Johnston County Little League of Clayton, North Carolina won the 2026 Little League Softball World Series, beating Owensboro, Kentucky 2-0 in the championship game on Sunday, August 9, 2026. Lake Mary, Florida took third place with a 5-4 win over Toms River, New Jersey.
The 2026 Little League Softball World Series ran August 2 to August 9, 2026, at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, North Carolina. Twelve teams, eight United States regional champions and four international champions, play a double-elimination tournament split into two six-team pods, the Purple bracket and the Orange bracket, with the two bracket winners meeting in the final on Sunday, August 9. For the first time, all 22 games air on the ESPN family of networks, and admission to every game is free. Grab the printable bracket below and follow every game to the championship.
2026 Little League Softball World Series: Quick Facts
Last updated: August 9, 2026
- Event: 2026 Little League Softball World Series
- Dates: August 2 – August 9, 2026
- Site: Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park, Greenville, North Carolina
- Teams: 12 (8 United States regional champions, 4 international)
- Format: Double elimination in two six-team pods, the Purple bracket and the Orange bracket, then a single championship game
- Opening game: Sunday, August 2, 10:00 AM ET, Snohomish, Washington vs Lake Mary, Florida (Orange bracket)
- TV: All 22 games on the ESPN family of networks, mostly ESPN2, with the championship on ABC (first year of full ESPN linear coverage)
- Championship: Sunday, August 9, 2026, 3:00 PM ET on ABC
- Champion: Johnston County Little League of Clayton, North Carolina, who beat Owensboro, Kentucky 2-0 on August 9
Free printable 2026 Little League Softball World Series bracket
Print the double-elimination bracket and fill it in as the games are played. It has the United States bracket, the International bracket, and the championship game, with room to write in teams and scores.
2026 Little League Softball World Series: teams and site
The Little League Softball World Series is played at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, North Carolina, its home since 2020. The field is set through regional play across the United States and international regions during July, with each region sending its champion to Greenville. You can follow the official field and results at the Little League Softball World Series home page.
Eight United States regional champions and four international champions make up the 12-team field, drawn into two six-team pods. Little League randomly drew the first-round pairings on June 9, 2026, and has released the full game schedule. Most regional tournaments finish in late July, so several team names fill in shortly before play begins on August 2. Four teams are already confirmed: Emilia Romagna Little League of Bologna, Italy in the Europe and Africa slot, Johnston County Little League of Clayton, North Carolina as the host North Carolina champion, Guayama Softball Little League of Guayama, Puerto Rico in the Latin America slot, and Kinki Softball Little League of Sangō, Japan in the Asia-Pacific slot.
2026 Little League Softball World Series brackets
Orange bracket: Canada (On Field LLS LL, Repentigny, Quebec), Europe and Africa (Emilia Romagna LL, Bologna, Italy), North Carolina (Johnston County LL, Clayton, North Carolina), Northwest (Snohomish, Washington), Southeast (Lake Mary, Florida), and Southwest (Helotes, Texas).
Purple bracket: Asia-Pacific (Sangō, Japan), Central (Owensboro, Kentucky), Latin America (Guayama Softball LL, Guayama, Puerto Rico), Mid-Atlantic (Toms River, New Jersey), New England (Bristol, Connecticut), and West (Live Oak, California).
2026 Little League Softball Regionals
Eight US regionals decide which teams join the international qualifiers at the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina (August 2 to 9, 2026). The regionals run July 17 to 23 on ESPN and ESPN2, with one team advancing from each region.
| Region | Host Site | Champion |
|---|---|---|
| Central | Whitestown, IN | Owensboro, Kentucky |
| Southeast | Warner Robins, GA | Lake Mary, Florida |
| Southwest | Waco, TX | Helotes, Texas |
| Mid-Atlantic | Bristol, CT | Toms River, New Jersey |
| New England | Bristol, CT | Bristol, Connecticut |
| Northwest | San Bernardino, CA | Snohomish, Washington |
| West | San Bernardino, CA | Live Oak, California |
| North Carolina | Clayton, NC | Clayton, North Carolina |
See also our 2026 Little League Baseball Regionals schedule and printable.
2026 Little League Softball World Series schedule
The full 2026 game schedule is set. All times are Eastern Time, and all 22 games air on the ESPN family of networks, mostly on ESPN2, with several games on ESPN and the World Series championship on ABC. Team names fill in as regional champions are decided, so every region label below now shows its qualified team.
| Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, August 2 – opening round | |||
| Game 1 (Orange) | Lake Mary, Florida 14, Snohomish, Washington 0 (Final) | 10:00 AM | ESPN2 |
| Game 2 (Purple) | Sangō, Japan 4, Toms River, New Jersey 1 (Final) | 1:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Game 3 (Purple) | Owensboro, Kentucky 11, Live Oak, California 1 (Final) | 4:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Game 4 (Orange) | Clayton, North Carolina 16, Repentigny, Quebec 4 (Final, played Monday, August 3) | 7:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Monday, August 3 | |||
| Game 5 (Purple) | Guayama, Puerto Rico 7, Sangō, Japan 2 (Final) | 10:00 AM | ESPN2 |
| Game 6 (Orange) | Lake Mary, Florida 15, Bologna, Italy 0 (Final) | 1:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Game 7 (Orange) | Clayton, North Carolina 2, Helotes, Texas 1 (Final) | 4:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Game 8 (Purple) | Owensboro, Kentucky 15, Bristol, Connecticut 1 (Final) | 7:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Tuesday, August 4 – elimination games | |||
| Game 9 | Snohomish, Washington 7, Helotes, Texas 3 (Final, Helotes, Texas eliminated) | 10:00 AM | ESPN2 |
| Game 10 | Toms River, New Jersey 13, Bristol, Connecticut 3 (Final, Bristol, Connecticut eliminated) | 1:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Game 11 | Sangō, Japan 1, Live Oak, California 0 (Final, Live Oak, California eliminated) | 4:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Game 12 | Repentigny, Quebec 2, Bologna, Italy 1 (Final, Bologna, Italy eliminated) | 7:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Wednesday, August 5 | |||
| Game 13 | Toms River, New Jersey 11, Sangō, Japan 0 (Final, Sangō, Japan eliminated) | 10:00 AM | ESPN2 |
| Game 14 | Snohomish, Washington 9, Repentigny, Quebec 1 (Final, Repentigny, Quebec eliminated) | 1:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Thursday, August 6 | |||
| Game 15 | Clayton, North Carolina 5, Lake Mary, Florida 2 (Final) | 1:00 PM | ESPN |
| Game 16 | Owensboro, Kentucky 2, Guayama, Puerto Rico 0 (Final) | 5:00 PM | ESPN |
| Friday, August 7 | |||
| Game 17 | Lake Mary, Florida 5, Snohomish, Washington 0 (Final, Snohomish, Washington eliminated) | 3:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Game 18 | Toms River, New Jersey 4, Guayama, Puerto Rico 0 (Final, Guayama, Puerto Rico eliminated) | 6:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Saturday, August 8 – bracket finals | |||
| Game 19 (Purple final) | Owensboro, Kentucky 2, Toms River, New Jersey 1 (Final, Toms River, New Jersey eliminated) | 2:00 PM | ESPN |
| Game 20 (Orange final) | Clayton, North Carolina 4, Lake Mary, Florida 0 (Final, Lake Mary, Florida eliminated) | 5:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Sunday, August 9 | |||
| Game 21 (third place) | Lake Mary, Florida 5, Toms River, New Jersey 4 (Final) | 10:00 AM | ESPN |
| Game 22 (championship) | Clayton, North Carolina 2, Owensboro, Kentucky 0 (Final) | 3:00 PM | ABC |
Note: matchups shown as Winner or Loser of a game are decided as the bracket plays out. Home and away designations are set by coin flip at the manager briefings before the tournament. A region listed without a team is replaced by its champion once that regional tournament ends.
How the 2026 Little League Softball World Series bracket works
The 12 teams are split into two six-team pods, the Purple bracket and the Orange bracket, with each pod mixing United States and international regions. Each bracket plays double elimination, so a team is not out until it loses twice. The Purple bracket winner and the Orange bracket winner meet in the championship game on Sunday, August 9, and the two losing bracket finalists meet in a third-place game earlier that day. The printable bracket above has room to write in teams and scores as the games are played.
How to watch the 2026 Little League Softball World Series
Every game is on the ESPN family of networks in 2026, the first year all 22 Little League Softball World Series games are carried on ESPN linear television. Championship weekend receives the widest coverage. Admission to every game at Stallings Stadium is free.
Related Little League and softball resources
- 2026 Little League World Series (Baseball) Schedule and Bracket
- 2026 Women’s College World Series Schedule and Bracket
- 2026 MLB Playoff Schedule and Bracket
Frequently asked questions: 2026 Little League Softball World Series
When is the 2026 Little League Softball World Series?
It runs from Sunday, August 2 through Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, North Carolina.
How many teams play in the Little League Softball World Series?
Twelve teams: eight United States regional champions and four international champions. They are split into a Purple bracket and an Orange bracket of six teams each.
How does the Little League Softball World Series bracket work?
Each bracket plays double elimination, so a team must lose twice to be eliminated. The Purple bracket winner and the Orange bracket winner meet in the championship game on August 9.
What channel is the 2026 Little League Softball World Series on?
All 22 games air on the ESPN family of networks in 2026, the first year of full ESPN linear coverage, with the widest coverage on championship weekend.
How much do tickets cost?
Admission to all games at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park is free.
What are the Purple and Orange brackets?
For 2026, the 12 teams are drawn into two six-team pods called the Purple bracket and the Orange bracket, rather than a United States bracket and an International bracket. Each pod mixes United States and international regions, and the two pod winners meet for the title on August 9.
