MLB Spring Training games began on Friday, February 20, 2026. That is the clearest answer when “start” means the first Cactus League and Grapefruit League games. The preseason itself began earlier: the first pitchers-and-catchers workouts took place on February 10, and the first full-squad workouts followed from February 15 through February 17, depending on the club.
Those dates have now passed. This guide records the completed 2026 preseason timeline and explains why different sources may give different start dates. If you are looking for baseball being played now, use the current MLB schedule rather than an expired Spring Training game list.
2026 MLB Spring Training start dates at a glance
| Preseason milestone | 2026 date | What it meant |
|---|---|---|
| First pitchers-and-catchers workouts | February 10-13 | Dates varied by club; February 10 was the earliest official workout. |
| First full-squad workouts | February 15-17 | Position players joined pitchers and catchers for full-team work. |
| First Spring Training games | Friday, February 20 | Cactus and Grapefruit League exhibition play officially opened. |
| All 30 clubs in action | Saturday, February 21 | MLB scheduled a full slate involving every club. |
| MLB vs. WBC exhibitions | March 3-4 | Major League clubs played national teams preparing for the World Baseball Classic. |
| Spring Breakout | March 19-22 | Club prospect teams played a league-wide series of showcase games. |
| Regular season began | March 25 | Yankees at Giants opened the championship season before traditional Opening Day on March 26. |
For a fan asking when the games started, use February 20. For someone asking when camps first became active, use February 10 and explain that it was the earliest first-workout date, not a universal report date for every team. That distinction resolves most of the apparent disagreement in search results.
When did pitchers and catchers report in 2026?
The first official workouts for pitchers and catchers were held from February 10 through February 13. MLB's team-by-team workout table showed six clubs starting on February 10, most clubs starting on February 11 or 12, and the Dodgers starting on February 13. Full squads first worked out from February 15 through February 17.
“Report date” and “first workout” are often used as though they mean the same thing, but they can fall on different days. A player may report for medical exams, administrative work or clubhouse intake before taking part in the first scheduled field workout. The Yankees offered a clear example: their pitchers and catchers reported on February 11 and held their first workout February 12; position players reported February 15, followed by the first full-squad workout February 16.
That is why MLB's official table is best read as a list of first workout dates, not a universal deadline for walking through the clubhouse door. It also explains why an individual team announcement may appear one day earlier than the league's workout table without either source being wrong.
When did Spring Training games begin?
MLB's official 2026 Spring Training announcement set Friday, February 20 as the start of game play in Arizona and Florida. The opening slate included four Cactus League games, one Grapefruit League game and two exhibitions in which Major League clubs faced college teams.
The first Grapefruit League matchup sent the Yankees to Ed Smith Stadium to face the Orioles. In Arizona, the Diamondbacks visited the Rockies, the Padres played the Mariners, the Royals faced the Rangers, and the White Sox met the Cubs. A full Saturday slate involving all 30 clubs followed on February 21.
The practical sequence was simple: pitchers and catchers began focused work first, position players arrived for full-squad drills, and then games began. Those stages let pitchers build throwing workloads while clubs expanded defensive work, live batting practice and roster evaluation before playing nearly every day.
Why did Spring Training start earlier in 2026?
The 2026 World Baseball Classic was a major reason the calendar moved forward. Players leaving their clubs for national-team duty needed time to prepare for tournament games that started in early March. MLB required WBC pitchers and catchers to report to their club camps no later than February 11 and WBC position players no later than February 12.
MLB clubs then played 30 exhibitions against World Baseball Classic national teams on March 3 and 4. Those games formed a bridge between club camp and the tournament, whose North American schedule began March 6. The matchups took place across Arizona and Florida, with two Tigers-Dominican Republic games also held in Santo Domingo.
Early information listed 28 MLB-vs.-WBC exhibitions, but MLB's later January game-times release used a total of 30 after the Dominican Republic series was added. The later figure is the right one to use when reviewing what actually appeared on the final calendar.
The WBC did not give every MLB club one identical reporting schedule. Team needs, physicals and planned workloads still varied. Its effect was to create earlier readiness deadlines for participating players and an unusually prominent international-exhibition window inside Spring Training.
