Your complete guide to 2026 MLB All-Star Week in Philadelphia

Believe it or not, we are just days away from the MLB All-Star festivities taking over Citizens Bank Park. It was six years ago that Rob Manfred, just outside of Independence Hall, announced that the 96th MLB All-Star Game would be played in the Birthplace of America to celebrate 250 years of independence.

It is real now. The All-Star Game logo has been painted into the center field grass. The store is overtaken with merchandise. The signage is up and around the city.

It can be overwhelming. However, we are going to answer every question, check every box, and provide every piece of information surrounding the upcoming Midsummer Classic:

Philadelphia All-Star Game History

The last All-Star Game in Philadelphia was held in 1996 at Veterans Stadium to celebrate America’s 225th birthday. The National League won that game, 6-0. Mike Piazza won the game MVP honors, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a double. John Smoltz got the start for the NL, tossing two scoreless innings. Ozzie Smith also played in his final All-Star Game, making his 15th appearance.

2026 will be the fifth game in the City of Brotherly Love, joining 1943, 1952, 1976, and the aforementioned 1996. The NL is 3-1, with the only loss being in 1943. The 1952 All-Star Game at Shibe Park lasted only five innings due to rain, still being the only All-Star Game to be shortened by rain.

The Schedule

• HBCU Swingman Classic: Friday, July 10, 7:00 p.m. ET, Citizens Bank Park
  • Co-created by Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., highlighting the history and legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities baseball programs while also providing HBCU baseball players with the opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage.
  • Jimmy Rollins and Rickie Weeks will manage the teams.
  • Broadcast: MLB Network
  • Gates open at 5:00 p.m. ET
• All-Star Village: Saturday, July 11 – Tuesday, July 14, Philadelphia Convention Center
  • The MLB’s marquee fan festival includes the youth participation-focused Capital One Play Ball Park and creates a uniquely one-of-a-kind baseball theme park for fans of all ages.
  • Former players and legends to attend include Bobby Abreu, Samuel Allen, Larry Bowa, Steve Carlton, Dave Cash, Luis Clemente, Roberto Clemente Jr., Andre Dawson, John Denny, Lisa Fernandez, Rollie Fingers, Minnie Forbes, Tom Gordon, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ, Von Hayes, Ryan Howard, Fergie Jenkins, Jim Kaat, John Kruk, Jeneane Lesko, Mike Lieberthal, Greg Luzinski, Fred Lynn, Charlie Manuel, Gary Matthews, Mickey Morandini, Jamie Moyer, Dale Murphy, Dickie Noles, Roy Oswalt, Lance Parrish, Placido Polanco, Ron Reed, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz, Juan Samuel, Jean Segura, Pedro Sierra, Milt Thompson, Manny Trillo, and Randy Wolf.
  • 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
  • 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
• MLB Draft: Saturday, July 11, 1:00 p.m. ET, Convention Center Grand Hall
  • The first four rounds of the draft will take place right next to the All-Star Village for the sixth straight year.
  • Rounds 5-20 will take place on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET.
  • Attending the draft is free and open to the public. 
  • Broadcast: NBC
• All-Star Futures Game: Sunday, July 12, 12:00 p.m. ET, Citizens Bank Park
  • A chance to watch baseball’s top prospects participate in a seven-inning exhibition, with some of Minor League Baseball’s best talent, promotions, mascots and entertainment.
  • The managers will be Larry Bowa and Shane Victorino. Among the coaches, Phillies alumni Juan Samuel, Milt Thompson, Michael Bourn, and Billy Wagner.
  • The Phillies’ representatives are right-handed pitchers Gage Wood and Wen-Hui Pan.
  • Broadcast: NBC
• MLBx: All-Star 3-on-3: Sunday, July 12, Following Futures Game, Citizens Bank Park
  • Brand new to the All-Star lineup, a fast-paced format built around power hitting and athletic catching, consisting of two semifinals and a final, with each game lasting 30 minutes. 
  • Here are the lineups:
    • Team Howard: Ryan Howard, Alyssa Brito, DeVonta Smith
    • Team Rollins: Jimmy Rollins, Tiare Jennings, Terrell Owens
    • Team Victorino: Shane Victorino, Rachel Garcia, TBD
    • Atlanta Braves: Andruw Jones, Nijaree Canady, TBD
• Home Run Derby: Monday, July 13, 8:00 p.m. ET, Citizens Bank Park
  • The derby features eight of MLB’s top power hitters. The players with the top four home run totals from that round will advance to the semifinals, where they’ll be seeded based on their first-round homer totals and face off head-to-head (No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3) to determine the two finalists.
  • The format this year goes away from the timer. Here is the new structure:
    • No timer and no “outs”
    • Round 1: 20 swings
    • Round 2: 15 swings
    • Finals: 15 swings
    • Each swing counts toward a player’s allotment, homer or not
    • If you homer on your last swing in any round, you keep going until you do not homer
    • There is no bonus round, and there is no “bracket” for the first round
    • Tiebreakers: HR Distance (Round 1); three-swing swing-offs (Rounds 2 and 3)
  • The participants (more to be named):
    • Junior Caminero, Rays
    • Ben Rice, Yankees
    • Jac Caglianone, Royals
    • Willson Contreras, Red Sox
    • Broadcast: Netflix
    • Gates open at 5:00 p.m. ET
    • The winner of the Derby receives a $1 million cash prize, a custom championship trophy, and a custom chain presented by the league.
      • In celebration of this year’s Home Run Derby Chain, Netflix has created an official Home Run Derby Chain Truck. The truck, which features a full chain-inspired wrap, is making stops in Boston (7/8), New York City (7/10), and at All-Star Week in Philadelphia (7/12, 7/13). It will feature Home Run Derby Chain T-shirts and ice cream.
        • Here’s what the chain looks like, which features a casting of the Liberty Bell and 250 mixed-cut rubies:

