The 2026 Chicago Cubs season was the 155th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 151st in the National League, and the Cubs' 111th season at Wrigley Field. They are members of Major League Baseball's National League Central division. They began the season on March 26, 2026, against the Washington Nationals and finished the season on September 27 against the Boston Red Sox in a game played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida due to an expected nor'easter in the Boston area.
With two home runs (his 43rd and 44th of the season) in an 8–4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on September 16, Pete Crow-Armstrong set a franchise record for home runs by a left-handed batter in Cubs history. Crow-Armstrong stole his 40th base of the season on September 24 in a game against the Miami Marlins, making him just the seventh player (and first Cub) in MLB history to join the 40–40 club (at least 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season). In the same game, the Cubs clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season following a 2–1 win over the Marlins.
The Cubs finished the regular season 89–73 to finish in second place in the division, 14 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. They received the second wild card spot and faced the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card Series for the second consecutive year where they were swept in two games.
Previous season The Cubs finished the 2025 season 92–70 to finish in second place in the NL Central division, five games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. They finished with the best record of non-division winners in the National League, securing the top wild card sport. They defeated the San Diego Padres two games to one in the National League Wild Card Series. They lost to the Brewers in the Division Series, losing the best of five series three games to two.
Offseason Transactions October 2025 Activated RHP Cade Horton, LHP Luke Little, RHP Porter Hodge, RHP Eli Morgan, RHP Gavin Hollowell, C Miguel Amaya, RHP Ethan Roberts, 1B Carlos Santana, LHP Jordan Wicks, OF Owen Caissie, RHP Ryan Brasier, LHP Taylor Rogers, RHP Jack Neely, and RHP Javier Assad. Source
November 2025 LHP Caleb Thielbar, LHP Drew Pomeranz, RF Kyle Tucker, RHP Aaron Civale, LHP Taylor Rogers, RHP Ryan Brasier, OF Willi Castro, 1B Carlos Santana, and RHP Brad Keller elected free agency.Traded RHP Andrew Kittredge to Baltimore Orioles for cash. LHP Shota Imanaga elected free agency.Activated LHP Justin Steele. IF Justin Turner elected free agency.Signed free agents SS Dylan Guzman, 2B Luis Palencia, OF Juan De Jesus, and C Sergio Patino to minor league contracts.Signed free agent LHP Shota Imanaga. Selected the contracts of LHP Riley Martin and 2B James Triantos from Iowa Cubs. Selected the contract of 2B Pedro Ramírez from Knoxville Smokies.RHP Eli Morgan and C Reese McGuire elected free agency.Signed free agent RHP Phil Maton. Source
December 2025 Signed free agent RHP Sam Mettert to a minor league contract.Traded RHP Nico Zeglin to Houston Astros for cash. Purchased contracts of RHP Adam Stone, 3B Devin Ortiz, and RHP Zane Mills in the Rule 5 draft.Signed free agents RHP Collin Snider and IF Bryant Ciriaco to minor league contracts.Signed free agents RHP Ruben Torres and OF Emill Olivo to minor league contracts.Signed free agents LHP Fenuel James and RHP Esmerbin Guerrero to minor league contracts.Signed free agent LHP Hoby Milner.Signed free agent LHP Caleb Thielbar.Signed free agent 1B Tyler Austin.Signed free agent RHP Jacob Webb.Signed free agent RHP Jeff Bringham to a minor league contractSigned free agent RHP Hunter Harvey. Source
