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The Only 2026 LLWS Guide You Need: Every Schedule, Score & Channel
The 2026 Little League World Series: Your Complete Kid-Friendly Guide
Hey there! Imagine the biggest, most exciting baseball and softball tournament for kids aged 10–12. That’s the Little League World Series! Every summer, teams from all over the U.S. and the world travel to two famous towns to play for the championship. This guide breaks down everything you need to know—schedules, how to watch, and fun extras—so you won’t miss a single home run.
What Is the Little League World Series?
Think of it like the Super Bowl for young ballplayers. There are actually two separate tournaments happening close together:
| Tournament | Sport | Number of Teams | Location | Championship Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little League Baseball World Series (LLBWS) | Baseball | 20 teams | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | August 30 |
| Little League Softball World Series (LLSWS) | Softball | 12 teams | Greenville, North Carolina | August 9 |
How it works:
- Regionals: Teams first battle in regional tournaments across the U.S. (and internationally) to earn their ticket.
- The Big Show: Winners head to Williamsport (Baseball) or Greenville (Softball).
- Double Elimination: Lose once, you’re not out yet! Lose twice, and your tournament is over.
- The Finals: The last U.S. team standing plays the last International team for the World Championship.
How to Watch Every Single Game
You can catch all the action on ESPN networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ABC) or stream live via the ESPN App/WatchESPN.
PRO TIP: Bookmark these official streams so you’re ready for first pitch!
- Watch Baseball: ESPN Baseball Stream
- Watch Softball: ESPN Softball Stream
- Official LLWS Site: LittleLeague.org/World-Series
All times listed below are Eastern Time (ET).
Little League Softball World Series Schedule (Greenville, NC)
Kicks off Sunday, August 2 – Championship Sunday, August 9.
Opening Weekend (Aug 2–3)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Matchup / Info | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2 | 10:00 AM | Game 1 | Northwest vs. Southeast | ESPN2 |
| 1:00 PM | Game 2 | Mid-Atlantic vs. Asia-Pacific | ESPN2 | |
| 4:00 PM | Game 3 | West vs. Central | ESPN2 | |
| 7:00 PM | Game 4 | Canada vs. North Carolina (Host) | ESPN2 | |
| Aug 3 | 10:00 AM | Game 5 | Latin America vs. TBD | ESPN2 |
| 1:00 PM | Game 6 | Europe-Africa vs. TBD | ESPN2 | |
| 4:00 PM | Game 7 | Southwest vs. TBD | ESPN2 | |
| 7:00 PM | Game 8 | New England vs. TBD | ESPN2 |
Mid-Week Games (Aug 4–7)
| Specific matchups depend on earlier results (TBD). | Date | Time (ET) | Games | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4 | 10 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM, 7 PM | Games 9–12 | ESPN2 | |
| Aug 5 | 10 AM, 1 PM | Games 13–14 | ESPN2 | |
| Aug 6 | 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM | Games 15–16 | ESPN | |
| Aug 7 | 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM | Games 17–18 | ESPN2 |
Championship Weekend (Aug 8–9)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8 | 3:00 PM | Game 19: Orange Bracket Final | ESPN2 |
| 6:00 PM | Game 20: Purple Bracket Final | ESPN | |
| Aug 9 | 10:00 AM | Consolation Game | ESPN |
| 3:00 PM | WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP | ABC |
Little League Baseball: U.S. Regional Tournaments
Before Williamsport, U.S. teams must win their region. Championship games are televised!
| Region | Location | Dates | Championship Game (TV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | Whitestown, IN | Aug 8–12 | Aug 12, 7 PM on ESPN2 |
| Metro | Bristol, CT | Aug 8–14 | Aug 14, 7 PM on ESPN |
| Mid-Atlantic | Bristol, CT | Aug 9–14 | Aug 14, 3 PM on ESPN |
| Midwest | Whitestown, IN | Aug 7–14 | Aug 14, 1 PM on ESPN |
| Mountain | San Bernardino, CA | Aug 8–14 | Aug 14, 5 PM on ESPN |
| New England | Bristol, CT | Aug 8–13 | Aug 13, 7 PM on ESPN |
| Northwest | San Bernardino, CA | Aug 8–13 | Aug 13, 9 PM on ESPN |
| Southeast | Warner Robins, GA | Aug 6–11 | Aug 11, 3 PM on ESPN |
| Southwest | Waco, TX | Aug 6–11 | Aug 11, 7 PM on ESPN2 |
| West | San Bernardino, CA | Aug 9–14 | Aug 14, 9 PM on ESPN |
Little League Baseball World Series Schedule (Williamsport, PA)
Main event: August 19 – August 30.
