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.
Spring into baseball with DIRECTV!
DIRECTV has the most MLB games, including Spring Training, period.* Not only that, but this season you can catch the World Baseball Classic and tons of college ball streaming on your favorite devices. With so much live action on deck, it's time to get your game together by scouting DIRECTV's packages today.
*Claim based on total games carried on Nat'l and combined local Regional Sports Networks. RSNs avail. with CHOICE package or higher. Avail. of RSNs varies by ZIP code and pkg. Blackouts apply.
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.
Want radio coverage? You can tune into SportsRadio 93.7 THE FAN for live Pittsburgh Pirates coverage, with simulcasts on 100.1 FM and KDKA-AM 1020 in Pittsburgh. Fans outside the region can stream games on SiriusXM, TuneIn Premium, and MLB+.
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.
2026 Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training schedule
| Opponent | Day | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| At Baltimore Orioles | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| At Philadelphia PhilliesSS | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| Tampa Bay RaysSS | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP |
| New York Yankees | Monday, Feb. 23 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP |
| At Boston Red Sox | Tuesday, Feb. 24 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP |
| At Atlanta Braves | Wednesday, Feb. 25 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| Minnesota Twins | Thursday, Feb. 26 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP |
| Baltimore Orioles | Friday, Feb. 27 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| At Houston Astros | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| At St. Louis Cardinals | Sunday, March 1 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Monday, March 2 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Thursday, March 5 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP |
| Philadelphia PhilliesSS | Friday, March 6 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| At Toronto Blue JaysSS | Friday, March 6 | 1:07 p.m. | — |
| At Detroit Tigers | Saturday, March 7 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| Boston Red Sox | Sunday, March 8 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP |
| At New York Yankees | Monday, March 9 | 6:35 p.m. | SNP |
| At Baltimore Orioles | Wednesday, March 11 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP |
| Atlanta Braves | Thursday, March 12 | 6:05 p.m. | SNP |
| At Detroit Tigers | Friday, March 13 | 6:05 p.m. | — |
| Baltimore Orioles | Saturday, March 14 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP |
| At Tampa Bay Rays | Sunday, March 15 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| At Minnesota Twins | Monday, March 16 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP |
| Houston Astros | Tuesday, March 17 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| Detroit Tigers | Wednesday, March 18 | 6:05 p.m. | — |
| At Baltimore Orioles | Thursday, March 19 | 6:05 p.m. | — |
| At Atlanta Braves | Friday, March 20 | 6:05 p.m. | — |
| Spring Breakout: Tigers Prospects at Pirates Prospects | Friday, March 20 | 7:35 p.m. | — |
| Toronto Blue Jays | Saturday, March 21 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
| Boston Red Sox | Sunday, March 22 | 1:05 p.m. | SNP+ |
| Atlanta Braves | Monday, March 23 | 1:05 p.m. | — |
Data effective as of post date.
SS denotes split-squad games.
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.
| Opponent | Day | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
|
March |
|||
| At New York Mets | Thursday, March 26 | 1:15 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| At New York Mets | Saturday, March 28 | 4:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At New York Mets | Sunday, March 29 | 1:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Cincinnati Reds | Monday, March 30 | 6:40 p.m. | FS1 |
| At Cincinnati Reds | Tuesday, March 31 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
|
April |
|||
| At Cincinnati Reds | Wednesday, April 1 | 12:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Baltimore Orioles | Friday, April 3 | 4:12 p.m. | TBA |
| Baltimore Orioles | Saturday, April 4 | 4:05 p.m. | TBA |
| Baltimore Orioles | Sunday, April 5 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| San Diego Padres | Monday, April 6 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| San Diego Padres | Tuesday, April 7 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| San Diego Padres | Wednesday, April 8 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At Chicago Cubs | Friday, April 10 | 2:20 p.m. | TBA |
| At Chicago Cubs | Saturday, April 11 | 2:20 p.m. | TBA |
| At Chicago Cubs | Sunday, April 12 | 2:20 p.m. | TBA |
| Washington Nationals | Monday, April 13 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Washington Nationals | Tuesday, April 14 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Washington Nationals | Wednesday, April 15 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Washington Nationals | Thursday, April 16 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Friday, April 17 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Saturday, April 18 | 4:05 p.m. | TBA |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Sunday, April 19 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At Texas Rangers | Tuesday, April 21 | 8:05 p.m. | TBA |
| At Texas Rangers | Wednesday, April 22 | 8:05 p.m. | TBA |
| At Texas Rangers | Thursday, April 23 | 8:05 p.m. | TBA |
| At Milwaukee Brewers | Friday, April 24 | 7:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Milwaukee Brewers | Saturday, April 25 | 7:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Milwaukee Brewers | Sunday, April 26 | 2:10 p.m. | TBA |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Monday, April 27 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Tuesday, April 28 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Wednesday, April 29 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Thursday, April 30 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
