2026 LLWS: Complete Schedule, Teams & How to Watch Live
The Ultimate Kid’s Guide to the 2026 Little League World Series
Hey there, future baseball fan! Grab your glove and a snack—we’re about to take a trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where the biggest youth baseball tournament on the planet happens every summer. This guide breaks down everything you need to know in plain English.
When Does the Fun Start?
Mark your calendars! The 2026 Little League World Series (LLWS) runs for 12 awesome days:
- First Pitch: Wednesday, August 19
- Championship Game: Sunday, August 30
Special Events You Won’t Want to Miss
| Date | Event | Why It’s Cool |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Aug 23 | MLB Little League Classic | Real Major Leaguers (Brewers vs. Braves!) play a game at a tiny, historic stadium—right in the middle of the kids’ tournament. |
| Saturday, Aug 29 | Challenger Division Exhibition Game | A heartwarming showcase game for kids with physical and intellectual disabilities. Everyone cheers! |
Where Is It Happening?
Williamsport, Pennsylvania—the only place the LLWS has ever been held. Two stadiums sit right next to each other:
| Stadium | What Happens There |
|---|---|
| Howard J. Lamade Stadium | All U.S. vs. U.S. games, 2 international games, the 3rd-place game, and the Championship! |
| Volunteer Stadium | The rest of the international games. |
Fun Fact: Lamade Stadium can hold over 40,000 fans (including the hillside berm seats). That’s a lot of peanut shells!
How Can I Watch?
You’ve got options—no cable? No problem!
| Platform | What You Get |
|---|---|
| ESPN / ESPN2 / ABC | Every single game on TV. |
| Watch ESPN / ESPN App | Stream live on your phone, tablet, or computer. |
Heads Up: All times in the schedule below are Eastern Time (ET). Adjust if you’re in a different time zone!
How Does the Tournament Work? (The "Not-So-Simple" Bracket)
Since 2022, 20 teams compete (up from 16). Here’s the deal in plain English:
- Two Sides: 10 U.S. teams on one side, 10 International teams on the other.
- The "Play-In" Twist: 4 teams on each side start with an extra game. 2 other teams on each side wait to see who they play.
- Double Elimination: Once the bracket settles, lose once → you’re not out yet. Lose twice → you go home.
- The Final Showdown:
- U.S. Championship winner vs. International Championship winner.
- Winner takes the title!
Want to see the actual bracket? Click here for the official interactive bracket.
Meet the 2026 U.S. Teams
| Region | Hometown (League) |
|---|---|
| Great Lakes | Hamilton, Ohio |
| Metro | Bayonne, New Jersey |
| Mid-Atlantic | West Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Midwest | Davenport, Iowa |
| Mountain | Henderson, Nevada |
| New England | Bridgewater, Massachusetts |
| Northwest | Tacoma, Washington |
| Southeast | Phenix City, Alabama |
| Southwest | Boerne, Texas |
| West | Bonita, California |
Meet the 2026 International Teams
| Region | Hometown (League) |
|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific | Seoul, South Korea |
| Australia | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Canada | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Caribbean | Santiago, Dominican Republic |
| Curaçao | Willemstad, Curaçao |
| Europe & Africa | Brno, Czechia |
| Japan | Tokyo, Japan |
| Latin America | León, Nicaragua |
| Mexico | Tijuana, Baja California |
| Panama | Chiriquí, Panama |
Full Day-by-Day Schedule (All Times ET)
Wednesday, Aug 19 – Opening Day!
- Game 1: Latin America vs. Caribbean — 1 PM, ESPN
- Game 2: Southeast vs. Northwest — 3 PM, ESPN
- Game 3: Canada vs. Asia-Pacific — 5 PM, ESPN
- Game 4: Metro vs. New England — 7 PM, ESPN
Thursday, Aug 20
- Game 5: Australia vs. Mexico — 12 PM, ESPN
- Game 6: Great Lakes vs. Mountain — 2 PM, ESPN
- Game 7: Curaçao vs. Japan — 4 PM, ESPN
- Game 8: West vs. Midwest — 6 PM, ESPN2
Friday, Aug 21 – "The Wait is Over" Games
- Game 9: Panama vs. Game 1 Winner — 1 PM, ESPN
- Game 10: Southwest vs. Game 2 Winner — 3 PM, ESPN
- Game 11: Europe-Africa vs. Game 3 Winner — 5 PM, ESPN
- Game 12: Mid-Atlantic vs. Game 4 Winner — 7 PM, ESPN
Saturday, Aug 22 – First Elimination Games (Losers Bracket Starts)
- Game 13: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 5 Loser — 1 PM, ESPN
- Game 14: Game 4 Loser vs. Game 6 Loser — 3 PM, ESPN
- Game 15: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 7 Loser — 5 PM, ESPN
- Game 16: Game 2 Loser vs. Game 8 Loser — 7 PM, ESPN
Sunday, Aug 23 – Winners Bracket Quarterfinals + MLB Classic!
