The 2026 KBO League season, officially known as the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League () for sponsorship reasons, is an ongoing professional baseball season based in South Korea; the 45th in the history of the KBO League. The league's format and makeup did not change in the 2026 season from the previous season, with the same ten teams competing; the Kia Tigers, Doosan Bears, Lotte Giants, NC Dinos, LG Twins, Hanwha Eagles, KT Wiz, Samsung Lions, SSG Landers, and the Kiwoom Heroes.
The Twins entered the season as the defending champions from the 2025 season.
The Korea Baseball Organization announced rule changes for the 2026 season. Teams will be able to add an Asian or Australian import player to their roster alongside three foreigners. That player must have completed in Asia or in Australia in the 2025 season. KBO teams may not spend more than $200,000 in those players including salary, signing bonus and buyout fee paid to the former team.
The league made changes to the pitch clock; 18 seconds will be given with bases empty and 23 seconds will be given with (a) base(s) occupied.
Shinhan Bank has agreed to serve as the title sponsor of the KBO League, until at least 2037. It is the country's largest sports sponsorship deal to date. Shinhan Bank will pay KRâ© 15 billion (US$ 77.7 million) to keep the designation during the 2028âÂÂ2037 league season. Shinhan Bank has agreed to assist both the national and youth baseball teams as part of the agreement.
On December 22, 2025, Song Sung-mun (3B) of the Heroes signed a four-year, $15 million deal with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. Song will receive an additional $1 million signing bonus in two installments. Song's deal includes a $4 million player option for 2029 and a $7 million mutual option for 2030 with a $1 million buyout.
On February 23, 2026 KBO announced a statement regarding four Giants players (Ko Seung-min, Kim Dong-hyeok, Kim Se-min, and Na Seung-yeop). They allegedly visited a gambling arcade during spring training in Taiwan. According to the statement, the disciplinary committee confirmed that Kim Dong-hyeok had visited the location three times since last year and was therefore suspended for 50 games. Ko Seung-min, Kim Se-min, and Na Seung-yeop who were each confirmed to have visited once were suspended for 30 games.
On the same day, the Eagles signed Roh Si-hwan (3B) to an 11-year extension worth up to KRâ© 30.7 billion (US$ 21.3 million) including an option and release clause allowing him to move to the MLB via the posting system after 2026. This contract is the longest and most expensive deal in KBO history.
All KBO teams took part in Spring Training games in Taiwan, Japan and the United States. Teams played against CPBL, NPB, and MLB teams.
The South Korean national team played exhibition games in Okinawa, Japan with some KBO teams to prepare for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The Chinese Taipei national team played the Heroes to prepare for the WBC and was held in Taipei, Taiwan.
These are the final preseason standings.
The preseason started on March 12 and ended on March 24.
The regular season began on March 28 and will end on September 6. Like previous seasons, each team will play 144 games, facing every other team 16 times. Games are played every day except Mondays.
Updated on 1 April 2026.
Note: Draw results are ignored by the league when calculating win percentage and games behind.
<small>Note: All dates and times are in KST (Korea Standard Time).</small>
Like in previous all-star games, the ten KBO teams are divided into two All-Star teams: the Nanum All-Stars (ëÂÂëÂÂ) and the Dream All-Stars (ëÂÂ림). The all-star game will be hosted at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on July 11.
The starting players (candidates) from each team are voted by fans and KBO players, which leads to a score. The players with the highest score are selected.
The most voted infielders and pitchers within their position group play in the game. The top 3 outfielders play in available positions, regardless if they are all on the same team.
The teams who appeared in the previous year's Korean Series provide their manager respectively for their all-star team.
Other players in the all-star vote may also appear later in the all-star game.