2026 MLB Home Run Derby: Date, how to watch, streaming, format, records, winners

The Home Run Derby is one of the highlights of the summer sports calendar, as baseball's top power hitters go head to head in a home run-hitting showdown.

Continue reading for all you need to know about the event, including 2026 dates and schedule, format, event history, and records.

2026 MLB Home Run Derby start time, date and venue

The exact date and start time for the 2026 Home Run Derby has not yet been determined, but we can expect the event to take place on Monday, July 13, 2026.

The derby will take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and likely start around 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT.

The Home Run Derby typically takes place the night before the MLB All-Star Game.

How to watch 2026 Home Run Derby, TV channel and streaming

The Home Run Derby will be broadcast on ESPN, available via cable TV and live TV streaming apps such as YouTubeTV and FuboTV.

MLB Home Run Derby rules and format

The Home Run Derby format has changed throughout the years. Below is the current format, which was used for the first time in the 2024 edition.

In the first round, all eight hitters will take a turn, with the top-four leading home run hitters advancing to the semifinals.

Each turn will last three minutes or 40 pitches, whichever comes first. After that time is up, players will have the chance to keep hitting until they record three "outs," or non-home runs. The tiebreaker is longest home run distance. Hitters get an extra "out" in the bonus round if they hit a home run longer than 425 feet.

This differs from recent years, when the eight participants were seeded and separated into first-round matchups to create a knockout-style bracket.

The four hitters that advance to the second round are then seeded 1-4 based on their home run tally from the first round. The 1-seed will face the 4-seed and the 2-seed will face the 3-seed in the same format as the first round - whoever can hit more home runs in three minutes or 40 pitches is the winner.

In the final, the two players will have just two minutes or 27 pitches, whichever comes first. Whoever hits more home runs in that time is the champion.

MLB Home Run Derby records

Most home runs in a single round	Julio Rodriguez	41
Most home runs in a single Home Run Derby	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	91
Most HR Derby wins (team)	New York Yankees	4
Most HR Derby wins (player)	Ken Griffey Jr.	3
Most career home runs in HR Derby (player)	Pete Alonso	195

MLB Home Run Derby past winners

Year	Winner	Team
2025	Cal Raleigh	Seattle Mariners
2024	Teoscar Hernandez	Los Angeles Dodgers
2023	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	Toronto Blue Jays
2022	Juan Soto	Washington Nationals
2021	Pete Alonso	New York Mets
2020	Cancelled - pandemic
2019	Pete Alonso	New York Mets
2018	Bryce Harper	Washington Nationals
2017	Aaron Judge	New York Yankees
2016	Giancarlo Stanton	Miami Marlins
2015	Todd Frazier	Cincinnati Reds
2014	Yoenis Cespedes	Oakland Athletics
2013	Yoenis Cespedes	Oakland Athletics
2012	Prince Fielder	Detroit Tigers
2011	Robinson Cano	New York Yankees
2010	David Ortiz	Boston Red Sox
2009	Prince Fielder	Milwaukee Brewers
2008	Justin Morneau	Minnesota Twins
2007	Vladimir Guerrero	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2006	Ryan Howard	Philadelphia Phillies
2005	Bobby Abreu	Philadelphia Phillies
2004	Miguel Tejada	Baltimore Orioles
2003	Garret Anderson	Anaheim Angels
2002	Jason Giambi	New York Yankees
2001	Luis Gonzalez	Arizona Diamondbacks
2000	Sammy Sosa	Chicago Cubs
1999	Ken Griffey Jr.	Seattle Mariners
1998	Ken Griffey Jr.	Seattle Mariners
1997	Tino Martinez	New York Yankees
1996	Barry Bonds	San Francisco Giants
1995	Frank Thomas	Chicago White Sox
1994	Ken Griffey Jr.	Seattle Mariners
1993	Juan Gonzalez	Texas Rangers
1992	Mark McGwire	Oakland Athletics
1991	Cal Ripken Jr.	Baltimore Orioles
1990	Ryne Sandberg	Chicago Cubs
1989 (tie)	Eric Davis Ruben Sierra	Cincinnati Reds Texas Rangers
1988	Cancelled - rain
1987	Andre Dawson	Chicago Cubs
1986 (tie)	Wally Joyner Darryl Strawberry	California Angels New York Mets
1985	Dave Parker	Cincinnati Reds