|
May |
|||
| Cincinnati Reds | Friday, May 1 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Cincinnati Reds | Saturday, May 2 | 4:05 p.m. | FS1 |
| Cincinnati Reds | Sunday, May 3 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At Arizona Diamondbacks | Tuesday, May 5 | 9:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Arizona Diamondbacks | Wednesday, May 6 | 9:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Arizona Diamondbacks | Thursday, May 7 | 3:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At San Francisco Giants | Friday, May 8 | 10:15 p.m. | TBA |
| At San Francisco Giants | Saturday, May 9 | 9:05 p.m. | TBA |
| At San Francisco Giants | Sunday, May 10 | 4:05 p.m. | TBA |
| Colorado Rockies | Tuesday, May 12 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Colorado Rockies | Wednesday, May 13 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Colorado Rockies | Thursday, May 14 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Friday, May 15 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Saturday, May 16 | 4:05 p.m. | TBA |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Sunday, May 17 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At St. Louis Cardinals | Tuesday, May 19 | 7:45 p.m. | TBA |
| At St. Louis Cardinals | Wednesday, May 20 | 7:45 p.m. | TBA |
| At St. Louis Cardinals | Thursday, May 21 | 1:15 p.m. | TBA |
| At Toronto Blue Jays | Friday, May 22 | 7:07 p.m. | TBA |
| At Toronto Blue Jays | Saturday, May 23 | 3:07 p.m. | TBA |
| At Toronto Blue Jays | Sunday, May 24 | 12:15 p.m. | Peacock |
| Chicago Cubs | Monday, May 25 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Chicago Cubs | Tuesday, May 26 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Chicago Cubs | Wednesday, May 27 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Chicago Cubs | Thursday, May 28 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Minnesota Twins | Friday, May 29 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Minnesota Twins | Saturday, May 30 | 4:05 p.m. | TBA |
| Minnesota Twins | Sunday, May 31 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
|
June |
|||
| At Houston Astros | Tuesday, June 2 | 8:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Houston Astros | Wednesday, June 3 | 8:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Houston Astros | Thursday, June 4 | 8:10 p.m. | FS1 |
| At Atlanta Braves | Friday, June 5 | 7:15 p.m. | TBA |
| At Atlanta Braves | Saturday, June 6 | 4:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Atlanta Braves | Sunday, June 7 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | Tuesday, June 9 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | Wednesday, June 10 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | Thursday, June 11 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Miami Marlins | Friday, June 12 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Miami Marlins | Saturday, June 13 | 4:05 p.m. | TBA |
| Miami Marlins | Sunday, June 14 | 12:15 p.m. | Peacock |
| At Athletics | Monday, June 15 | 9:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Athletics | Tuesday, June 16 | 9:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Athletics | Wednesday, June 17 | 9:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Colorado Rockies | Friday, June 19 | 8:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Colorado Rockies | Saturday, June 20 | 9:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Colorado Rockies | Sunday, June 21 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Seattle Mariners | Tuesday, June 23 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Seattle Mariners | Wednesday, June 24 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Seattle Mariners | Thursday, June 25 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| Cincinnati Reds | Friday, June 26 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Cincinnati Reds | Saturday, June 27 | 4:05 p.m. | TBA |
| Cincinnati Reds | Sunday, June 28 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At Philadelphia Phillies | Monday, June 29 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Philadelphia Phillies | Tuesday, June 30 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
|
July |
|||
| At Philadelphia Phillies | Wednesday, July 1 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Philadelphia Phillies | Thursday, July 2 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At Washington Nationals | Friday, July 3 | 6:45 p.m. | TBA |
| At Washington Nationals | Saturday, July 4 | 11:05 a.m. | TBA |
| At Washington Nationals | Sunday, July 5 | 1:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Atlanta Braves | Tuesday, July 7 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Atlanta Braves | Wednesday, July 8 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Atlanta Braves | Thursday, July 9 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| Milwaukee Brewers | Friday, July 10 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Milwaukee Brewers | Saturday, July 11 | 4:05 p.m. | TBA |
| Milwaukee Brewers | Sunday, July 12 | 12:10 p.m. | Peacock |
| At Cleveland Guardians | Friday, July 17 | 7:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Cleveland Guardians | Saturday, July 18 | 4:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Cleveland Guardians | Sunday, July 19 | 1:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At New York Yankees | Monday, July 20 | 7:05 p.m. | TBA |
| At New York Yankees | Tuesday, July 21 | 7:05 p.m. | TBA |
| At New York Yankees | Wednesday, July 22 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| Chicago Cubs | Friday, July 24 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Chicago Cubs | Saturday, July 25 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Chicago Cubs | Sunday, July 26 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | Monday, July 27 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | Tuesday, July 28 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | Wednesday, July 29 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At Cincinnati Reds | Thursday, July 30 | 7:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Cincinnati Reds | Friday, July 31 | 6:10 p.m. | TBA |