• All-Star Red Carpet Show: Tuesday, July 14, 2:00 p.m. ET, Independence Mall
  • The All-Stars showcase their style and greet the media with their families while walking down the red carpet ahead of the All-Star Game.
  • Broadcast: MLB Network and MLB.com
• All-Star Game: Tuesday, July 14, 8:00 p.m. ET, Citizens Bank Park
  • The top players from the American and National League square off in a nine-inning exhibition game for the 96th annual summer.
  • The Phillies will be represented by Bryce Harper, Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Jhoan Duran.
  • Broadcast: FOX (coverage starts at 7:00 p.m. ET)
  • Gates open at 5:00 p.m. ET

READ MORE ON PHILLIES’ ALL-STARS:

Five Phillies Named to 2026 MLB All-Star Game, with Brandon Marsh Being Named Starting Outfielder

Jesus Luzardo Named to First All-Star Game as Replacement

Entertainment Lineup

The MLB on Tuesday announced the entertainment lineup for the All-Star Game, featuring much Philadelphia representation.

Emmy-, Grammy-, Tony-, and Oscar-winning artist Jennifer Hudson will kick off by performing America the Beautiful, joined by the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps with orchestral accompaniment from the Philly Pops.

Following Hudson, Pennsylvania native and lifelong Phillies fan Miles Teller will narrate a stirring tribute of baseball’s impact on American life. 

Grammy-winning and Philadelphia-area native Patti LaBelle will cap off the pregame ceremonies with the National Anthem, accompanied by the Military District of Washington Joint Chorus and West Point Band. 

Boyz II Men will perform during the Stand Up To Cancer placard moment at the conclusion of the fifth inning. This will mark the 16th year for this powerful tradition. This tribute will unite everyone inside Citizens Bank Park and watching at home in a shared moment of reflection and solidarity, inviting all to raise their placards and collectively honor loved ones who have been impacted by the disease.

PA Announcers

The MLB will utilize a trio of voices for the All-Star Game, with Alan Roach conducting most of the pregame announcements, Joe Davis introducing the All-Stars, and Phillies legend Dan Baker announcing the game.

There were questions about whether Baker would be behind the microphone for his record-breaking third career All-Star Game, as the MLB typically uses its own PA announcer for “jewel” events. For this All-Star Game, Baker is breaking the trend, which he told us he hoped to do.

“It would mean a great deal to me, and I think it would mean a great deal to Philadelphia,” Baker said to PSR in an exclusive interview back in April. “But this is a Major League Baseball decision and a Phillies decision, and I work for them, and I will do what I’m told.”

READ MORE ON BAKER AND THE ALL-STAR GAME:

Dan Baker, in year 54, hopes to break current All-Star Game trend: ‘It would mean a great deal to me’

New Food for the Festivities

Of course, there will be some complimentary food at Citizens Bank Park for All-Star week.

The Midsummer Classic will have some “Philadelphia flavor,” Aramark, the Phillies, and MLB officials said Wednesday morning.

The Betsy Ross banana ice cream sundae won a fan vote as one of the specialty items. The sundae features banana pudding and vanilla soft serve ice cream with crushed vanilla wafers, peanut brittle, hot fudge, strawberry sauce, toasted marshmallow cloud, and red, white, and blue sprinkles in a souvenir cap.

