The 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO postseason will open on October 14 with the first game of the wildcard series, the Korea Baseball Commission announced.
Fourth seed holds advantage in wildcard round
The wildcard round will consist of a maximum of two games hosted at the stadium of the fourth-seeded club in the regular-season standings. Under the tournament structure, the fourth-seeded team advances with a win or a tie in either of the two matchups. Meanwhile, the fifth-seeded challenger must secure two victories to eliminate the higher seed and advance to the next round.
Series formats include best-of-five and best-of-seven schedules
Following the wildcard round, the semifinal and playoff series will operate under a best-of-five format, while the Korean Series will stretch to a best-of-seven format. The league has scheduled at least one rest and travel day between each series. If rain or inclement weather forces a postponement, games will shift to the following day.
Postseason games cap extra innings at 15 frames
Postseason games will cap extra innings at a maximum of 15 frames. If a winner fails to emerge by the end of the 15th inning, the contest will be recorded as a tie. Except for the wildcard series, any tied game during a playoff series will be replayed after the final game of the series at the same venue without a scheduled travel day. If a series accumulates two or more ties, the league will intersperse a single travel day between the resumed contests. The KBO confirmed that rain and cold cancellation rules do not apply to the 2026 postseason, leaving only suspended-game regulations in effect. When a suspension occurs, teams will play only one game per day regardless of the inning in which play was halted.
Review Quotas and Roster Limits
Managers may request up to two video reviews per game during regulation innings. If a team successfully overturns both initial challenges, they earn one additional review opportunity. Extra innings grant each side one extra challenge regardless of prior reviews. Roster limits allow clubs to register 30 players with 28 active for selection, including up to four foreign players under a framework that accommodates a single Asian quota spot. Coaching staff caps permit one coach alongside up to 10 assistants.
Where wildcard games and Korean Series are played?
Where are the wildcard games played?
All wildcard games take place at the home stadium of the team that finished fourth in the regular-season standings.
How many games must the fifth seed win in the wildcard round?
The fifth-seeded team must win two games to overcome the fourth seed, because the higher-seeded club advances with a single win or a tie.
What is the stadium hosting format for the Korean Series?
The Korean Series utilizes a 2-3-2 venue rotation, placing games 1, 2, 6, and 7 at the regular-season champion’s home park, and games 3, 4, and 5 at the stadium of the advancing playoff winner.