January 2026 Traded OF Owen Caissie, IF Christian Hernandez, and IF Edgardo De Leon to Miami Marlins for RHP Edward Cabrera. Claimed RHP Ryan Rolison from Chicago White Sox.Signed free agent 3B Alex Bregman to a 5-year $175 million contract.Claimed 3B Ben Cowles off waivers from Chicago White Sox. Signed free agents RHP Jhosued Marcano, RHP Luciano Prince, RHP Yadier Concepcion, SS Franyel Almanzar, RHP Santiago Lopez, SS Esau Taveras, Marcos Mateo, OF Luis Diaz, SS Luis German, RHP Anderson Carias, RHP Jose Avendano, LHP Jose Serva, SS Luis Thomas, SS Diego Hernandez, SS D'Alessandro Barile, RHP Yamel Pinto, SS Giancarlos Mendoza, SS Samir Guerrero, SS Johan Geraldo, OF Enrique Oropeza, SS Yadier Munoz, SS Eduardo Gonzalez, OF Yanfri Serrano, OF Kotaro Tsunematsu, RHP Luis Martinez, SS Jaims Martinez, SS Xavier Cadiz, and OF Albert Moreno to minor league contracts.Signed free agents RHP Trent Thornton and RHP Tyler Ras to minor league contracts.Signed free agent RHP Yacksel Ríos to a minor league contract.Signed free agents LF Chas McCormick, SS Karson Simas, RHP Tyler Beede, LF Dylan Carlson, and LHP Charlie Barnes to minor league contracts.Signed free agent OF Alexander Ramirez to a minor league contract. Source
February 2026 Signed free agents RHP Vince Velasquez, RHP Gabe Klobosits, and 2B Owen Miller to minor league contracts.Invited non-rosters SS Jefferson Rojas, 1B Jonathon Long, 3B BJ Murray, RHP Connor Noland, RHP Grant Kipp, C Casey Opitz, RHP Jaxon Wiggins, C Ariel Armas, CF Brett Bateman, and RHP Connor Schultz to spring training.Signed free agent RHP Shelby Miller. Designated 3B Ben Cowles for assignment.Signed free agent RHP Kyle Wright to a minor league contract.Signed free agents C Ethan Hearn and LHP Jackson Brockett to minor league contracts.Assigned 1B Haydn McGeary, 2B Hayden Cantrelle, RHP Vince Reilly, RHP Frankie Scalzo Jr. , 2B Owen Miller, RF Parker Chavers, RHP Zane Mills, RHP Adam Stone, RHP Nick Hull, LF Jordan Nwogu, andLF Andy Garriola to Chicago Cubs.Signed fee agents SS Alex Madera and SS Jaylen Palmer to minor league contracts. Assigned 3B Devin Ortiz, RHP Ryan Jensen, LHP Charlie Barnes, LHP Evan Taylor, RHP Jackson Kirkpatrick, andSS Angel Cepeda to Chicago Cubs.Assigned OF Kane Kepley, LF Kade Snell, 1B Edgar Alvarez, LF Christian Olivo, RHP Yacksel Ríos, SS Eriandys Ramon, RHP Luis Rujano, RHP Zac Leigh, RHP Yenrri Rojas assigned, and RHP Grayson Moore to Chicago Cubs.Assigned SS Ty Southisene, CF Alexey Lumpuy, 3B Drew Bowser, SS Ludwing Espinoza, RHP Walker Powell, RHP Brayden Spears, and C Carter Trice to Chicago Cubs.Assigned SS Reginald Preciado and RHP Kenten Egbert to Chicago Cubs.Assigned OF Josiah Hartshorn, LF Derik Alcantara, C Dilan Granadillo assigned, and C Owen Ayers to Chicago Cubs.Signed free agent OF Michael Conforto to a minor league contract. Assigned C Miguel Useche to Chicago Cubs.Assigned LHP Cole Reynolds to Chicago Cubs. Source
March 2026 Placed RHP Shelby Miller on the 60-day injured list (IL). Claimed 3B Ben Cowles off waivers from Toronto Blue Jays. Assigned LHP Chase Watkins to Chicago Cubs.Assigned RHP Luis Martinez-Gomez, 3B Christopher Paciolla, and RHP Ben Heller to Chicago Cubs.Assigned SS Alex Madera, OF Jaylen Palmer, SS Ed Howard, and RHP Vince Velasquez to Chicago Cubs.Assigned CF Darlyn De Leon and 3B Matt Halbach to Chicago Cubs.Assigned LF Joan Delgado and 1B Brian Kalmer to Chicago Cubs.Assigned SS Leonel Vivas and RHP Brooks Caple to Chicago Cubs. Optioned 2B James Triantos, 3B Ben Cowles, RHP Jack Neely, and LHP Riley Martin to Iowa. Optioned 2B Pedro Ramírez to Knoxville Smokies.Optioned CF Justin Dean, LHP Ryan Rolison, and LHP Luke Little to Iowa. Assigned SS Jose Escobar to Chicago Cubs.Assigned OF Cesar Lugo to Chicago Cubs.Assigned C Logan Poteet and OF Jan Luis Reyes to Chicago Cubs.C Michael Carico assigned to Chicago Cubs.OF Eli Lovich assigned to Chicago Cubs.Signed free agent RHP Dylan Lozada to a minor league contract.Optioned RHPs Gavin Hollowell and Ethan Roberts to Iowa. C Justin Stransky, 2B Juan Cabada, 1B Cole Mathis, and SS Juan Tomas assigned to Chicago Cubs.RHPs Ethan Bell and Jake Knapp assigned to Chicago Cubs. Source
Regular season Opening day lineup Order Player Batters 1 29 Michael Busch 1B 2 3 Alex Bregman 3B 3 8 Ian Happ LF 4 4 Pete Crow-Armstrong CF 5 2 Nico Hoerner 2B 6 15 Carson Kelly C 7 25 Moisés Ballesteros DH 8 7 Dansby Swanson SS 9 6 Matt Shaw RF Starting pitcher — 16 Matthew BoydReferences:
Game log
Legend Cubs win Cubs loss Postponement Clinched playoff spotBoldCubs team member
