Little League World Series Regionals 2026: Dates, Locations & Brackets
Do you know? Only one team qualifies from the region for the LLWS in Williamsport. Every other team goes home. Thousands of All-Star teams start the summer with the same goal. By the time US regionals end on August 14, only 10 US teams survive. Ten international teams earn their spots even earlier.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| U.S. Regional Dates | August 6-14, 2026 |
| International Regional Dates | June-August 2026 |
| U.S. Regions | 10 |
| International Regions | 10 |
| Teams Advancing to LLWS | 20 |
| LLWS Begins | August 19, 2026 |
| Location | South Williamsport, PA |
The 2026 Little League World Series runs from August 19–30 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Every team on the field must first win its regional tournament to qualify. This guide covers the complete 2026 regional schedule, tournament locations, participating regions, and the path to Williamsport.
What Are the LLWS Regionals?
The Little League World Series does not simply issue invitations. Every team that reaches Williamsport must first win its regional tournament. The United States is divided into 10 regions, and the international field is also made up of 10 regions. The winner from each region earns a place in the 79th Little League World Series.
Three international teams already have confirmed spots. Little League International confirmed on January 20, 2026, that Curacao and Panama received direct entry into the 2026 tournament. That is part of a rotational system introduced in 2022. The remaining 18 spots go to regional winners.
In the United States, regional tournaments take place from August 6 to August 14. Each regional winner advances to South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where the World Series begins on August 19. Check the full 2026 LLWS schedule for opening day matchups.
How Teams Qualify for the LLWS Regionals
Every team in Williamsport follows the same path. It begins at the local level and becomes increasingly competitive at each stage. Most teams are eliminated long before they reach a regional tournament site.
Step 1: District Tournament
Each Little League selects its top players to form an All-Star team. That team enters the district tournament, competing against nearby leagues. Only one district champion advances, while all other teams are eliminated.
Step 2: Sectional Tournament
District champions move on to the sectional level, where they face other district winners. The competition tightens, and only one team advances to the state tournament.
Step 3: State Tournament
At the state level, competition becomes even more intense. Larger states such as California and Texas may hold additional rounds due to the number of teams. Ultimately, one state champion advances to the regional tournament.
Step 4: Regional Tournament
State champions from across the region meet at a central site. The winner of the regional tournament earns a coveted spot in the Little League World Series in Williamsport.
US 2026 LLWS Regionals – Full Schedule
All 10 U.S. regions play their tournaments from August 6–14. Southeast and Southwest start first, while the other regions begin on August 7 or 8. Every regional is finished by August 14.
| Region | Location | Dates | States Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | Whitestown, IN – Al-Lagan Complex | Aug 8-12 | IL, IN, KY, MI, OH |
| Metro | Bristol, CT – Breen-Burns Stadium | Aug 8-14 | NJ, NY (Metro area) |
| Mid-Atlantic | Bristol, CT – Breen-Burns Stadium | Aug 9-14 | DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA |
| Midwest | Whitestown, IN – Al-Lagan Complex | Aug 7–14 | IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI |
| Mountain | San Bernardino, CA – Al Houghton Stadium | Aug 8–14 | AZ, CO, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY |
| New England | Bristol, CT – Breen-Burns Stadium | Aug 8–13 | CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT |
| Northwest | San Bernardino, CA – Al Houghton Stadium | Aug 8–13 | AK, ID, OR, WA |
| Southeast | Warner Robins, GA – Riverbend Complex | Aug 6–11 | AL, FL, GA, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV |
| Southwest | Waco, TX – Dewlen Field Complex | Aug 6–11 | AR, LA, MS, OK, TX |
| West | San Bernardino, CA – Al Houghton Stadium | Aug 9–14 | CA, HI |
US Regional Hub Cities 2026
Little League runs US regionals out of five hub cities. Three cities host multiple regions at the same time. Each hub has a dedicated Little League complex built for tournament play.
Indiana
Whitestown, IN
Great Lakes (Aug 8–12)
Midwest (Aug 7–14)
Connecticut
Bristol, CT
Metro (Aug 8–14)
Mid-Atlantic (Aug 9–14)
New England (Aug 8–13)
California
San Bernardino, CA
Mountain (Aug 8–14)
Northwest (Aug 8–13)
West (Aug 9–14)
Georgia
Warner Robins, GA
Southeast (Aug 6–11)
Texas
Waco, TX
Southwest (Aug 6–11)
International Regional Tournaments 2026 – Full Schedule
International regions follow a different schedule from the U.S. tournaments. Several international regionals conclude in the spring or early summer, well before the U.S. regional tournaments begin. The Asia-Pacific region is the only one still listed with dates marked as “TBD.”
| Region | Location | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific | Seoul, South Korea | TBD | TBD |
| Australia | Blacktown, Australia | Jun 3–8 | Completed |
| Canada | Glace Bay, Nova Scotia | Aug 3–12 | Upcoming |
| Caribbean | Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico | Jul 11–17 | Completed |
| Curacao | Willemstad, Curacao | Mar 12–Apr 12 | Direct Entry |
| Europe and Africa | Kutno, Poland | Jul 19–26 | Completed |
| Japan | Narita, Chiba | Jul 17–19 | Completed |
| Latin America | Ciudad de Guatemala | Jul 11–17 | Completed |
| Mexico | Matamoros, Tamaulipas | Jul 11–18 | Completed |
| Panama | Ciudad de Panama | Mar 7–20 | Direct Entry |
Key Differences Between the USA and International Brackets
| Feature | US Bracket | International Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Total Teams | 10 | 10 |
| Regional Sites | Whitestown, Bristol, San Bernardino, Warner Robins, Waco | Seoul, Blacktown, Glace Bay, Puerto Rico, Poland, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Curacao |
| Regional Window | August 6–14, 2026 | March through August 2026 |
| Direct Entry Teams | None | Curacao + Panama |
| Primary Stadium | Howard J. Lamade Stadium | Little League Volunteer Stadium |
| Stadium Capacity | 40,000 (with hill) | 5,000 |
| Bracket Format | Double Elimination | Double Elimination |
| Pool Play Games | Lamade + Volunteer Stadium | Primarily Volunteer Stadium |
| US/Intl Championship | August 28–29 on ESPN | August 28–29 on ESPN |
| Meet Each Other | Championship Game Only | Championship Game Only |
| Championship Game | August 30 on ABC | August 30 on ABC |
| Teams Added in 2022 | Metro + Mountain (new regions) | Curacao + Panama rotation added |
| Qualifying Rounds | District, Sectional, State, Regional | Varies by country and region |
| Broadcast | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC |
How to Watch LLWS 2026 Regionals
Conclusion
The road to Williamsport is long and highly competitive. Most teams are eliminated at the district level, and only a small number advance through each tougher stage. All ten U.S. regionals finish by August 14, while international tournaments conclude even earlier. By August 19, twenty qualified teams arrive in South Williamsport ready for the World Series.
Two teams bypass the regional path in 2026. Curaçao and Panama receive direct entry into the tournament, while all other teams must earn their spot through regional play. The U.S. and International brackets run separately through pool and elimination rounds. Both paths meet only in the championship game on August 30 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium, broadcast nationally on ABC.