Cactus League vs. Grapefruit League
Spring Training divides the 30 MLB clubs evenly by location. The Cactus League consists of 15 teams training at 10 ballparks in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Grapefruit League consists of the other 15 teams at facilities spread across Florida.
| Spring league | Location | Travel pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Cactus League | Greater Phoenix, Arizona | Ten relatively compact ballparks, with several facilities shared by two clubs. |
| Grapefruit League | Florida | Facilities are distributed inland and along both coasts, creating longer road trips for some matchups. |
These names describe geography, not separate competitive levels. A Cactus League club and a Grapefruit League club are both preparing for the same Major League season. Most spring games remain within each geographic group because short trips make it easier to protect practice time and manage large camp rosters.
For fans, the split mainly affects trip planning. Arizona makes it practical to visit several parks from one base, while a Florida trip often works better when organized around one club or one region. In either state, a team's spring venue is different from its regular-season home ballpark.
How long did 2026 Spring Training last?
There was no single last Spring Training date shared by all 30 clubs. Most Cactus and Grapefruit League schedules ended on March 21 or 22, but some teams then played additional exhibitions at Major League or other venues on March 23 and 24.
The Cubs, for example, finished Cactus League play on March 22 and hosted the Yankees for two more exhibitions on March 23-24. The Brewers returned to Milwaukee for two exhibitions against the Reds on those dates. The Giants left Arizona, played their Triple-A affiliate on March 22, and then hosted a Mexican League club on March 23-24 before opening the regular season the next night.
That variation matters when answering “When did Spring Training end?” The broad 2026 game window ran from February 20 through March 24, but an individual club's final Cactus or Grapefruit League game could have occurred earlier. A precise team answer should use that club's schedule rather than one league-wide date.
The regular season followed immediately. The Yankees and Giants played the standalone opener on Wednesday, March 25, and traditional Opening Day followed on Thursday, March 26. To keep the championship-season dates on your device, use the full MLB calendar.
Did Spring Training games count in the standings?
No. Cactus League and Grapefruit League games had their own spring standings, but their wins, losses and player statistics did not carry into the regular season. The March 25 opener reset every club's championship-season record.
The games still mattered as preparation. Starting pitchers gradually increased workloads, relievers tested roles, position players worked on timing, and clubs compared candidates for the final roster spots. A non-roster invitee could compete in Major League camp without already holding a place on the club's 40-man roster.
- Pitching buildup: starters progressed from shorter outings toward a regular-season workload.
- Roster evaluation: clubs compared veterans, prospects and non-roster invitees for open jobs.
- Position flexibility: players could be tested at multiple defensive spots before roster decisions.
- Experimentation: pitchers and hitters could make adjustments without affecting official season statistics.
A strong spring could improve a player's case for a roster spot, but a team's spring record was not a reliable prediction of its regular-season finish. The goal was readiness, not a Cactus or Grapefruit League championship.
Where to find MLB games after Spring Training
The 2026 Spring Training schedule has concluded, so a static list of February and March exhibitions is no longer the useful next step. Fans deciding what to watch now should open today's MLB games for the current slate and game status.
Broadcast assignments can change during the season. Use the MLB TV schedule near game day instead of relying on an old spring broadcast announcement. If you are planning further ahead, the printable MLB schedule provides team and full-league views that can be printed or saved as a PDF.
The distinction is useful: this article answers a stable historical date question, while the schedule tools answer changing questions about today's opponents, first-pitch times, game status and television coverage.
2026 MLB Spring Training FAQ
What was the first Spring Training game date in 2026?
The first Cactus and Grapefruit League games were played on Friday, February 20, 2026. All 30 MLB clubs were scheduled to participate in the full slate on Saturday, February 21.
When were the first full-squad workouts?
Full-squad first workouts took place from February 15 through February 17, depending on the club. Pitchers and catchers started earlier, with first workouts from February 10 through February 13.
Is Spring Training the same as MLB preseason?
Yes. “MLB preseason” is a clear plain-language description of Spring Training. MLB usually uses the name Spring Training for the full camp period of workouts and exhibitions before the championship season.
Did every MLB team train in Arizona?
No. Fifteen teams trained in Arizona as the Cactus League, and 15 trained in Florida as the Grapefruit League. Each club stayed in its assigned spring location before returning to its regular-season market.
When did the 2026 MLB regular season start?
The regular season started on Wednesday, March 25, when the Yankees visited the Giants in a standalone Opening Night game. Traditional Opening Day followed on Thursday, March 26, with most of the league in action.
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