Where and when it happens
The 2026 Junior League Softball World Series runs from Sunday, Aug. 2, through the championship game on Saturday, Aug. 8. All games take place at Everest Park in Kirkland, Washington, which serves as host site. According to Sporting News, none of the games will air on broadcast television; every game streams live on the ESPN app, with ESPN Unlimited subscriptions listed starting at $29.99 per month.
The 10 teams and pool breakdown
Ten teams make up the field, split into two five-team pools that play round-robin games before the tournament shifts to single-elimination bracket play. Host team Washington D9 headlines Pool A, joined by teams representing Czechia, Michigan, Puerto Rico and North Carolina. Pool B is made up of teams from the Philippines, Canada, Pennsylvania, Texas and California.
Each team plays through pool play first, with results determining seeding into the single-elimination portion of the tournament that culminates in the Aug. 8 championship game.
How to watch
Per Sporting News, every game of the 2026 Junior League Softball World Series streams exclusively on the ESPN app rather than on a traditional broadcast network. There is no over-the-air or cable broadcast option cited for this tournament. Yahoo Sports similarly frames its coverage around game times and channel information for viewers wanting to follow the full slate from Kirkland.
What’s next
Pool play begins Aug. 2 and continues through the round-robin schedule before the field moves into single-elimination play, with the championship game set for Saturday, Aug. 8, at Everest Park.
[“Tournament dates: Sunday, Aug. 2 through the championship on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026″,”Venue: Everest Park in Kirkland, Washington”,”Field: 10 teams split into two five-team pools playing round-robin before single-elimination bracket play”,”Pool A: host Washington D9, Czechia, Michigan, Puerto Rico, North Carolina”,”Pool B: Philippines, Canada, Pennsylvania, Texas, California”,”All games stream on the ESPN app; no broadcast TV coverage, per Sporting News”]
Sources
Featured photo by Aiden Craver on Unsplash