Pirates Fan's Guide to 2026 PiratesFest

There are also three Pirates returners that won't make it to Pittsburgh for the event, in catcher Joey Bart, right fielder Bryan Reynolds and right-handed relief pitcher Dennis Santana.

All of these players were scheduled for autograph sessions, but will now not make it.

The Pirates announced that they will announced new session participants at a later time and that they will refund all autograph donations, which were going to Pirates Charities. The Pirates also asked fans to hold onto their ticket, as they will honor them for those who are still signing autographs.

Who is Signing Autographs?

Pittsburgh won't have those six players signing autographs, but is still hosting autograph sessions with a number of players, present and past.

Pirates players will sign autographs in two sessions over four different time slots, wiht the first three time slots at 90 minutes each and the last slot just one hour to accomodate the new end time.. Those time slots include 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Each autograph time slot will have two different time slots with three players each session, including two players and one Pirates alumni. These sessions should last 45 minutes long each.

All autographs have sent out, but there are chances for Pirates fans 14 years or younger to get free autographs.

10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Pirates Players at PiratesFest

There are also many players still coming to PiratesFest, showing up for speaker sessions, signing autographs and participating in various activities.

Starting Pitchers

Relief Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Notable Pirates Absences From PiratesFest

The Pirates also had a few players that won't show up to PiratesFest that weren't scheduled for the event.

Pirates right-handed starting pitcher Paul Skenes has the 101st New York Baseball Writers’ Gala, or the BBWA Awards Dinner, in New York City on the same day as PiratesFest.

The dinner will honor Skenes and other top players in baseball as the 2025 National League Cy YoungAward. He also attended the event last season after winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

A spokesperson with the Pirates said that scheduling PiratesFest at the David L. Lawrence Convention center takes place more than a year in advance, so working around this conflict is quite difficult.

Shortstop Konnor Griffin, the top prospect in baseball, also won't cometo PiratesFest, as he just celebrated his wedding last weekend with his wife, Dendy, and the two are on their honeymoon,according to his mother Kim.

Fellow top prospect in right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler also won't make it to PiratesFest this weekend, as he is closing in on a house, according to a Pirates spokesperson.

Andrew McCutchen is also not at PiratesFest, as he is a free agent and not signed with the team nor anyone else.

Three pitchers that aren't coming to PiratesFest right-handers in starter Mitch Keller and relievers in Carmen Mlodzinski and Yohan Ramírez, plus left-hander Mason Montgomery, who came in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Catcher Henry Davis, second baseman Nick Gonzales and outfielder Jack Suwinski are three other position players that won't attend PiratesFest either.

Speaker Sessions During PiratesFest

PiratesFest General Stage Programming

• 10:30 a.m. Ask Pirates Management
  Host: Greg Brown | Featuring: Travis Williams, Ben Cherington, and Don Kelly

• 11:30 a.m. Pirates Pals
  Host: Joe Klimchak | Featuring: Kyle Nicolas, Jared Jones, Nick Yorke, and Billy Cook

• 12:00 p.m. Curveball Conversations
  Host: Joe Block | Featuring: Isaac Mattson, Justin Lawrence, Matt Capps, Cam Sanders, and Endy Rodríguez

• 12:45p.m. Young Bucs
  Host: Greg Brown | Featuring: Termarr Johnson, Rafael Flores Jr., and Hunter Barco

• 1:30 p.m. Kids Press Conference
  Host: Debbie Becker | Featuring: Jared Triolo and Spencer Horwitz (Bryan Reynolds was scheduled)

• 2:30p.m. Welcome to Pittsburgh
  Host: Joe Block | Featuring: Jake Mangum (Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn were scheduled)

• 3:30 p.m.Bucs’ Bounty Podcast Live
  Hosts: Hannah Mears, Michael McKenry, and Alex Presley | Featuring: Matt Capps, Neil Walker, and Kevin Young

Season Ticket Holder Exclusive Stage Programming

• 9:15a.m. Playing for the Hometown Team on the Main Stage
  Host: Greg Brown | Featuring: Don Kelly, Isaac Mattson, and Neil Walker

• 12:00p.m. Welcome to Pittsburgh
  Host: Joe Klimchak | Featuring: Jake Mangum (Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn were scheduled)

• 2:30p.m. Cy Young Conversation
  Host: Greg Brown | Featuring: Doug Drabek and Vernon Law

Activities During PiratesFest

The Pirates will have a number of events for fans during PiratesFest that will keep them busy and entertaned throughout.

There are three baseball type events, like the "Bat Around", where fans can hit a live ball with results, "Diamond Kinetics Swing Match", which shows which MLB star your swing matches and a "Little Buccos Field" for kids to get instructions on playing the sport.

A Pirates carnival will gives fans a chance to win some prizes and play games, plus other kids activities, like Pirate Parrot bounce house, face painting, balloon artists Pirates inflatables and more.

There is a "Paul Skenes Cy Young Award Photo Area", which recreates his setup from where won his Cy Young Award back in November, that fans can take a photo in.

Pirates Charities allows fans to donate, while also getting a shot at numerous prizes, like signed baseballs, Paul Skenes autographed bobbleheads, a 50/50 raffle and other prize raffles.

Fans can buy tickets for the next season, Pirates merchandise at a pop-up Fanatics team store, plus Pirates Authentics, where they can get exclusive game-used items from their favorite players.

The Pirates also have mascots like the Pirate Parrot and the Pirates Pierogies at the convention, plus concessions from the ballpark