|-style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || March 26 || Nationals || 4–10 || Lord (1–0) || Boyd (0–1) || — || 39,712 || 0–1 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || March 28 || Nationals || 10–2 || Horton (1–0) || Mikolas (0–1) || Brogdon (1–0) || 34,834 || 1–1 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || March 29 || Nationals || 3–6 || Irvin (1–0) || Imanaga (0–1) || Beeter (1) || 33,559 || 1–2 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || March 30 || Angels || 7–2 || Cabrera (1–0) || Johnson (0–1) || Rea (1) || 36,702 || 2–2 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || March 31 || Angels || 0–2 || Soriano (2–0) || Maton (0–1) || Romano (2) || 26,288 || 2–3 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || April 1 || Angels || 6–2 || Boyd (1–1) || Kikuchi (0–1) || — || 25,125 || 3–3 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 3 || @ Guardians || 1–4 || Brogdon (2–0) || Harvey (0–1) || Smith (2) || 37,360 || 3–4 || L1 |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || April 4 || @ Guardians ||colspan="8"| Postponed (rain) (Makeup date: April 5) |-style="background:#bfb;" | 8 || April 5 || @ Guardians || 1–0 || Thielbar (1–0) || Brogdon (2–1) || Palencia (1) || || 4–4 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 5 || @ Guardians || 5–6 || Armstrong (1–0) || Webb (0–1) || Smith (3) || 19,791 || 4–5 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || April 6 || @ Rays || 4–6 || Kelly (1–1) || Taillon (0–1) || Baker (1) || 25,114 || 4–6 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 7 || @ Rays || 9–2 || Assad (1–0) || Englert (0–1) || — || 21,377 || 5–6 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 12 || April 8 || @ Rays || 6–2 || Rea (1–0) || Boyle (0–1) || — || 20,483 || 6–6 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || April 10 || Pirates || 0–2 || Montgomery (1–0) || Thielbar (1–1) || Santana (1) || 28,811 || 6–7 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 14 || April 11 || Pirates || 3–4 || Ramírez (2–0) || Thielbar (1–2) || — || 34,049 || 6–8 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 15 || April 12 || Pirates || 7–6 || Palencia (1–0) || Urquidy (0–1) || — || 35,711 || 7–8 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || April 13 || @ Phillies || 7–13 || Sánchez (2–1) || Assad (1–1) || — || 36,045 || 7–9 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || April 14 || @ Phillies || 10–4 || Rea (2–0) || Mayza (0–1) || — || 37,426 || 8–9 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 18 || April 15 || @ Phillies || 11–2 || Imanaga (1–1) || Luzardo (1–3) || — || 38,254 || 9–9 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || April 17 || Mets || 12–4 || Cabrera (2–0) || Senga (0–3) || — || 34,282 || 10–9 || W3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || April 18 || Mets || 4–2 || Taillon (1–1) || Peralta (1–2) || Thielbar (1) || 36,189 || 11–9 || W4 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || April 19 || Mets || 2–1 || Thielbar (2–2) || Kimbrel (0–1) || — || 35,497 || 12–9 || W5 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 22 || April 20 || Phillies || 5–1 || Rea (3–0) || Nola (1–2) || — || 27,798 || 13–9 || W6 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || April 21 || Phillies || 7–4 || Imanaga (2–1) || Banks (0–1) || Thielbar (2) || 30,651 || 14–9 || W7 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 24 || April 22 || Phillies || 7–2 || Brown (1–0) || Walker (1–4) || — || 29,591 || 15–9 || W8 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 25 || April 23 || Phillies || 8–7 || Assad (2–1) || Banks (0–2) || — || 31,057 || 16–9 || W9 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || April 24 || @ Dodgers || 6–4 || Rolison (1–0) || Scott (0–1) || Martin (1) || 53,733 || 17–9 || W10 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 27 || April 25 || @ Dodgers || 4–12 || Sasaki (1–2) || Rea (3–1) || — || 53,397 || 17–10 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || April 26 || @ Dodgers || 0–6 || Wrobleski (4–0) || Imanaga (2–2) || — || 52,060 || 17–11 || L2 |-style="background:#fbb;"