What’s more American than apple pie? Major League Baseball on July 4.
The league and its teams are celebrating the USA’s 250th birthday during the Fourth of July weekend with a bunch of games on national or regional TV — and special uniforms. It’s a great opportunity to watch your favorite local team or discover a new fandom.
This guide is for casual and hardcore MLB fans alike who want to pair their fireworks with some sparkling baseball for the entire July 4 weekend. Keep reading as we break down the channels, schedules, and best streaming plans to watch MLB on July 4.
What channels have MLB games on July 4 weekend?
The majority of MLB games will air on regional sports networks, like normal. So check your local listings for those games, especially on July 3 and 4.
That being written, there will be plenty of games on national networks or streaming services like Apple TV, FOX, NBC, and Peacock Premium.
2026 MLB on July 4 TV schedule
MLB has a full schedule throughout the July 4 weekend. Ultimately, it’s pretty much a regular few days in the 162-game season.
But there will be several games that have special significance due to the USA’s 250th birthday, primarily the special uniforms teams will wear and the number of games airing on national or regional TV.
Check out the schedule below to find out during which part of the holiday weekend your team will play.
Data effective as of post date.
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Best TV plans for watching MLB on July 4
With the various media partners MLB has, it can be tricky figuring out how to watch games throughout the season. It’s no different on Fourth of July Weekend, as many games will still air on regional sports networks.
For local and out-of-market fans alike, we think two plans will get you through the July 4 weekend: DIRECTV and Peacock Premium. Below you’ll find a breakdown of each plan and why we like it.
Additionally, MLB.TV is always an option for out-of-market fans — not just for this weekend, but throughout any given season.
DIRECTV ($84.99–$149.99/mo.)
DIRECTV is by far the best service for MLB fans because of its wide offering of RSNs. No matter where you live, you pretty much have access to the vast majority of your favorite team’s games. The service also includes most national networks where games will air, except for streaming services.
One of the best features of DIRECTV is its unlimited DVR storage. This will be clutch for anyone who is out of town over the holiday weekend and wants to watch games on their own time later. DIRECTV also provides baseball fans with year-round coverage through its robust channel offerings and various packages.
Peacock Premium ($10.99–$16.99/mo.)
We’re also recommending Peacock because on July 5, every MLB game will stream on the service in one way or another. The two games on NBC will simulcast on Peacock Premium, and many other games will stream either exclusively or on an NBC-owned RSN.
There are two games on NBCSN Extra, which is an overflow channel for NBC Sports Network. That channel simulcasts coverage that streams on Peacock. But having a subscription to the streamer is all you need to watch those, too.
How to watch MLB on July 4 for free
The Fourth of July weekend would be a great time for a free trial to a live TV streaming service if you want to watch MLB games for free during that time. While those trials are limited, most of them last five days, which gets you the entire weekend of games free and then some.
DIRECTV‘s streaming service offers a five-day free trial, as does Fubo (another service with a ton of RSNs). Both services have national networks like FOX and NBC, as well.
An alternative way to watch some July 4 weekend MLB games for free is to get a digital antenna. The games on FOX and NBC can be watched this way if you live within range of an affiliate broadcast signal.
How to watch MLB on July 4 FAQ
How many MLB games are on July 4?
All 30 teams will play on the Fourth of July holiday, meaning 15 games will take place. Throughout the entire weekend, nearly 45 games will be played.
How can I stream MLB games on July 4?
Because most games will air on regional sports networks, a live TV streaming service like DIRECTV or Fubo is the easiest way to stream games. Games on NBC stream on Peacock Premium, and you can stream games on FOX via FOX One. Also, there will be two games streaming on Apple TV during the Fourth of July weekend.
When was the first professional baseball game on July 4 played?
The first Fourth of July game is considered to have occurred in 1871, more than 100 years before it became Independence Day.
Can I watch July 4 MLB games on Peacock?
Yes, but not exactly. No games will stream on Peacock on July 4 specifically. But on July 5, NBC's "Star-Spangled Sunday" consists of all 15 MLB games that are streamable on Peacock.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com junior sports writer, Alex Vejar, researched the MLB TV schedule during the Fourth of July weekend. He used that information to form recommendations for the best ways to watch MLB games on July 4. All the information in this guide is with the baseball fan in mind, regardless of budget.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