- Game 17: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner — 9 AM, ESPN
- Game 18: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner — 11 AM, ESPN
- Game 19: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner — 1 PM, ABC
- Game 20: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 11 Winner — 2 PM, ESPN
Don’t forget: MLB Little League Classic (Brewers vs. Braves) at Historic Bowman Field today!
Monday, Aug 24 – Losers Bracket Round 2
- Game 21: Game 9 Loser vs. Game 13 Winner — 1 PM, ESPN
- Game 22: Game 10 Loser vs. Game 14 Winner — 3 PM, ESPN
- Game 23: Game 11 Loser vs. Game 15 Winner — 5 PM, ESPN
- Game 24: Game 12 Loser vs. Game 16 Winner — 7 PM, ESPN
Tuesday, Aug 25 – Losers Bracket Quarterfinals
- Game 25: Game 18 Loser vs. Game 23 Winner — 1 PM, ESPN
- Game 26: Game 17 Loser vs. Game 24 Winner — 3 PM, ESPN
- Game 27: Game 20 Loser vs. Game 21 Winner — 5 PM, ESPN
- Game 28: Game 19 Loser vs. Game 22 Winner — 7 PM, ESPN
Wednesday, Aug 26 – Semifinals (Both Brackets)
- Game 29: Game 18 Winner vs. Game 20 Winner — 1 PM, ESPN (Int’l Winners Bracket Final)
- Game 30: Game 17 Winner vs. Game 19 Winner — 3 PM, ESPN (U.S. Winners Bracket Final)
- Game 31: Game 25 Winner vs. Game 27 Winner — 5 PM, ESPN (Int’l Losers Bracket Final)
- Game 32: Game 26 Winner vs. Game 28 Winner — 7 PM, ESPN (U.S. Losers Bracket Final)
Thursday, Aug 27 – "Win or Go Home" Games
- Game 33: Game 29 Loser vs. Game 31 Winner — 3 PM, ESPN (International Final 4)
- Game 34: Game 30 Loser vs. Game 32 Winner — 7 PM, ESPN (U.S. Final 4)
Saturday, Aug 29 – Championship Saturday!
- International Championship: Game 29 Winner vs. Game 33 Winner — 12:30 PM, ABC
- U.S. Championship: Game 30 Winner vs. Game 34 Winner — 3:30 PM, ABC
Sunday, Aug 30 – The Grand Finale!
- Consolation Game (3rd Place): Int’l Champ Loser vs. U.S. Champ Loser — 10 AM, ESPN
- LLWS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Int’l Champ Winner vs. U.S. Champ Winner — 3 PM, ABC
Important Things to Remember
DOUBLE ELIMINATION = SECOND CHANCES
A team loses its first game? They drop to the "Losers Bracket" but keep playing. Only a second loss sends them home. This makes for dramatic comebacks!TWO SEPARATE TOURNAMENTS… UNTIL THE END
U.S. teams only play U.S. teams. International teams only play International teams. They don’t face each other until the Championship Game on Aug 30.NETWORKS SWITCH
Early rounds: ESPN/ESPN2. Championship Weekend (Aug 29-30): ABC. Make sure you know where to look!TIME ZONES MATTER
All times listed are Eastern (ET). If you’re in California, subtract 3 hours. In Hawaii, subtract 6!
Quick Summary
The 2026 Little League World Series brings 20 teams (10 U.S., 10 International) to Williamsport, PA from Aug 19–30. Games air on ESPN/ESPN2/ABC (stream on ESPN App). The tournament uses a 20-team, double-elimination bracket where U.S. and International sides stay separate until the Championship Game on Aug 30 at 3 PM ET on ABC. Don’t miss the MLB Little League Classic (Brewers vs. Braves) on Aug 23!
FAQ: Your Burning Questions, Answered
1. How old are the players?
All players are 10 to 12 years old (league age). That means they turn 10, 11, or 12 during the current calendar year (2026).
2. How does a team get to Williamsport?
It’s a long road! Teams win their local league → District → Sectional → State → Regional tournament. The 10 U.S. Regional champs and 10 International Regional champs earn the trip.
3. What’s the "MLB Little League Classic"?
It’s a real Major League Baseball game (this year: Brewers vs. Braves) played at Historic Bowman Field—a tiny, charming minor-league park—on Sunday, Aug 23. The LLWS kids get to watch, and the big leaguers wear cool throwback uniforms.
4. Can I go to the games in person?
YES! Tickets are FREE (first-come, first-served for most games). Championship weekend tickets are distributed via a random lottery months in advance. Check LittleLeague.org for details.
5. Who won last year (2025)?
The provided content doesn’t include the 2025 champion. For the most recent winner, check the official Little League website or sports news archives.
Batter Up!
Now you’re officially an expert on the 2026 Little League World Series. Whether you’re rooting for the hometown heroes from West Chester, PA, the powerhouse from Tokyo, Japan, or the underdogs from Brno, Czechia—you’ve got the schedule, the format, and the inside scoop.
Grab a hot dog, find your spot on the couch (or the berm!), and enjoy the best kids’ baseball on Earth.
Play Ball!