Get ready for a flavor explosion and a sports spectacle! PepsiCo is doubling down on its enduring partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB), bringing two of its beloved brands, Mountain Dew Baja Blast and Gatorade, front and center for the 2026 MLB season and beyond. This isn't just a sponsorship; it's a full-blown integration set to energize fans and players alike.
Mountain Dew Baja Blast is officially stepping up to the plate as the new official soft drink of MLB! This exciting development stems from PepsiCo's decision to extend its deeply rooted relationship with the league, a partnership that has now spanned four decades. For fans, this means seeing Baja Blast prominently featured at all MLB stadiums across the United States and Canada throughout the 2026 campaign. Imagine enjoying that unique tropical flavor while cheering on your favorite team – pure bliss!
But here's where it gets really exciting for the fans: Mountain Dew is launching a season-long promotion centered around those thrilling home runs. Get ready to earn rewards for every long-distance hit, adding an extra layer of excitement to every crack of the bat.
And let's not forget about Gatorade, the undisputed champion of sports hydration. This iconic brand, which has been an integral part of the MLB landscape since 1990, will continue its long-standing commitment to the league.
This partnership is strategically timed to capitalize on MLB's recent surge in popularity. The league reported "double-digit" viewership increases in key demographics, including the highly sought-after 17-and-under and 18-34-year-old groups, during the 2025 season. These are precisely the audiences PepsiCo aims to connect with through these activations.
The 2026 MLB season is set to kick off on March 25th, with the regular season concluding on September 27th. The nail-biting postseason, including the World Series, will wrap up by October 31st at the latest.
And this is the part most people miss: the 2026 season marks the dawn of MLB's new three-year media rights cycle. This means a fresh landscape for how you'll watch the games. ESPN, NBCUniversal (Comcast), Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery (TBS), and even streaming giant Netflix have all secured broadcast packages running through 2028.
ESPN will continue to be a major player, broadcasting 30 national games and retaining the rights to sell MLB.TV across its digital platforms. They'll also be offering over 150 out-of-market game streams throughout the season.
NBCUniversal is stepping into the spotlight with a significant slate of games, including the coveted Sunday Night Baseball slot and all four post-season playoff wild-card games. They'll also continue their tradition of Sunday Leadoff games before noon.
Netflix is making its live MLB debut, a move that could redefine sports streaming. While they've previously shown the World Baseball Classic, they will now broadcast one opening night game each season for the next three years. Additionally, Netflix will be the exclusive home for the Home Run Derby and the highly anticipated MLB at Field of Dreams game in 2026. They've committed to showcasing a special event game annually, with possibilities like "MLB at Rickwood Field" or "MLB Speedway" on the horizon.
Beyond these key players, Fox and TBS also have national broadcast deals extending through 2028. Fox is reportedly paying $714.3 million per year, while TBS is contributing $470 million per year to these agreements.
But here's where it gets controversial: With so many broadcast partners and streaming options, is this fragmentation helping or hindering MLB's ability to build a unified fanbase? And for fans, is the convenience of streaming worth the potential cost of multiple subscriptions? What are your thoughts on this evolving media landscape? Let us know in the comments below!
