How To Watch the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates Season

Watching the Pittsburgh Pirates was rough last year as they continued their streak of postseason futility. But with some key additions to the roster and a very talented pitching rotation, 2026 could be a turnaround year.

Pirates games will mostly air on their local TV network, with a few national TV games peppered throughout the schedule.

I made this watch guide for Pirates fans who don’t want to miss a single pitch or at-bat. Keep reading for my tips on how to do that without breaking the bank.

Jump to:

• Pittsburgh Pirates channels
• Pittsburgh Pirates TV schedule
• Pirates Spring Training schedule
• Best Pittsburgh Pirates TV plans

What channels have Pittsburgh Pirates games?

SportsNet Pittsburgh is the home TV network for in-market fans watching Pittsburgh Pirates games during the 2026 MLB season. The channel can be accessed through its standalone streaming app SNP 360 or via providers like DIRECTV, Fubo, Spectrum, and Xfinity.

To watch SportsNet Pittsburgh broadcasts from outside the team’s TV market, you’ll need either MLB.TV (for streaming) or MLB EXTRA INNINGS (for cable/satellite). Meanwhile, some Pirates games will be featured nationally on major outlets, including Apple TV, ESPN, FOX, NBC, TBS, FS1, MLB Network, and Peacock.

2026 Pittsburgh Pirates TV schedule

The Pittsburgh Pirates start the season on the road with three-game series against the Mets and Reds. They face off for the first time against the other Pennsylvania team—the Phillies—for a series that starts May 15.

Pittsburgh has an early series with the Cubs starting on April 10. Then it gets four games at home against Chicago starting May 25.

Check out the full Pirates TV schedule below. I’ll be updating it throughout the season as more information is released.

How to watch Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training games

The Pirates get Spring Training going with a game against the Baltimore Orioles on February 21. Overall, the team has four split-squad games.

Pittsburgh ends its Spring Training slate on March 23 against the Atlanta Braves. Many of these games will air on SNP.

Check out the full Pirates Spring Training schedule below. I’ll update it as more information becomes available.

Data effective as of post date.

SS denotes split-squad games.

Best TV plans for watching the Pittsburgh Pirates

To catch every Pirates game this season, you’ll want a TV plan that covers both the local SportsNet Pittsburgh channel and the national networks. Here are my top recommendations for building the perfect setup.

For the most complete coverage

If you want a single service that gets you everything, I’d say DIRECTV’s streaming CHOICE package has the edge. It’s one of the few live TV streaming services that includes SportsNet Pittsburgh for in-market games, plus all the national channels you’ll need (like ESPN, FS1, and MLB Network). Fubo is another excellent all-in-one option that also carries SportsNet Pittsburgh, but it lacks TNT Sports channels.

Standalone in-market TV package

For local fans who don’t want a full live TV package, your best bet is SportsNet Pittsburgh’s SNP 360 streaming service. Its plans start at $21.99 per month, and you can stream nearly every in-market Pirates game without a cable subscription. The only issue with this route is that you’ll still need another method for watching any nationally televised games.

You can check out more provider options in our main How To Watch MLB Games guide. Or, use our zip code tool below to see services available in your town.

How to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates FAQ

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