Who will prove they are the best slugger in Major League Baseball?
The 2026 MLB All-Star Week is on deck, with plenty of events coming up in the build up to the main All-Star Game.
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Among those is the Home Run Derby, which pits some of the best hitters in the league against one another to see who can blast the most dingers beyond the stadium’s wall.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh made history in the 2025 derby in Atlanta, becoming the first player in his position to win the event.
From participants to the format, here’s everything to know for the 2026 Home Run Derby:
When is the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby?
The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby is set for Monday, July 13, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
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What time is the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby?
The competition is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
How to watch the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby on TV, online
The derby will be available to stream only on Netflix. It’s the first time ESPN won’t carry the event since 1994.
2026 MLB Home Run Derby participants
Here’s the list of players who have entered the competition thus far:
- Bryce Harper, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
- Jordan Walker, RF, St. Louis Cardinals
- Willson Contreras, 1B, Boston Red Sox
- Jac Caglianone, RF, Kansas City Royals
- Ben Rice, 1B, New York Yankees
- Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
Harper is the only previous winner competing so far having won in 2018.
2026 Home Run Derby format
The derby will still feature three rounds: first round, semifinals and finals.
The key change this year involves switching from a timer to a swing system. There will be no timer and no “outs.” Participants will get 20 swings in Round 1, 15 in Round 2 and 15 in the final round. If the final swing of the round is a homer, the slugger keeps going until they don’t homer.
Efficiency now matters more than stamina.
The bonus round has also been removed, while there is no bracket for the first round. The bracket will only come into play during the second round (seeds Nos. 1-4), which will be based off homers hit in the first round.
Tiebreakers in the first round will only be home-run distance. The last two rounds will involve three-swing swing-offs until a winner is determined.
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