MLB League Championship Series 2026
League Championship Series of the 2026 MLB playoffs: 2 games on Oct 11–20, 2026; the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 (2-3-2). Matchups are set when the previous round finishes and appear here immediately. Updated Sep 17, 2026 6:10 AM EDT.
League Championship Series Schedule and Scores
How the LCS Works
The League Championship Series decide the two pennants. The ALCS winner is American League champion and the NLCS winner National League champion; both play in the World Series. The 2-3-2 format means the lower seed hosts three games in a row in the middle of the series.
Who plays
The two Division Series winners in each league.
Matchups
ALCS and NLCS, best of seven.
Home field
The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 (2-3-2).
What is next
The pennant winners meet in the World Series.
How to Watch
League Championship Series games are on NLCS on FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes; ALCS on TBS, truTV and HBO Max. Peacock streams the NBC games, HBO Max the TBS games and the FOX app or FOX One the FOX games; live-TV packages such as YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Sling carry all of them. MLB.TV subscribers who authenticate through a pay-TV provider can watch the FOX, FS1 and TNT Sports games in the app. ESPN Radio has every game; Spanish-language coverage is on FOX Deportes, Universo and Univision. Game times are announced round by round and appear on each game page.
Where This Round Sits
- Regular seasonMar – Sep 27
- Wild CardSep 29–1
- LDSOct 3–10
- LCSOct 11–20
- World SeriesOct 23–31
Everything on this League Championship Series page updates automatically: matchups when they are set, scores while games are on, results when they end. The full bracket shows how this round connects to the rest of the 2026 MLB playoffs.
League Championship Series FAQ
When is the 2026 MLB League Championship Series?
Oct 11–20, 2026 (NLCS from Oct 11, ALCS from Oct 12; Game 7s Oct 19 and 20).
How many games are in the League Championship Series?
2. ALCS and NLCS, best of seven.
Who plays in the League Championship Series?
The two Division Series winners in each league.
Who hosts?
The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 (2-3-2).
What channel is the League Championship Series on?
NLCS on FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes; ALCS on TBS, truTV and HBO Max.
How many games is the League Championship Series?
Best of 7: first to 4 wins.
What do the LCS winners get?
The pennant: the ALCS winner is the American League champion, the NLCS winner the National League champion, and they meet in the World Series.