The much-anticipated Opening Day for the Washington Nationals is set for Friday, April 3. This marks a significant occasion as D.C.’s nearly two-decade-old stadium welcomes the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning World Series champions featuring Shohei Ohtani, the highest-paid player in MLB history.
Throughout the lengthy baseball season, fans will find an array of food and beverage options available in the 41,000-seat venue located at 1500 S. Capitol Street SE. The concessions lineup for the 2026 season includes popular D.C. favorites such as Cotton & Reed and the return of funnel cake kiosks. However, there will be significant changes this year as several vendors like Lucky Danger, Dog Tag Bakery, Mush, Phowheels, and Pratt Standard Cocktail Co. will not be returning. A notable newcomer is Connecticut’s renowned thin-crust pizza joint, Colony Grill, which has been serving up delicious pies for nearly a century and also operates locations in Arlington and Potomac. Additionally, Baltimore’s own Stuggy’s will introduce its crabby hot dogs, along with an expanded setup for Maryland-based Ssong’s Hotdogs and the popular mid-Atlantic dessert brand Rita’s Italian Ice.
For fans attending games on Tuesdays, there will be ongoing discounts, including $5 hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, nachos, fountain sodas, and 12-ounce domestic beers. An expanded variety of grab-and-go marketplaces will be available throughout the park, allowing patrons to quickly select and purchase food and drinks using a touchless checkout system enhanced with camera technology.
District Drafts returns for its 15th year, providing a selection of beers brewed locally across six stands within the park. Additional bars located in various areas of the stadium feature notable brands like Virginia’s Devil’s Backbone, Stella, and Cutwater Spirits. For those interested in sports betting, BetMGM has established a large sportsbook bar connected to the stadium.
The home opener for D.C.’s 2019 World Series champions is scheduled to kick off at 1:05 p.m. against the Dodgers. The event will include special festivities featuring the iconic Clydesdale horses from Budweiser and a dramatic F-16 flyover. Additionally, Nationals Park will host a summer concert series this year, with performances by Bruce Springsteen and the Foo Fighters, among others.
Fans can look forward to a variety of experiences inside Nationals Park during the 2026 season.
With numerous local businesses participating in the ballpark’s concessions and beverage programs, it remains easy for fans to enjoy local flavors (check out the complete list of Nats Park vendors). Returning local favorites include:
On the other hand, several stalls that used to feature seasoned pretzels (Moore Crunch), spicy popcorn (Party of), and meat offerings (Steak of the Union) will not be present this year. The Washington Nationals, in collaboration with hospitality firm Levy Restaurants, continues to provide other in-house dining options, such as Chesapeake Crab Cake Co., which serves a variety of crab-based dishes like crab cake sandwiches, crabby dogs, crab pretzels, and Chesapeake nachos in Section 109.
