance Tax surcharge threshold. Notably, the Blue Jays and Dodgers will not have a first-round pick, as their selections will come in the second round due to the penalties.
Here is what you need to know about the 2026 MLB Draft, including start times and viewing options. DRAFT ANALYSIS: Who will White Sox pick No. 1 in 2026 MLB Draft? A case for three top options.
The draft is scheduled to span Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, with Philadelphia again serving as the host city at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Day 1 covers rounds 1 through 4 on Saturday, while Day 2 covers rounds 5 through 20 on Sunday. The action begins at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday and runs through approximately 7:45 p.m. ET. Day 2 begins at 11:30 a.m. ET and is expected to conclude around 7:30 p.m. ET.
Television and streaming options provide fans various ways to catch the action. NBC will air the first 10 picks of Day 1, after which coverage shifts to MLB Network for picks 11 through 40. Peacock will stream the first 10 picks as part of NBC’s coverage, and viewers can also watch through Fubo or MLB.com for broader access. Additionally, MLB Network will carry most of the Day 1 draft action, with MLB.com serving as a primary hub for draft content and analysis.
For those seeking a more traditional broadcast experience, NBC’s coverage will lead the way for the initial selections, while MLB Network will take over for the later picks on Day 1. Fans can also catch streaming options via Fubo, which offers a free trial, Peacock, and MLB.com for comprehensive draft coverage. As the draft unfolds, MLB.com remains a central portal for in-depth analysis and real-time updates, ensuring fans don’t miss a moment of the 2026 MLB Draft’s exciting first-hand action.