The runner-up in the contest, the Revolutionary Rib Melt, will also be available. This one is not as complicated to break down.

Aramark will also showcase Philadelphia’s renowned culinary community at bistro locations inside the Hall of Fame Club, with signature food items created by Marc Vetri, Middle Child’s Matthew Cahn, Del Rossi’s Nish Patel, and Emmett’s Evan Snyder. The lineup will also feature a creation from Aramark’s own Chef Iovonnie “Vonnie” Negron and a sweet treat inspired by a Reading Terminal Market favorite. The special menu highlights the diverse flavors and local food traditions that make Philadelphia one of America’s premier dining destinations.

Aramark says it’s also including food items from its other MLB partners, including (via the press release):

• Uncle Charlie’s Cheesesteak (Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia Phillies) – Cooper Sharp American cheese, with or without Onions, Liscio’s seeded roll
• New York Deli Pastrami Sandwich (Citi Field, New York Mets) – Hand-carved hot pastrami, deli mustard, rye bread, kosher dill pickle
• Birria Grilled Cheese (Oracle Park, San Francisco Giants) – Buttered Texas Toast, braised beef birria, pickled onion slaw, cheddar cheese
• Crawford Dog (Daikin Park, Houston Astros) – Two split & griddled all-beef hot dogs, Crawford Bock bacon onion jam, mustard, toasted Martin’s potato roll
• Taco Momalona (Coors Field, Colorado Rockies) – Red chili tortilla shell, green cabbage romaine mix, smoked brisket, crispy pork belly, hickory + gold BBQ sauce, Hot Cheeto dust, Pico de Gallo, avocado, crema
• Footlong Hot Dog Wellington (Kaufmann Stadium, Kansas City Royals) – Prosciutto, mushroom duxelles, puff pastry, chipotle ketchup
• Manny’s Pierogies (PNC Park, Pittsburgh Pirates) – Potato + cheese mini pierogies, BBQ pulled pork, shallot butter, chive + parsley
• Fenway Lobster Roll (Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox) – Maine style, chilled lobster, mayo, lemon butter, Luke’s Secret Seasoning, split-top bun

A Philadelphia fan favorite will be making its long-awaited return, as well. The Schmitter, which includes steak, onions, cheese, salami, and tomatoes on a round Kaiser roll, is back and will remain at the ballpark for the remainder of the season at Pass and Stow. The sandwich was served at Citizens Bank Park from 2004 to 2015.

Merchandise, Special Displays

There will be loads of All-Star Game and America 250 merchandise, as there has been all season long. Bobbleheads, pins, special-edition hats, collectibles, even a Benjamin Franklin mug.

The All-Star Game logo has been painted into center field, and there are banners plastered throughout the ballpark’s interior and exterior for the event.

There is even a fiberglass, hand-painted bell that is part of Bells Across PA, an America 250 initiative, that will be on display at the ballpark.

The Phillies and MLB unveiled a hand-painted commemorative All-Star bell. pic.twitter.com/z2RcpfdVD2

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 8, 2026

SEPTA Information

Fans attending the MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby can take a free SEPTA ride home.

DraftKings is sponsoring fares on the Broad Street Line from NRG Station on Monday, starting at the end of the second round of the Home Run Derby. Rides will remain free until 11:59 p.m. For the All-Star Game on Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Lottery is comping train fares. The free rides from NRG Station will begin at the close of the sixth inning and continue until 11:59 p.m.

Riders who board the line at any other station will have to pay the regular $2.90 fare.

SEPTA also plans to add sports express trips before and after both events. Additional Regional Rail trains will run on the Lansdale/Doylestown and Paoli/Thorndale lines over the weekend, too, according to SEPTA.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Parking
  • Citizens Bank Park parking is cashless. Fans can pay with credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
  • Tailgating is permitted in Lots A-H and M-O, which generally open five hours before the scheduled start of events. Other parking lots typically open three hours before event time.
  • Pre-purchasing a parking pass is recommended to speed up entry.
• Bag Policy
  • Clear bags only, up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″
  • Clutch purses or fanny packs up to 5″ x 7″
  • Medical and diaper bags are allowed after inspection.
  • No backpacks, drawstring bags, or other non-clear bags.
  • Locker storage is available outside the stadium if needed.
• Cashless
  • Citizens Bank Park is a cashless venue for concessions, merchandise, and parking.
• Fans are encouraged to arrive early to allow extra time for security screening, and increased crowds are expected throughout All-Star Week.

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