The regular season is over. Here is everything that happens next — from the First Stage on October 10 to a possible Game 7 on November 1.
The pennant race is over
Central League: the Hanshin Tigers clinched on October 3 — Hanshin's eighth pennant and the first back-to-back league title since the two-league system began in 1950 (79–62–2). Yomiuri (76–64–3) and DeNA (71–69–3) join them in the playoff.
Pacific League: the SoftBank Hawks clinched on September 17 — a third straight pennant (91–49–3) — on the league's best run production (707 runs, .261 batting average). Seibu (79–60–4) and Nippon-Ham (78–62–3) complete the playoff field.
The Climax Series (Oct 10–20)
- First stage, Oct 10–12 (best-of-three): Giants vs. DeNA at Tokyo Dome; Seibu vs. Nippon-Ham at Belluna Dome.
- Final stage, Oct 14 onward: the winners travel to the pennant winners — Hanshin at Koshien and SoftBank at the Mizuho PayPay Dome.
A new rule in 2026
For the first time, the pennant winner can be handed a two-game advantage and the stage extended to as many as seven games. The rule triggers when the first-stage winner finished 10 or more games behind the pennant winner, or when that challenger finished below .500.
In 2026 the trigger applies in the Pacific League but not the Central. SoftBank finished 11.5 games ahead of Seibu and 13 ahead of Nippon-Ham, so whichever challenger advances must win five games while SoftBank needs three. In the Central, Hanshin's margins — 2.5 over the Giants, 7.5 over DeNA — keep the conventional format: six games, first to four.
The Japan Series (Oct 24 – Nov 1)
The SMBC Japan Series 2026 opens on Saturday, October 24 at Koshien, the Central League winner's home. Games 1–2 are in Kansai, Games 3–5 move to the Pacific League winner's park, and Games 6–7 return to Koshien if needed — a possible Game 7 on Sunday, November 1.
Tickets: the Lawson first lottery runs October 13 (10:00) to October 15 (23:00); the advance lottery runs October 14 (10:00) to October 17 (18:00); general sale opens October 22 at noon. Book early — series tickets move fast.
The storylines
- A 2025 rematch? If both pennant winners survive, Hanshin faces SoftBank again — one year after the Hawks' 4–1 series win that ended with an extra-inning clincher at Koshien.
- Fujikawa's Tigers: in manager Kyuji Fujikawa's second year, Hanshin has a new closer (Taisei Kudo) and its first consecutive pennants ever.
- The Hawks' three-peat: can the dynasty add a 13th Japan Series title to three straight pennants?
October in Japan: where every game feels like Game 7.
How to watch
In Japan, games air on national TV and official NPB streaming. From abroad, see our watch guide for legal options — and remember the time zone: an evening game in Japan is a morning game in New York.