Continuing the tradition of providing a fun and exciting tournament-style experience to youth athletes in underserved communities, the 2026 Little League® Urban Initiative Jamborees are once again set to take place with eight events.
Among the eight different locations hosting an event in 2026 will be Mamie Johnson Little League in Washington, D.C., with the East Region Major Softball Jamboree on May 15-17. Named after Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, who made a name for herself in the early 1950s when the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues signed her as their new right-handed pitcher, the program is rooted in providing girls and boys a place to play the game they love. For the last couple of years, the league has hosted a softball jamboree, inviting teams from other states for the opportunity to travel to the city to compete.
“Take advantage of the travel opportunities that come with being an Urban Initiative league, if you can. By participating in a Little League Urban Initiative Jamboree, you’re giving the players a chance to see leagues from other communities and states,” said League President, Keith Barnes. “The first year that our league did it, we went to the Bronx and were able to see teams from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Since then, every year, I get asked when we are going back because it’s the event that the kids look forward to, finally being of age to participate in. This year, I had a player who was six years old when his brother went to the Jamboree, and now, six years later, he is of age to go play. That was a really cool full-circle moment for me.”
Below are the dates and locations for the 2026 Little League Urban Initiative Jamborees:
- April 10-12: California Major Baseball Jamboree (San Diego, Calif.)
- April 17-19: California Major Softball Jamboree (Highland, Calif.)
- May 1-3: Florida State Minor Baseball Jamboree (Clearwater, Fla.)
- May 15-17:
- East Region Major Softball Jamboree (Washington, D.C.)
- Texas State Minor Baseball Jamboree (Houston, Texas)
- May 29-31: New Mexico State Minor Baseball Jamboree (Isleta, N.M.)
- June 12-14: New York Metro Major Baseball Jamboree (Bronx, N.Y.)
- June 26-28: Central Region Major Baseball Jamboree (Chicago, Ill.)
Inspired by the Little League World Series, the Little League Urban Initiative Jamboree was first established in 2004 with one national tournament, and in 2010, it was expanded to region-based events. At these Jamborees, teams compete in a weekend-long tournament with the championship game typically being played on Sunday afternoon.
About Little League® Urban Initiative
Established in 1999 to provide opportunities for groups in underserved communities to reap the benefits of having local Little League programs in their neighborhoods, the Little League Urban Initiative has helped tens of thousands of children and volunteers in cities throughout the United States. These Jamborees are unique events to bring players from local programs that benefit from the support of the Urban Initiative together for a weekend of camaraderie and competition.
An important piece of Little League’s continued strategic efforts around access and experience, the Little League Urban Initiative has provided opportunities for underserved communities to have access to Little League programs, which have benefited tens of thousands of children and volunteers across the country since its creation. The program gives opportunities to over 50,000 players and 4,000 Little League teams and has helped complete nearly 30 field renovation projects around the country during that time. In recent years, the Urban Initiative has also seen continued support through the organization’s Official Sponsors, thanks to programs like the T-Mobile Little League Call Up Grant, DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation Grants, and the Gatorade Hydration Kit program.
To learn more about how to get involved in one of these events, or to start an Urban Initiative program in your community, please email Demiko Ervin, Director of the Urban Initiative, at [email protected].