MLB The Show 26

{{Infobox video game | title = MLB The Show 26 | image = MLBTheShow26Cover.webp | caption = Cover art featuring [[Aaron Judge]] | developer = [[San Diego Studio]] | publisher = [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] | series = ''[[MLB: The Show]]'' | engine = | released = March 17, 2026 | genre = [[Sports video game|Sports]] | platforms = {{ubl|[[Nintendo Switch]]|[[PlayStation 5]]|[[Xbox Series X/S]]}} }}

'''''MLB The Show 26''''' is a [[baseball]] [[video game]] developed by [[San Diego Studio]] and published by [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]]. It is the twenty-first installment in the ''[[MLB: The Show]]'' series and was released on March 17, 2026, for the [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 5]], and [[Xbox Series X/S]].<ref name="gamespot-features">{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |title=MLB The Show 26 Takes Players From College To The Hall Of Fame |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mlb-the-show-26-takes-players-from-college-to-the-hall-of-fame/1100-6537891/ |date=2026-02-03 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=[[GameSpot]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Gameplay == ''MLB The Show 26'' retained the series' established on-field mechanics while introducing smaller changes.<ref name="gi-review">{{Cite web |title=MLB The Show 26 Review - Sacrifice Fly |url=https://gameinformer.com/review/mlb-the-show-26/sacrifice-fly |date=2026-03-23 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=[[Game Informer]]}}</ref><ref name="kotaku-review">{{Cite web |title=MLB The Show 26 Review: A Solid Portrait Of The Sport's Past And Future |url=https://kotaku.com/mlb-the-show-26-review-baseball-video-game-ps5-switch-xbox-2000681551 |date=2026-03-31 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref><ref name="shack-review">{{Cite web |title=MLB The Show 26 review: Fair ball |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/148543/mlb-the-show-26-review-score |date=2026-03-31 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=[[Shacknews]]}}</ref> The new [[Automated Ball-Strike System]] (ABS) allows players to challenge/contest selected pitch calls during play.<ref name="shack-review" />

=== Road to the Show ===

The single-player career mode, ''Road to the Show'', was expanded to begin with high school and college baseball before the professional draft.<ref name="gamespot-features" /><ref name="pushsquare-features" /> The mode also includes the licensed [[College World Series|NCAA Men's College World Series]].<ref name="pushsquare-features">{{Cite web |last=Tailby |first=Stephen |title=MLB The Show 26 Pitches Lots of New Features and First PS5 Gameplay Footage |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2026/02/mlb-the-show-26-pitches-lots-of-new-features-and-first-ps5-gameplay-footage |date=2026-02-04 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=Push Square |language=en}}</ref> It also includes systems related to player legacy, trade requests, position changes, and free agency decisions later in a created player's career.<ref name="gamespot-features" />

=== Diamond Dynasty === The card-collecting mode, ''Diamond Dynasty'', returned with interface changes and revised card progression systems.<ref name="gamerant-features">{{Cite web |last=Beistad |first=LB |title=Every Feature Confirmed for MLB The Show 26 So Far |url=https://gamerant.com/mlb-the-show-26-all-features-new-gameplay-modes-rules/ |date=2026-02-11 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=[[Game Rant]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="pushsquare-features" /> There is a new "Red Diamond" card tier and changes to the "Parallel XP" system.<ref name="gamerant-features" /> The mode also incorporates content tied to the [[World Baseball Classic]], including a Mini-Seasons tournament using international venues such as the [[Tokyo Dome]] and [[Hiram Bithorn Stadium]].<ref name="pushsquare-features" />

=== Other game modes === ''Storylines: The Negro Leagues'' returned for a fourth time, continuing the game's historical mode focused on players from the [[Negro leagues]].<ref name="gamerant-features" /> ''Franchise'' mode received changes centered on roster management and trading, along with the addition of a "Trade Hub" and revised trade logic intended to make deals develop over time rather than resolve immediately.<ref name="gamespot-features" />

== Presentation and rosters ==

''MLB The Show 26'' features an expanded commentary team. Alongside returning commentators Boog Sciambi and Chris Singleton, [[Jessica Mendoza]] provides commentary for the college baseball segments of ''Road to the Show'', while Robert Flores appears in commentary segments tied to ''Diamond Dynasty''.<ref name="pushsquare-features" />

The game added more than 40 historical legends to its roster, including [[Albert Pujols]], [[Dustin Pedroia]], [[Andruw Jones]], [[Félix Hernández]], and [[Roy Campanella]].<ref name="ign-legends">{{Cite web |title=MLB The Show 26 – Official 'New Legends from Every Era' Trailer |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/mlb-the-show-26-official-new-legends-from-every-era-trailer |date=2026-03-02 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Additional players were introduced through ''Storylines: The Negro Leagues'', including John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, and George "Mule" Suttles.<ref name="gamerant-features" /> [[New York Yankees]] outfielder [[Aaron Judge]] is the cover athlete, marking his second appearance on the cover of an ''MLB: The Show'' title after ''[[MLB The Show 18]]''.<ref name="judge-destructoid">{{Cite web |title=Aaron Judge is on the cover of MLB The Show again this year, but really I just need him to get a World Series ring already |url=https://www.destructoid.com/aaron-judge-mlb-the-show-again-2026-world-series-ring/ |date=2026-01-27 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=[[Destructoid]]}}</ref>

== Release ==

''MLB The Show 26'' was released worldwide on March 17, 2026.<ref name="gamespot-features" /> It was published for the [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 5]], and [[Xbox Series X/S]].<ref name="gamespot-features" /><ref name="shack-review" /> Early access began on March 13, 2026 for the players who purchased special editions of the game.<ref name="gamespot-features" />

== Reception == {{Video game reviews |MC=(PS5) 72/100<ref name="metacritic"/> |OC=62% recommend<ref name="opencritic"/>{{efn|Based on 26 reviews}} |SN=7/10<ref name="shack-review"/> }} ''MLB The Show 26'' received a score of 72/100 on the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] site [[Metacritic]] for the PlayStation 5 version, indicating "mixed or average" reception.<ref name="metacritic">{{Cite web |title=MLB The Show 26 critic reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/mlb-the-show-26/critic-reviews/ |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> Fellow review aggregator [[OpenCritic]] assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 62% of critics.<ref name="opencritic">{{cite web|url=https://opencritic.com/game/20150/mlb-the-show-26|title=''MLB The Show 26''|publisher=[[OpenCritic]]|access-date=April 17, 2026}}</ref>

''[[Shacknews]]'' noted that many of the broader gameplay changes were limited in scope when compared with earlier entries in the series, while adding that The Negro Leagues are one of the strongest recurring parts of the series.<ref name="shack-review" /> Kotaku described fielding in ''Road to the Show'' as one of the less engaging parts of the game because long stretches of play can pass without a ball being hit to the user's player.<ref name="kotaku-review" />

Reviewers generally described the presentation as polished but familiar. Kotaku wrote that the game continued to recreate the look and feel of televised baseball effectively, while Shacknews said the series' visuals were beginning to show their age despite smaller additions to presentation and stadium effects.<ref name="kotaku-review" /><ref name="shack-review" />

== See also ==

* [[List of baseball video games]]

==Notes== {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://theshow.com/ Official website] * [https://www.theshowbase.com/ TheShowBase] – fan-maintained player database, market tracker, and team-building resource for ''MLB The Show 26''

[[Category:2026 video games]] [[Category:Baseball video games]] [[Category:Major League Baseball video games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:Nintendo Switch games]] [[Category:PlayStation 5 games]] [[Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games]] [[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]