Upcoming MLB All-Star Game dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Baseball's Midsummer Classic and the 2027 host
The MLB All-Star Game, nicknamed the Midsummer Classic, matches the top players of the American League (AL) against the National League (NL) on a Tuesday night in July. The 2027 game is scheduled for July 13, 2027 at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, with All-Star Week events in Chicago from July 9 to 13. MLB confirmed Wrigley as host on August 1, 2025.
One caveat matters for anyone buying early. The collective bargaining agreement (CBA, the labor contract between the owners and the players' union) expires on December 1, 2026, and the 2027 season, the All-Star Game included, depends on a new deal being signed. Read the refund terms on any ticket bought before that is settled.
- Fourth time at Wrigley: the Cubs hosted in 1947, in 1962 (the second of that year's two games) and in 1990.
- Eighth game in Chicago: the city last hosted in 2003, at the White Sox ballpark, then called U.S. Cellular Field.
- Home team: the host club's league bats last, so the NL is the home side in 2027.
What All-Star Week includes
The game is the last event of a multi-day program in the host city, and most events are ticketed on their own. MLB's All-Star page for 2027 lists All-Star Village, All-Star Sunday (with the All-Star Futures Game), the Home Run Derby and the HBCU Swingman Classic.
- All-Star Futures Game: held during All-Star Week since 1999, it pits top minor league prospects from the United States against prospects from the rest of the world.
- HBCU Swingman Classic: introduced in 2023, a showcase for players from historically Black colleges and universities.
- MLB Draft: held during the All-Star break in the host city since 2021.
- Home Run Derby: held the day before the game since 1985. In 2026 Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals won it at Citizens Bank Park.
- The game: Tuesday night, with no regular-season games scheduled from the day before through two days after, apart from a single Thursday game since 2018.
The celebrity softball game that ran from 2001 to 2025 was replaced in 2026 by a three-on-three co-ed game. Expect the lineup of side events to keep evolving.
How tickets reach fans
As of fall 2026, MLB had not published 2027 ticket details; its All-Star tickets page said week details would be announced in 2027 and invited fans to sign up for the official newsletter. There is no regular season-ticket path to the game for most fans, so the resale market is where many find All-Star seats, with prices set by demand rather than face value.
Demand follows a few predictable lines:
- The Derby and the game draw the most demand, and many buyers want both. Monday night can rival Tuesday because the outcome is pure spectacle.
- Sunday's events are the easiest entry and a good way to see the ballpark during All-Star Week.
- Roster news matters. Fan voting for starters runs in two phases in June and early July, and a local favorite in the starting lineup or the Derby field lifts demand.
- A small ballpark tightens supply. Wrigley holds 41,649, so a national event competes for a modest number of seats.
GoodSeats orders come with guaranteed entry, which is worth having on resale tickets bought months ahead.
Where to sit at Wrigley for the Derby and the game
The best seat depends on which night you are buying.
- For the Home Run Derby, the outfield bleachers put you where the baseballs land. Wrigley's bleachers wrap the outfield and were expanded in the 2014–2019 renovation. Bring a glove and expect a crowd that stands for every swing. The trade-off is a distant view of the batter.
- For the game, the infield lower level between the dugouts is the classic choice. You see pitch movement, the defensive alignments and the parade of substitutions that defines an All-Star Game.
- The upper deck behind home plate gives a full view of both events at a lower cost and is often the smartest value.
- Watch for posts. Wrigley is a 1914 ballpark, and steel posts hold up the upper deck, and in many 200-level sections the first post falls around row 6. A listing that notes an obstructed view usually means it.
Both events are night events, so sun is less of a factor than at a Cubs day game, though the first innings of the game and Derby warmups can catch late-day sun on the first-base side. For section-by-section detail, see the Wrigley Field seating chart page.
How the game works now
Each league carries a 34-player roster, the size since 2010. Fans choose the starting position players and the designated hitter in a two-phase online vote, players vote in pitchers and backups, and the league's manager fills out the rest with the commissioner's office. Every MLB club must have at least one All-Star.
- Managers: the managers of the previous year's pennant winners lead the two teams.
- Ties: since 2022, a game tied after nine innings is settled by a home run swing-off (three players per side, three swings each). It was first used in 2025, when the NL won the swing-off 4–3 after a 6–6 tie.
- Uniforms: after four years of special All-Star uniforms, players returned to their own team uniforms in 2025.
- World Series stakes: from 2003 to 2016 the winning league earned World Series home-field advantage; that ended in 2017.
The 2026 game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia was a 4–0 AL win, the first All-Star shutout since 2013, with Cody Bellinger of the New York Yankees named MVP.
Getting to Wrigleyville during All-Star Week
Wrigley Field sits in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of Lakeview on Chicago's North Side, and the CTA Red Line stops at Addison, steps from the ballpark. Parking in the neighborhood is limited even on a normal game day, so plan on the train or a rideshare drop-off a few blocks away.
- Arrive early for the Derby. Batting practice and pre-event ceremonies fill the ballpark well before the first swing.
- Check the bag policy. MLB ballparks set bag rules that change from season to season; check the current policy on the Cubs ballpark page before you go.
- Book lodging early. All-Star Week fills hotels across downtown and the North Side, and the Red Line makes a Loop hotel workable.
From the 1933 World's Fair to a national tradition
The first All-Star Game was played July 6, 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago as part of the city's World's Fair. Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward proposed it as a one-time event, and its success made it annual.
- Two games a year: from 1959 to 1962, MLB played two All-Star Games each season to raise money for the players' pension fund.
- Ballot stuffing: in 1957 Cincinnati fans voted seven Reds into the starting lineup, and fan voting was suspended until 1970.
- Missed years: no game was held in 1945 (wartime travel limits) or 2020 (the pandemic).
- The tie: the 2002 game in Milwaukee ended 7–7 after 11 innings when both teams ran out of pitchers, which led to the World Series home-field rule.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is the 2027 MLB All-Star Game?
It is scheduled for Tuesday, July 13, 2027 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, with All-Star Week events from July 9 to 13. The 2027 season depends on a new labor agreement, since the current one expires December 1, 2026.
Is the Home Run Derby included with an All-Star Game ticket?
Generally no. The Home Run Derby is held the night before the game and is typically sold as its own ticket.
Where should I sit for the Home Run Derby?
The outfield bleachers are where most home runs land, so they are the place to catch a ball. Seats behind home plate give the best view of the hitters.
How do ties work in the MLB All-Star Game?
Since 2022, a game tied after nine innings goes to a home run swing-off with three players per side. It was first used in 2025.
How do I get to Wrigley Field?
Take the CTA Red Line to Addison, which stops next to the ballpark. Neighborhood parking is limited, especially during All-Star Week.
Who won the 2026 MLB All-Star Game?
The American League won 4–0 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 14, 2026, and Cody Bellinger was named MVP.