Born in Williamsport, and alive today all around the world, the Little League® program showed its global reach at its 29th Little League International Congress at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis on February 6-9, 2026.
The four-day event united volunteers from around the world to learn about the future of the Little League program, share stories from within their own communities, and, most importantly, learn and network with each other.
After a registration period where the attendees were greeted by their region staff and provided a welcome backpack and information about the weekend, the event kicked off with a variety of preliminary sessions available to early attendees, including New District Administrator (D.A.) Training and a “Culture Shaping for Leaders” session by Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA).
Opening Ceremonies
The official kickoff for the weekend came with the event’s Opening Ceremonies, featuring Jenny Dalton-Hill, 2022 Little League Hall of Excellence Inductee, as the MC for the night and a retrospective video highlighting the last four years.
Understanding the importance of being child-first and the value of our own Little Leaguers® perspectives, Dalton-Hill began the night’s activities with a Player Panel Discussion, featuring current baseball and softball players from the Indianapolis area and 2025 Little League Softball® World Series Championship pitcher Reagan Bills.
Following the fun and inspiring conversation with the players, Dalton-Hill was joined on stage by Kim Ng, AUSL Commissioner, and Liz DiLullo Brown, Little League Executive Vice President and Chief Business and Relationship Officer, to talk about the future of Girls with Game® and the overall growth of softball.
Before the night concluded, Little League presented Ng with the 2026 Little League International Chairman’s Award, given to Athletes Unlimited in recognition of their contribution and dedicated service to the Little League program.
Hospitality Mixer, Presented by A.D. Starr
To end the opening night of the event, attendees were invited down to the Exhibit Hall and Official Store for a Hospitality Mixer, Presented by A.D. Starr, the official baseball and softball of the Little League World Series.
Volunteer Recognition Breakfast
Day two of the weekend opened with a recognition of all the D.A.s in attendance, including a special recognition for the District Administrators receiving the 2026 Little League International Meritorious Service Award, as well as the Assistant District Administrators receiving the A.D.A. Little League International Commendation.
Following a celebration of service for Janice Christensen, who recently retired after 50 years of volunteering with the Little League program, Patrick Wilson, Little League President and CEO, was joined on stage by eight members of the Little League International Board of Directors for a conversation series.
In his closing notes, Wilson left the group with a question:
“In your role as a District Administrator or Assistant District Administrator, what vision do you have for Little League that drives sustainable progress – what is the progress that will bring our mission and values to life in thousands of communities around the world?” asked Wilson. “As you think about it, I want you to hold onto those thoughts and share those with me either here this weekend or by email over the next few weeks, because the presentations over the next few days will challenge and expand how we think about turning that vision into action.”
With those thoughts in mind, there was one final surprise as Wilson presented the 2026 Little League President’s Award to Carlos Pagan, Little League Latin America Region Director.
Before rounding out the morning’s event, two volunteers were recognized with the presentation of the Peter J. McGovern Distinguished Service Award, recognizing the special efforts of an individual(s) who has embraced the ideals of Little League, and in turn, exemplifies the benefits of children learning life lessons through playing Little League Baseball and Softball.
Educational Sessions
Throughout the weekend, the attendees had the opportunity to enjoy one of four educational sessions to help provide guidance on how to support their leagues throughout the course of the 2026 season and beyond:
- Elevating the Tournament Experience: Best Practices for District Administrators
- Central Registration 2027: The Transition from Sports Connect to PlayMetrics
- League Voices: Insights and Actions from League and Community Visits Around the World
- Transitioning to SAFE: The Evolution of Safety Initiatives in Little League
In addition to the above, Umpires-in-Chief who were in attendance had a special session with Stu Hartenstein, Little League Director of Umpire Development and Education, and Gerry Davis, Little League Senior Umpire Consultant, to highlight program updates, educate on how to build a Junior Umpire Program, and engage in focused conversations on simplifying and strengthening the training process, identifying what matters most, and reducing the sense of being overwhelmed.
Strategic Planning Sessions
A key focus for the weekend’s activities, the attendees were given a sneak peek to learn more about the research that has been done to date, learnings from the interviews done with volunteers and parents, as well as the direction that the organization is working towards as it finalizes its next strategic plan. Following the marquis session, attendees also had the opportunity to attend each of the four strategic breakout sessions for the weekend, focused on:
- Recruiting New Little Leaguers and Keeping Them in the Program
- Strengthening Softball
- Keeping Players in the Little League Ecosystem
- Enhancing Tee Ball and Player Development
Region Meetings and D.A. Elections
A staple of the Congress events, Region-Specific meetings were held for the volunteers to gather together, celebrate achievements, and discuss any needs with their respective Region staff members. During the East and West Region meetings, the respective District Administrators (D.A.s) in attendance elected Carmine Conti and Rick Duarte to be nominated to the Little League International Board of Directors as their new Field Directors for the Board, who will take over for John Berardi and Martin Hoover as their four-year terms conclude in November 2026.
Closing Celebration and Keynote Address
Following an exciting weekend full of knowledge, data, and insights into the future, the weekend concluded with a celebration luncheon to thank all the volunteers in attendance, featuring a keynote address by Steve Shenbaum, who got his start on the baseball fields at West Covina (Calif.) Little League.
To learn more about the 2026 Little League International Congress, including daily recaps from the entire weekend’s activities, visit LittleLeague.org/Congress or download the free Congress Mobile App.