In case it wasn’t already obvious, we love home runs here. So, you better believe that the All-Star week event I’m most looking forward to this season is the 2026 Home Run Derby. It’d be weird if that wasn’t the case, right?
To properly channel that excitement, I’m collecting information about the event as it becomes available right here.
Related: A Complete Guide to the Best Home Run Derby Performances
Where is the 2026 Home Run Derby?
The Philadelphia Phillies will host the 2026 All-Star Game and All-Star Week activities. Although Citizens Bank Park has been open since 2004, this will be the first time this venue is hosting the Midsummer Classic. The last time it happened in Philly was in 1996 at Veterans Stadium.
The 2026 Home Run Derby is scheduled for July 13 at 8 p.m. EDT.
2026 Home Run Derby Tickets
The Home Run Derby has typically aired on ESPN for just about as long as I can remember. Not this year, though — the honors will go to Netflix in 2026.
But if you’re looking for tickets to this cool event, make sure you save up. Seats aren’t cheap, but there are opportunities to buy some without having to be a millionaire. It’s not like trying to buy tickets for the Super Bowl, ya know.
Interested in seeing what tickets are available to see the Home Run Derby in person? Then check out what’s available with our friends at Vivid Seats.
Who Will Be Participating in the Home Run Derby?
This is something we’ll have to wait to find out later in the year, and much closer to the actual event. Since Cal Raleigh is the reigning champion, one would hope that he’ll get an opportunity to defend his title. MLB typically tries to get most of the league’s home run leaders to the event, as long as sluggers are willing to participate.
I’ll update this article here once we start hearing participants officially announced.
Here’s What the Format Will Probably Look Like in 2026
Eight hitters will make up the entire Home Run Derby field. It will take three rounds to determine a champion.
All eight sluggers will compete against one another in the first round, with the top four home run totals moving on to the semifinals. That’s where players start facing off head-to-head. The player with the most homers in Round 1 will face the one with the fewest, with the middle two facing off against one another.
Each of the first two rounds will be three minutes long, and pitch limits are involved. A player’s round will finish when his three minutes are up, or he’s seen 40 pitches (whichever comes first). Once we get to the finals, each hitter will have two minutes.
This limit doesn’t include the bonus round, which no longer has a time limit. Hitters will get up to three outs within their bonus time to slug dingers. If they hit one at least 425 feet, they’ll get a fourth out.
Each slugger is allowed to use one 45-second timeout. Two tiebreakers are in place. The first is a one-minute at-bat to hit as many homers as possible. If both players are still tied, they’ll have a Swing-Off, where they get three swings each to see if the tie can be broken.
Who Won the 2025 Home Run Derby?
Cal Raleigh defeated Junior Caminero to become the first catcher ever to win a Home Run Derby title.
A Full Rundown of Home Run Derby History
Before the 2026 Home Run Derby gets underway, it’s important to revisit the event’s history by taking a stroll down memory lane. That’s where we come in to help out.
If you’re looking for a complete list of winners, full standings, old formats, and some videos, head right here. I’ve also discussed the best single-round performances, the best single-derby performances, and the all-time Derby home run leaderboard.
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