|
August |
|||
| At Cincinnati Reds | Saturday, Aug. 1 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Cincinnati Reds | Sunday, Aug. 2 | 1:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Milwaukee Brewers | Monday, Aug. 3 | 7:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Milwaukee Brewers | Tuesday, Aug. 4 | 7:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Milwaukee Brewers | Wednesday, Aug. 5 | 7:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Milwaukee Brewers | Thursday, Aug. 6 | 2:10 p.m. | TBA |
| New York Mets | Friday, Aug. 7 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| New York Mets | Saturday, Aug. 8 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| New York Mets | Sunday, Aug. 9 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At Miami Marlins | Tuesday, Aug. 11 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Miami Marlins | Wednesday, Aug. 12 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Miami Marlins | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 1:10 p.m. | TBA |
| Boston Red Sox | Friday, Aug. 14 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Boston Red Sox | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Boston Red Sox | Sunday, Aug. 16 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| Detroit Tigers | Monday, Aug. 17 | 7:05 p.m. | TBA |
| Detroit Tigers | Tuesday, Aug. 18 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Detroit Tigers | Wednesday, Aug. 19 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At Los Angeles Dodgers | Friday, Aug. 21 | 10:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Los Angeles Dodgers | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 9:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Los Angeles Dodgers | Sunday, Aug. 23 | 4:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At San Diego Padres | Monday, Aug. 24 | 9:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At San Diego Padres | Tuesday, Aug. 25 | 9:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At San Diego Padres | Wednesday, Aug. 26 | 4:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At St. Louis Cardinals | Friday, Aug. 28 | 8:15 p.m. | TBA |
| At St. Louis Cardinals | Saturday, Aug. 29 | 2:15 p.m. | TBA |
| At St. Louis Cardinals | Sunday, Aug. 30 | 2:15 p.m. | TBA |
|
September |
|||
| San Francisco Giants | Tuesday, Sept. 1 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| San Francisco Giants | Wednesday, Sept. 2 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| San Francisco Giants | Thursday, Sept. 3 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| Los Angeles Angels | Friday, Sept. 4 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Los Angeles Angels | Saturday, Sept. 5 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Los Angeles Angels | Sunday, Sept. 6 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At Chicago White Sox | Tuesday, Sept. 8 | 7:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Chicago White Sox | Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 7:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Chicago White Sox | Thursday, Sept. 10 | 7:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Chicago Cubs | Friday, Sept. 11 | 2:20 p.m. | TBA |
| At Chicago Cubs | Saturday, Sept. 12 | 2:20 p.m. | TBA |
| At Chicago Cubs | Sunday, Sept. 13 | 2:20 p.m. | TBA |
| Milwaukee Brewers | Tuesday, Sept. 15 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Milwaukee Brewers | Wednesday, Sept. 16 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Milwaukee Brewers | Thursday, Sept. 17 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| Kansas City Royals | Friday, Sept. 18 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Kansas City Royals | Saturday, Sept. 19 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| Kansas City Royals | Sunday, Sept. 20 | 1:35 p.m. | TBA |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Tuesday, Sept. 22 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Wednesday, Sept. 23 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Thursday, Sept. 24 | 12:35 p.m. | TBA |
| At Detroit Tigers | Friday, Sept. 25 | 6:40 p.m. | TBA |
| At Detroit Tigers | Saturday, Sept. 26 | 1:10 p.m. | TBA |
| At Detroit Tigers | Sunday, Sept. 27 | 3:10 p.m. | TBA |
Data effective as of post date.
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
How can I stream Pittsburgh Pirates games?
The easiest way to stream the most in-market Pirates games is through SNP 360, SportsNet Pittsburgh’s direct-to-consumer app. But out-of-market fans will need an MLB.TV subscription. You can also catch games through live TV streaming services like DIRECTV and Fubo, which carry most of the necessary local and national channels.
Can I watch Pirates games for free?
Yes, some nationally televised Pirates games are available for free on networks like FOX and NBC during the season if you use a digital antenna. You can also catch free MLB games on MLB.TV. Additionally, Fubo and DIRECTV offer free trials that include access to SportsNet Pittsburgh, so you can enjoy a few games without paying up front.
How many championships do the Pittsburgh Pirates have?
The Pirates have won five World Series in the team's history. The first was in 1909, and the most recent was in 1979.
Are the Pittsburgh Pirates on Peacock?
The Pirates will have at least five games stream on Peacock during the 2026 season.
Why you should trust us
Live and breathe Pirates baseball? That’s why our CableTV.com Contributing Writer, Creshonda Smith, created this guide so that you never have to miss another game. She combed through up-to-date stats, insider news, and local insights to give you a complete picture of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ broadcast situation.
She researched the Pirates’ complete 2026 TV schedule and cross-referenced it with the channel lineups of major TV providers. Her final recommendations are based on a careful comparison of game availability, pricing, and overall value for Pirates fans.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
