Days Until MLB Opening Day
Live countdown to the start of the 2026 Season
OPENING DAY 2026
Note: Counts down to the main US Opening Day.
Season Details
Summary
There are 46 days, 16 hours, and 17 minutes left until MLB Opening Day 2026.
Projected Opening Days
| Year | Date | Day | Days Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | March 26 | Thursday | 46 days |
| 2027 | April 1 | Thursday | 417 days |
| 2028 | March 30 | Thursday | 781 days |
| 2029 | March 29 | Thursday | 1145 days |
| 2030 | March 28 | Thursday | 1509 days |
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When is MLB Opening Day?
The Return of America's Pastime
The crack of the bat. The smell of hot dogs. The roar of the crowd. Winter is over, and baseball is back.
For baseball fans, the calendar doesn't start on January 1st. It starts on Opening Day. It is the one day of the year where every team is tied for first place, every fan has hope, and the slate is wiped clean. If you are counting down the seconds until the first pitch, asking "How many days until MLB Opening Day?", you are in the right dugout.
Our Live MLB Countdown Tool above tracks the exact moment the regular season begins. But Opening Day is more than just a game; it is an unofficial national holiday celebrating the start of spring.
Setting the Schedule: When Does Baseball Start?
Unlike holidays like Christmas, MLB Opening Day moves around. Historically, it was in early April. However, in recent years, the league has pushed it earlier to allow for more off-days during the season.
The New Standard
Major League Baseball now typically schedules Opening Day for the last Thursday or Friday of March. This ensures the 162-game season can finish by late September, keeping the World Series from dragging too deep into the cold November weather.
Occasionally, the season starts even earlier with the Seoul Series or other international games, but the "Domestic Opening Day" remains the primary celebration for most fans in the US.
The Grind: Baseball by the Numbers
Baseball is a game of statistics. To understand the marathon that begins on Opening Day, you have to look at the sheer volume of the sport.
2,430
Total Games
The total number of regular-season games played across the league in a single season.
162
Games Per Team
The longest season in major professional sports. It is not a sprint; it is a marathon.
30
Ballparks
From historic Fenway Park to modern marvels like Globe Life Field.
Opening Day Traditions
Why is this day so special? It is steeped in over 150 years of history.
- The Presidential First Pitch: A tradition starting with William Howard Taft in 1910, sitting US Presidents often throw out the ceremonial first pitch to mark the start of the season.
- The Cincinnati Reds: For decades, the Reds were traditionally given the honor of playing the first game of the season at home because they were the first professional franchise (established in 1869).
- Bunting: Look at the stadium stands. Opening Day is the only regular-season game where you will see patriotic red, white, and blue bunting draped over the stadium walls—a decoration usually reserved for the World Series.
- Hope: The most important tradition. On Opening Day, every team is 0-0. The team that lost 100 games last year has just as much of a chance (mathematically) as the defending champions.
The Prelude: Spring Training
Before the countdown to Opening Day hits zero, baseball actually wakes up in February.
Pitchers and Catchers Report: Usually around mid-February (Valentine's Day), players report to camps in Arizona (Cactus League) and Florida (Grapefruit League). This 6-week period allows players to get back in shape and teams to decide their final 26-man rosters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Play Ball!
The long winter is ending. Grab your glove, put on your cap, and get ready. Use our MLB Opening Day Timer to count down every second until the umpire yells those two magic words.