The stage is set. The Milwaukee Brewers swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS and will face the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2026 World Series, following their ALCS Game 6 win against the Cleveland Guardians. The Brewers have yet to win a World Series, only making one appearance in 1982 and losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7. Meanwhile, the Rays have appeared twice in the World Series (2008 and 2020), and have yet to secure the victory. Whichever team you're rooting for, it's sure to be a dramatic week (or more) of games. And either outcome will result in history being made.
Lucky for baseball fans, watching the postseason in 2026 is a whole lot easier than watching regular-season games. You can even watch for free with some strategic planning. We've rounded up the best ways to watch the World Series for free below. Let's play ball.
When is the 2026 World Series?
The 2026 World Series schedule is as follows:
Game 1 — Friday, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. ET in Milwaukee
Game 2 — Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. ET in Milwaukee
Game 3 — Monday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. ET in Tampa Bay
Game 4 — Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. ET in Tampa Bay
Game 5 (if necessary) — Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. ET in Tampa Bay
Game 6 (if necessary) — Friday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. ET in Milwaukee
Game 7 (if necessary) — Saturday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. ET in Milwaukee
What channel will the 2026 World Series be on?
The World Series has exclusively aired on Fox since the early 2000s, and this year is no different. You can watch the games play out live on your local Fox network if you have cable.
Can I watch the World Series without cable?
You have a couple of different options to access Fox in 2026 without cable: a digital antenna, a Fox One subscription, or a cable replacement service. Each option has its pros and cons, of course, so we'll leave it up to you to decide what's best for your situation.
A digital antenna is a relatively cheap (generally between $25 and $40) way to gain access to your local TV stations, but you need to be within a certain radius of the stations themselves and free of obstructions in order to get a clear broadcast. Fox One subscriptions give you access to not only your local Fox station, but the entirety of the Fox TV portfolio. It's a great choice for sports fans in general, but it might be overkill if you just want access to your local station for the World Series.
Finally, a cable replacement service (like YouTube TV or DirecTV) gives you access to 100+ live TV channels, including Fox. If you want a long-term way to watch live broadcasts, these are pretty well-rounded options that still cost less than cable. But that definitely doesn't mean they're cheap.
How to watch the World Series for free in 2026
Fortunately, there are a few ways you can watch the World Series (or at least a big chunk of it) without paying a cent. Two words: free trials. Not only does Fox One offer a free trial to new subscribers, but YouTube TV and Fubo do as well. If you've never subscribed to those services and you plan your trials strategically, you'll be able to watch the World Series for free — even if it goes to Game 7. If you don't qualify for any of the free trial options, we recommend either signing up for Fox One for one month at $19.99 or grabbing yourself a digital antenna.
Fox One: 3-day free trial
Fox One, the new direct-to-consumer streaming service from Fox, gives subscribers access to the entire Fox TV portfolio. That includes your local Fox station live, as well as Fox News, Fox Sports, Fox Weather, FS1, FS2, Fox Business, Fox Deportes, Big Ten Network (B1G), Fox Network, and Fox Nation. Basically, if it's on Fox, it's on Fox One. A subscription costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year, but new subscribers can kick things off with a free trial that lasts for three days. You'll at least be able to watch two (maybe three) games with this trial period.
YouTube TV: 10-day free trial
YouTube TV is a comprehensive cable replacement service with over 100 live TV channels, unlimited DVR, and customizable add-ons. It's definitely overkill if you're just looking to watch your local Fox station for the World Series, but it holds a lot of value if you want to watch live TV long-term. You can try out the Sports + News plan for 10 days with a free trial if you're new to YouTube TV, which would give you the ability to watch the entire World Series for free. Just beware: if you forget to cancel, you'll be charged $49.99/month (for your first five months) and $71.99/month thereafter.
Fubo: 5-day free trial
Like YouTube TV, Fubo offers TV lovers a cable replacement with tons of live channels. It also offers a five-day free trial for new subscribers, giving you the ability to watch most of the World Series for free. There are three different tiers you can choose from: Pro, Elite, and Elite with Sports Plus. All three plans include Fox. As the most affordable option, the Pro tier offers 228 channels and will run you $63.99 for your first month, should you forget to cancel.
More free trial options:
Fox One (Prime Video add-on) — free 3-day trial, then $19.99/month
Hulu + Live TV — free 3-day trial, then $49.99/month for your first month
DirecTV Stream — free 5-day trial, then starting at $59.99/month