Netflix lands 2026 MLB Field of Dreams streaming rights

Netflix will livestream Major League Baseball’s 2026 Field of Dreams game on August 13. Pre-game coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the first pitch scheduled for an hour later. The streaming giant announced the broadcast as part of its August 2026 schedule.

The game will take place at a newly renovated and expanded permanent stadium in Dyersville, Iowa, located adjacent to the famous cornfield site from the 1989 film. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the return of the game as an annual event last November.

Securing live sports rights is a core strategy for streaming platforms aiming to reduce subscriber churn and justify monthly pricing. Traditional media companies have long relied on live programming to anchor their schedules. For Netflix, acquiring a high-profile, culturally resonant MLB event signals a continued willingness to invest in live programming despite the higher production complexities associated with real-time broadcasts.

For Major League Baseball, partnering with a global streaming leader expands the sport's digital footprint beyond traditional regional cable networks. The league is actively diversifying its media rights portfolio to capture audiences who have abandoned traditional pay-TV. Premium events like the Field of Dreams game, which leverage cinematic nostalgia, provide highly marketable properties to attract new media partners and secure higher valuations for future rights packages.

The 1989 film earned three Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and its legacy transformed the Iowa site into a worldwide tourist destination. MLB built its own temporary stadium nearby in 2021 for a game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, followed by a second game in 2022 featuring the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.

“Iowa is thrilled to welcome MLB and its players back to the iconic Field of Dreams and a new permanent stadium for one of America's favorite baseball traditions,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a November statement. The 2025 game will feature the Minnesota Twins and the Philadelphia Phillies on August 13, preceded a day earlier by a Triple-A matchup between the St. Paul Saints and the Iowa Cubs.