Key Takeaways:
- All 22 games of the Little League Softball® World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, set to air on ESPN linear platforms for the first time in event history, furthering the joint commitment and investment into the game.
- More than 340 games set to air on ESPN Platforms with the full slate of games kicking off on Friday, July 17 with Little League Softball® Central and Southeast Region games.
- Panama and Curaçao to join Australia, Canada, Japan, and Mexico with direct entry to the 2026 Little League Baseball® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile
- More than 4,000 highlights from the games were shared on Little League digital platforms in 2025.
- First-Round matchups for the Little League® Baseball and Softball World Series available in mid-June, with additional information about promotional days, special guests, and more being shared throughout the summer.
- Little League® International continues its investment into the overall tournament experience, covering the housing, travel for international and domestic teams, and accommodations for all teams who compete at all seven World Series tournaments, totaling approximately $12.5 million in operating expenses each year.
The official schedules and websites for the 2026 Little League® Region and World Series tournaments are officially live at LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries and the mobile app is available to download for both iOS and Android by visiting LittleLeague.org/LLWSApp. Announced earlier this year, one of the marquis spotlights of this year’s tournament will feature all 22 games of the Little League Softball World Series airing across linear platforms for the first time in the event’s history, showcasing the joint commitment and investment into the game.
With the first of more than 340 broadcasted games set to be played on Friday, July 17, the Little League Softball U.S. Region Tournaments kicks off the tournament broadcast schedule with the Central and Southeast Region games on ESPN+ starting at Noon ET (note all days, times, and networks subject to change).
Over the course of six weeks this summer, all the Little League Baseball and Softball U.S. Region Tournaments, as well as every game from each of the seven Little League World Series tournaments will be broadcast across ESPN Platforms, once again culminating with the Championship Games of both the Little League Softball World Series Championship, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods (August 9), and Little League Baseball World Series, Presented by T-Mobile (August 30), on ABC.
In 2025, more than 4,000 highlights from the Region and World Series games were shared across Little League’s digital and social media channels, bringing the fun and excitement of the world’s largest youth sports tournament to the homes of millions of fans around the world all summer long.
The first Region Champion for the 2026 World Series events has already officially been named, with David Doleguita Little League (Chiriquí, Panamá) being crowned Panama Region Champion to earn the first of 20 spots at the LLBWS. Earlier this year, Panama and Curaçao were announced to have direct entry to the 2026 LLBWS, joining Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan – as well as the Region Champions from Asia-Pacific, Caribbean, Europe and Africa, and Latin America, to make up the field of 10 international teams competing in the event. With international region champions continuing to be crowned over the coming months, the full list of first-round matchups for both the 2026 Little League Baseball and Softball World Series events will be made available on LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries in mid-June. Additional dates of interest, including fan experience and promotional days, as well as special guests and appearances, will also be shared closer to the start of the event.
Each year, Little League International pledges its commitment to covering the housing, travel for international and domestic teams, and accommodations for all teams who compete at all seven World Series tournaments, an investment totaling more than $12.5 million annually, with the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport costing approximately $7.5 million alone, as part of Little League’s overall annual operating budget. To learn more about these efforts, or if you are interested in donating to support Little League International in providing the best possible experience for fans, families, volunteers, and coaches, visit LittleLeague.org/Impact.
Whether making your first trip to check off a bucket-list experience, or returning for a milestone celebration, visiting any of the seven Little League World Series tournaments and their respective region tournaments is an experience unlike any other. To learn more about booking your trip, and information about hotels, transportation, and more, be sure to click the “visitor” tab on each of the respective World Series websites or by visiting the Region Tournament landing page you are interested in.
To stay up-to-date with all the news and information leading up to and throughout the Little League World Series, be sure to bookmark LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries and follow along across all of Little League’s official social media channels (@LittleLeague) with #LLWS all summer long. Also, be sure to download the Mobile App (LittleLeague.org/LLWSApp) to receive notifications and take advantage of the exclusive opportunities both on site in Williamsport and Greenville and from the comfort of your own home.