• Ulsan Whales Join the Southern League
• 121 Games Per Team, 726 Games in Total Across North and South Divisions

February 14, 2026

The 2026 KBO Futures League will officially open on March 20 (Friday), marking the start of another full developmental season.

Opening Day games will be held at six venues: Icheon (Doosan vs. LG), Seosan (Goyang vs. Hanwha), Mungyeong (SSG vs. Sangmu), Iksan (Samsung vs. KT), Masan (KIA vs. NC), and Ulsan (Lotte vs. Ulsan).

League Realignment and Structure

The 2026 season features a notable structural change. The newly established Ulsan club joins the Southern League, while Sangmu Baseball Team moves from the Southern League to the Northern League.

As a result, each division will consist of six teams:

• Northern League: Sangmu, Hanwha, LG, SSG, Doosan, Goyang
• Southern League: KT, NC, Lotte, Samsung, KIA, Ulsan

Each team will play 121 regular-season games through September 20 (Sunday), for a total of 726 games across the league.

Interleague Format Changes

The interleague scheduling format has also been revised. Previously, scheduling differed depending on whether teams faced Sangmu or other clubs. Beginning this season, with Ulsan’s addition, all teams will play six interleague games (three home, three away) against each opponent, totaling 36 interleague games per team.

Weekly Schedule Adjustment

A new weekly scheduling system will be introduced this year. All games will now be played on Mondays, with Tuesdays designated as a fixed league-wide off day.

The standard game start time will be 1:00 p.m. However, weekday games (excluding public holidays) held in Masan will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, while games in Ulsan will start at 6:30 p.m. on weekdays except weekends and public holidays.

Summer League and Weather Policies

From July 15 (Wednesday) to August 24 (Monday), the league will operate under a Summer League schedule to protect players during extreme heat conditions. All games during this period will begin at 6:00 p.m.

In the event of rainouts during April and May, postponed games will be rescheduled as doubleheaders the following day. Both games of a doubleheader will be seven-inning contests. Additionally, teams will be allowed to expand their active roster by two players (up to 28 players) when playing doubleheaders.

Extra-Innings Rule Adjustment

The extra-innings format has been modified. Previously, games tied after nine innings continued until a winner was determined starting in the 10th inning. Beginning this season, games will be limited to 12 innings; if still tied after 12 innings, the game will be declared a draw.

Video Review and Postseason Format

Check-swing video review will no longer be implemented in the Futures League starting this season.

The Futures League Championship format remains unchanged. The top two teams from each division will advance to the semifinals, and the winners will compete in a single championship game to determine the overall Futures League champion.

Attachment: 2026 KBO Futures League Schedule