Opening Round (Aug 19–20)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Matchup | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19 | 1:00 PM | Game 1 | Latin America vs. Caribbean | ESPN |
| 3:00 PM | Game 2 | Southeast vs. Northwest | ESPN | |
| 5:00 PM | Game 3 | Canada vs. Asia-Pacific | ESPN | |
| 7:00 PM | Game 4 | Metro vs. New England | ESPN | |
| Aug 20 | 12:00 PM | Game 5 | Australia vs. Mexico | ESPN |
| 2:00 PM | Game 6 | Great Lakes vs. Mountain | ESPN | |
| 4:00 PM | Game 7 | Curaçao vs. Japan | ESPN | |
| 6:00 PM | Game 8 | West vs. Midwest | ESPN2 |
Second Round & Early Elimination (Aug 21–23)
| Date | Time (ET) | Games | Notes | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21 | 1, 3, 5, 7 PM | Games 9–12 | International & U.S. matchups (TBD) | ESPN |
| Aug 22 | 1, 3, 5, 7 PM | Games 13–16 | ESPN | |
| Aug 23 | 9, 11 AM, 1, 2 PM | Games 17–20 | Marathon Saturday! | ESPN / ABC |
| 7:10 PM | MLB LITTLE LEAGUE CLASSIC | Braves vs. Brewers at Bowman Field | ESPN |
SPECIAL EVENT ALERT: The MLB Little League Classic!
On August 23, big-league stars (Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers) play a real MLB game at historic Bowman Field right in Williamsport. The best part? They sit in the stands and cheer on the Little Leaguers earlier in the day! It airs on ESPN at 7:10 PM.
Quarterfinals & Semifinals (Aug 24–27)
| Date | Time (ET) | Games | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24 | 1, 3, 5, 7 PM | Games 21–24 | ESPN |
| Aug 25 | 1, 3, 5, 7 PM | Games 25–28 | ESPN |
| Aug 26 | 1, 3, 5, 7 PM | Games 29–32 | ESPN |
| Aug 27 | 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM | Games 33–34 (Semifinals) | ESPN |
Championship Weekend (Aug 29–30)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29 | 12:30 PM | International Championship | ABC |
| 3:30 PM | U.S. Championship | ABC | |
| Aug 30 | 10:00 AM | Consolation Game | ESPN |
| 3:00 PM | LLBWS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | ABC |
Summary: Key Dates to Circle on Your Calendar
- Softball Starts: Aug 2 (Greenville, NC)
- Baseball Regionals Start: Aug 6 (Southeast & Southwest)
- Softball Championship: Aug 9, 3 PM on ABC
- Baseball World Series Starts: Aug 19 (Williamsport, PA)
- MLB Little League Classic: Aug 23, 7:10 PM on ESPN (Braves vs. Brewers)
- U.S. & International Finals: Aug 29 on ABC
- Baseball World Championship: Aug 30, 3 PM on ABC
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. What’s the difference between the "Regionals" and the "World Series"?
Regionals are the qualifying tournaments. There are 10 U.S. regions (like "Metro," "West," "Southeast"). The winner of each region gets a golden ticket to the World Series in Williamsport. The World Series is the final tournament where those 10 U.S. champs face 10 International champs.
2. Can I watch games for free?
You need access to ESPN networks (via cable, YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Fubo, etc.) or the ESPN App with a valid TV provider login. The Championship games on ABC (Aug 9, 29, 30) are on free over-the-air broadcast TV if you have an antenna!
3. Who won last year (2025)?
Chinese Taipei won the Baseball World Series (their 18th title, first since 1996!). You can read the recap here.
4. What is the "MLB Little League Classic"?
It’s a real Major League Baseball game (counts in the standings!) played at a tiny, historic minor league stadium (Bowman Field) in Williamsport. The MLB players arrive early to watch the Little League games and hang out with the kids. It’s the coolest field trip ever.
5. Where can I find scores and highlights if I miss a game?
Go to the official hub: LittleLeague.org/World-Series or the ESPN LLWS page for real-time scores, video highlights, and brackets.
Enjoy the games! There’s nothing quite like the crack of the bat, the dust clouds at the basepaths, and the pure joy of kids playing for the love of the game.
