When Is the Next Brewers Game: Getting the Most Out of the 2026 Season

It’s Sunday, January 18, 2026, and if you’re staring at a frozen windshield in Milwaukee right now, the crack of a wood bat probably feels like a lifetime away. But honestly, the countdown is already moving fast.

The Milwaukee Brewers are currently deep in the offseason grind, but the 2026 schedule is locked in. If you're wondering when is the next Brewers game, the answer depends on whether you're looking for the official Opening Day pageantry or the laid-back vibes of Maryvale. We are exactly 38 days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to American Family Fields of Phoenix.

Baseball is a long haul. It's 162 games of stress, high-fives, and questionable bullpen decisions. But for Brewers fans, the rhythm of the season is basically the heartbeat of the city.

The 2026 Spring Training Kickoff

The "real" first game happens in the desert. The Brewers are set to open their Cactus League play on Friday, February 27, 2026.

Expect a lot of young guys you’ve never heard of. You'll see jersey numbers in the 70s and 80s. That’s the beauty of Spring Training. You’re watching the future of the Triple-A Nashville Sounds as much as the big league roster. For those of us stuck in the Wisconsin tundra, these games are usually broadcast on 620 WTMJ or through the Bally Sports Wisconsin (or its 2026 successor) app.

It's weirdly relaxing. There’s no pressure. If the Crew loses 10-2 to the Cubs in March, nobody cares. We just want to see if the young pitching prospects are hitting 98 mph on the radar gun.

Opening Day 2026: The Date You Actually Care About

Let’s be real. You want to know when the tailgating starts.

The Milwaukee Brewers will officially start the 2026 regular season on Thursday, March 26, 2026. This is an away series this year. The Crew is headed to face the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

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Opening Day is a holiday in Wisconsin. Even when the game is in Cincy, the bars on Blue Mound Road will be packed by 10:00 AM. There's something about that first pitch that makes people forget how long the winter was.

The Home Opener at American Family Field

If you’re waiting for the roof to open (or stay closed, let's be honest, it's April), the Home Opener is Monday, April 6, 2026, against the Colorado Rockies.

Tickets for this go fast. Like, "website crashes in three minutes" fast. If you aren't a season ticket holder, you'll likely be hitting the secondary markets like StubHub or SeatGeek. Expect to pay a premium. The atmosphere inside the stadium when they introduce the roster is worth the extra twenty bucks for a nosebleed seat.

Understanding the 2026 Schedule Flow

The MLB changed the scheduling rules a couple of years ago, and 2026 continues that trend. The Brewers play every single team in the league at least once.

This is huge. It means if you're a fan of a random AL team like the Mariners or the Rays, they will come to Milwaukee at some point in the next two years. The 2026 schedule is heavy on divisional play in September, which is where the NL Central usually gets decided.

Keep an eye on the "Gold Card" pre-sales. Usually, Wisconsin residents get a head start on buying tickets for high-demand games—basically anything against the Cubs or the Dodgers.

Why the Timing of These Games Matters

Baseball is a game of streaks. When you look at when is the next Brewers game, you also have to look at the "rest" factor.

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The 2026 season has fewer scheduled doubleheaders than we saw in the early 2020s. However, the travel can be brutal. The Brewers have a ten-day West Coast road trip in late May that is going to test the depth of the rotation.

Watch the pitching matchups. If the "next game" features the Brewers' ace against a struggling rookie, that’s when you want to put your money down or make sure you're tuned in. If it’s a "bullpen day," prepare for a four-hour marathon.

How to Watch the Brewers in 2026

The media landscape for baseball is kinda messy right now. Between the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy sagas and the shift toward streaming, finding the game isn't as simple as turning to Channel 4 anymore.

1. Bally Sports / FanDuel Sports Network: Most games are still here.
2. MLB.TV: Great if you live outside of Wisconsin. If you live in Milwaukee, blackouts are still the bane of our existence.
3. Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+: Usually once or twice a year, the Brewers get picked for this. The camera quality is incredible, but the commentary is... polarizing.
4. The Radio: 620 WTMJ is still the gold standard. Bob Uecker is a national treasure. Even if you're at the game, you'll see half the fans with an earbud in listening to the radio broadcast because the delay is minimal and the stories are better.

What to Look For in the Early Matchups

Expect the Brewers to lean hard on their "pitching lab" philosophy again this year. We saw a lot of turnover in the rotation last year, and 2026 is about stabilization.

The next game isn't just about a win or a loss. It's about seeing if the adjustments made in the offseason actually took hold. Is the new lead-off hitter taking pitches? Is the closer hitting his spots?

Don't panic if they start slow. The 1982 "Harvey's Wallbangers" didn't start the season at 100 mph. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Planning Your Trip to the Ballpark

If the next game is at home, you need a plan.

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Tailgating is the soul of American Family Field. The lots usually open three hours before first pitch. If you’re heading to a 1:10 PM game, you should be in line by 10:00 AM if you want a good spot in the Preferred lots.

Bring a heater. April in Milwaukee is basically winter with a different name.

Essential Checklist for the Next Home Game:

• Mobile Tickets: The Brewers went fully digital. Have the MLB Ballpark app downloaded and logged in before you get to the gate. The Wi-Fi at the entrance can be spotty when 30,000 people are trying to use it.
• Cashless Pay: The stadium is cashless. Bring your card or use Apple/Google Pay.
• The Clear Bag Policy: Don't be that person who has to walk a giant purse all the way back to the car. Check the size limits.

The Rivalry Factor

When the next game is against the Chicago Cubs, everything changes.

The "I-94 Series" is always electric. Expect "Wrigley North" vibes, though Brewers fans have been doing a much better job of out-buying the Chicago fans lately. The energy in the stadium during a Brewers-Cubs game in July is the closest thing you'll get to a playoff atmosphere in the regular season.

Actionable Steps for Fans

If you're ready to lock in your plans, here is how you should handle the upcoming weeks:

• Download the Schedule: Go to the official Brewers website and sync the 2026 schedule to your Google or Outlook calendar. It automatically updates for time changes.
• Check the Weather: For the first two months of the season, the roof status is the most searched thing in Milwaukee. Follow @Bernie_Brewer or the official "Is the roof open?" social media accounts.
• Verify the Broadcast: Check if the game is a national broadcast (ESPN/FOX) or local. This determines if you need a specific app or just your standard cable/streaming setup.
• Monitor the Injured List (IL): Before betting or buying tickets to see a specific star, check the 10-day IL. Baseball moves fast, and a "day-to-day" soreness can turn into a missed series quickly.

The wait for the next Brewers game is almost over. Whether you're watching from a bar in West Allis or sitting behind the dugout, the 2026 season is shaping up to be another wild ride in the NL Central.