It is Sunday, January 18, 2026. If you’re sitting on your couch right now, scrolling through your guide looking for braves on tv tonight, I have some news that might sting a little.
The Braves are not playing tonight.
Honestly, they won’t be playing for a while. We are currently in the dead of winter, right in that awkward gap where the NFL playoffs are hogging the spotlight and baseball fans are just staring at photos of green grass to feel something. But while there isn’t a live game at Truist Park tonight, the world of Braves broadcasting has undergone a massive, confusing facelift for the 2026 season that you actually need to know about before Spring Training kicks off in a few weeks.
The 2026 Braves on TV tonight and beyond: What happened to the channels?
Remember Bally Sports? Forget it. That name is officially dead and buried.
For the 2026 season, the primary home for the Atlanta Braves is FanDuel Sports Network South and FanDuel Sports Network Southeast. If you’re a cable subscriber with Xfinity, Spectrum, or DirecTV, your local channel likely just changed its logo overnight. It’s the same regional sports network (RSN) structure we’ve dealt with for years, just with a betting app's name plastered over everything.
But here is where it gets weird.
For the first time in over twenty years, NBC is back in the mix in a huge way. Starting this year, Sunday Night Baseball has moved from ESPN over to NBC and Peacock. If you’ve spent the last decade-plus tuning into ESPN at 7:00 PM on Sundays to hear the crack of the bat, you’re going to be looking at a blank screen or a different sport entirely.
Key National Broadcast Dates to Circle
- March 26, 2026: Opening Day. The Braves start at home against the Kansas City Royals.
- April 12, 2026: Braves vs. Cleveland Guardians (The first big Sunday night appearance on NBC).
- April 19, 2026: Braves at Phillies (A Peacock exclusive, though there are rumors of an NBCSN simulcast).
- July 5, 2026: The "Star-Spangled Sunday" event where NBC and Peacock will air MLB games all day.
Streaming is the new Wild West
If you've cut the cord, finding the braves on tv tonight—or any night—is basically a part-time job now.
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Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM remain the only "traditional" streaming services that carry the FanDuel Sports Networks. If you have YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, you are still blacked out of local games. It’s a frustrating reality that hasn't changed despite all the corporate rebranding.
However, there is a new direct-to-consumer option. You can buy a standalone subscription to the FanDuel Sports Network app for about $19.99 a month. This is great for fans living in Georgia, Alabama, or South Carolina who don't want a massive $100 cable bill. Just keep in mind that this only covers the regional games. When the Braves play on FOX, TBS, or the new NBC Sunday night slot, that app goes dark.
The Netflix and NBC Factor
2026 is the year of "fragmented viewing."
The Home Run Derby has moved to Netflix. NBC is airing the entire Wild Card round of the playoffs. If the Braves make the postseason (and let’s be real, they probably will), you might need three different login passwords just to get through the first week of October.
When does the real action start?
If you’re desperate for live baseball, the wait is almost over.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The first full-squad workout happens on February 15. We are less than a month away from seeing actual dirt on uniforms.
The first televised Spring Training game is slated for Saturday, February 21, when the Braves travel to take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Most of these Grapefruit League games will be on the FanDuel Sports Network, but a few usually pop up on MLB Network if you live out of market.
How to actually prepare for the 2026 season
Don't wait until March 26 to figure out if your login works. The broadcast landscape is more fractured than it has been in a generation.
- Check your local Gray Media station. In a surprising move, Gray Television snagged the rights to 15 regular-season games this year, including every Friday home game at Truist Park. These will be "free" over-the-air if you have a digital antenna.
- Audit your streaming services. If you're on YouTube TV, you'll need a backup plan for the 140+ games that won't be on national TV.
- Download the FanDuel Sports app now. Even if you don't subscribe yet, get the account set up so you aren't fighting with a "forgot password" email five minutes before the first pitch of the season.
The days of just "turning on the TV" to find the Braves are over. It's a scavenger hunt now. But for a team with this much talent, a little extra clicking is usually worth the effort.
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Next Steps for You:
Check your local zip code on the FanDuel Sports Network website to confirm which specific channel carries the Braves in your area before Spring Training begins on February 21.