Start times are the detail most often guessed at and most often wrong. Below are the times that were officially announced, and an honest note about the ones that have not been.
MLB wild card game times, 2026 (Eastern Time)
The four 2026 series were staggered across the day so one broadcast family could carry all of them. Games 1 and 2 used the same windows on Tuesday, September 29 and Wednesday, September 30.
| Series | Game 1 and Game 2 | Television |
|---|---|---|
| Phillies at Braves | 2 p.m. ET | NBC and Peacock |
| White Sox at Astros | 5 p.m. ET | Peacock and NBC Sports Network |
| Red Sox at Yankees | 8 p.m. ET | NBC and Peacock |
| Cubs at Padres | 10 p.m. ET | Peacock and NBC Sports Network |
The only Game 3 — Phillies at Braves on Thursday, October 1 — started at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Because the higher seed hosts every game in the round, no time slot had to allow for travel between cities.
Atlanta Braves wild card game times
Atlanta’s three games were the earliest of the round: 2 p.m. ET for Game 1 on September 29 and Game 2 on September 30, then 8 p.m. ET for the deciding Game 3 on October 1. The Braves won the series 2–1. More detail is on the Braves wild card game page.
NFL wild card game times, 2026 season
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Wild Card Weekend start date | Saturday, January 16, 2027 (confirmed) |
| Number of games | Six (confirmed) |
| Kickoff time of each game | To be announced |
| Day each matchup is played | To be announced |
| Network per game | To be announced |
The NFL sets wild card kickoff times only once the matchups are known, which is after the final week of the regular season. Wild card games have historically been spread across Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but no 2027 slot has been announced, so no times are listed here.
For the dates themselves, see the wild card game schedule; for the broadcast picture, see how to watch wild card games.
Sources: MLB.com, “How to watch the 2026 Wild Card Series on NBC and Peacock”; NFL Football Operations (“2026 NFL Schedule Announced”); Wikipedia, “2026 National League Wild Card Series”.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What time do wild card games start?
MLB's 2026 wild card games started at 2, 5, 8 and 10 p.m. ET. NFL kickoff times for January 2027 have not been announced.
Are all four MLB wild card games at the same time?
No. They are staggered so that each series has its own window, which is how one broadcaster can carry all of them.
When will NFL wild card kickoff times be published?
After the regular season, in the same announcement that confirms the matchups and the network for each game.