The 2026 Little League Softball World Series is set for a historic milestone as every game airs on ESPNs linear platforms for the first time ever.The blockbuster broadcast expansion follows a record-shattering 2025 championship game that averaged 1.44 million viewers, a 139% surge from the previous year, according to Little League. While this year's field is still taking shape, Greenville, North Carolina, and the August 2-9 tournament dates are officially locked in as qualification battles begin.A dozen teams eight from the U.S. and four international contenders will punch their tickets through regional tournaments.Here are the must-know dates as the road to the Little League Softball World Series officially begins.When is the Little League Softball World Series? The 2026 Little League Softball World Series will take place from August 2 to August 9, 2026 in Greenville, North Carolina. Where is the softball Little League World Series? Greenville, North Carolina, has been the home of Little League Softballs biggest event since 2021. The upcoming showdown marks the sixth straight year Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park will host the premier championship event. When are the Little League Softball regional tournaments?The United States Little League Softball regional tournaments occurred between July 17 and July 23, 2026. The Little League Softball international tournaments were played earlier this summer. Here's a detailed breakdown of the U.S. Little League Softball regional tournamentsand the teams that wonCentral RegionTeam that won:Daviess County Little League (Owensboro, Kentucky)Region Tournament Record: 4-1League LLSWS Appearance:1st State LLSWS Appearance:2ndLittle League Charter Since:2025Mid-Atlantic RegionTeam that won:Toms River Little League (Toms River, New Jersey)Region Tournament Record: 4-1League LLSWS Appearance:1stState LLSWS Appearance:5thLittle League Charter Since:2021New England RegionTeam that won:Bristol Girls Softball Little League (Bristol, Connecticut)Region Tournament Record: 3-0League LLSWS Appearance:1stState LLSWS Appearance:5th Little League Charter Since:2008North Carolina RegionTeam that won:Johnston County Little League (Clayton, North Carolina)Region Tournament Record: 3-0League LLSWS Appearance:1stState LLSWS Appearance:5th as host, 16th overallLittle League Charter Since:1993 (2023 softball) Northwest RegionTeam that won:Snohomish Little League (Snohomish, Washington)Region Tournament Record: 3-0League LLSWS Appearance:2nd (1st under the current name of the charter)State LLSWS Appearance:5th Little League Charter Since:2008Southeast RegionTeam that won:Lake Mary Little League (Lake Mary, Florida)Region Tournament Record: 4-0League LLSWS Appearance:4thState LLSWS Appearance:13thLittle League Charter Since:1981Southwest RegionTeam that won:Greater Helotes Little League (Helotes, Texas)Region Tournament Record: 3-1League LLSWS Appearance:2ndState LLSWS Appearance:19thLittle League Charter Since:1987West RegionTeam that won:Live Oak Little League (Live Oak, California)Region Tournament Record: 4-0League LLSWS Appearance:1st State LLSWS Appearance:8thLittle League Charter Since:1967 (baseball), year unknown (softball)Asia-Pacific RegionTeam that won:Kinki Softball Little League (Japan)Region Tournament Record: 2-0League LLSWS Appearance: 1stCountry LLSWS Appearance: 2ndLittle League Charter Since: 2025Europe & Africa RegionTeam that won:Emilia Romagna Little League (Italy)Region Tournament Record:5-1League LLSWS Appearance:3rdCountry LLSWS Appearance:9thLittle League Charter Since:2006Latin America RegionTeam that won:Guayama Softball Little League (Guayama, Puerto Rico)Region Tournament Record:5-0League LLSWS Appearance:3rdCountry LLSWS Appearance:17thLittle League Charter Since:2018What channel is the softball Little League World Series on?The 2026 Little League Softball World Series will be broadcast on ESPN platforms, with the championship game airing on ABC. Games will also be available to stream on ESPN+.Dates:August 2nd - August 9thTV:ESPN, ESPN2, ABCStream:ESPN+Location:Greenville, North CarolinaHow old are the players in the Little League Softball World Series?Softball players be ages 10-12 to participate in the Little League Softball World Series, according to Little League.In his new book, @StephenBorelli delivers a fun, parentfriendly guide packed with expert tips and lessons from sports legends to help families enjoy every step of the youth sports journey.Heres how to get your copy. https://t.co/y9oIT0buc6: Pediment Publishing pic.twitter.com/QsOiyLyCs4 USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) April 8, 2026What is the schedule for the 2026 Little League Softball World Series? Little League International unveiled the first-round matchups for the 2026 Little League Softball World Series on June 9.Twelve powerhouse teams from around the globe will battle across the Purple and Orange brackets with championship dreams on the line.The randomly drawn pairings have created can't-miss clashes as the world's brightest young stars prepare for softball's biggest stage. Here is the full day-by-day schedule for the whole tournament, starting with the opening-round matchups.Sunday, August 2Game 1: (Purple): Northwest vs. Southeast, 10 a.m. ESPN2Game 2: (Orange): Mid-Atlantic vs. Asia-Pacific, 1 p.m. ESPN2Game 3: (Orange): West vs. Central, 4 p.m. ESPN2Game 4: (Purple): Canada vs. North Carolina, 7 p.m. ESPN2Monday, August 3Game 5 (Orange): Winner of Game 2 vs. Latin America, 10 a.m. ESPN2Game 6 (Purple): Winner of Game 1 vs. Europe and Africa, 1 p.m. ESPN2Game 7 (Purple): Winner of Game 4 vs. Southwest, 4 p.m. ESPN2Game 8 (Orange): Winner of Game 3 vs. New England, 7 p.m. ESPN2Tuesday, August 4Game 9 (Purple): Loser of Game 1 vs Loser of Game 7, 10 a.m. ESPN2Game 10 (Orange): Loser of Game 2 vs Loser of Game 8, 1 p.m. ESPN2Game 11 (Orange): Loser of Game 3 vs Loser of Game 5, 4 p.m. ESPN2Game 12 (Purple): Loser of Game 4 vs Loser of Game 6, 7 p.m. ESPN2Wednesday, August 5Game 13 (Orange): Winner of Game 10 vs Winner of Game 11, 10 a.m. ESPN2Game 14 (Purple): Winner of Game 9 vs Winner of Game 12, 1 p.m. ESPN2Thursday, August 6Game 15 (Purple): Winner of Game 6 vs Winner of Game 7, 1 p.m. ESPN2Game 16 (Orange): Winner of Game 5 vs Winner of Game 8, 5 p.m. ESPN2Friday, August 7Game 17 (Purple): Loser of Game 15 vs Winner of Game 14, 3 p.m. ESPN2Game 18 (Orange): Loser of Game 16 vs Winner of Game 13, 6 p.m. ESPN2Saturday, August 8Game 19 (Orange championship): Winner of Game 16 vs Winner of Game 18, 2 p.m. ESPNGame 20 (Purple championship): Winner of Game 15 vs. Winner of Game 17, 5 p.m. ESPN 2Sunday, August 9Game 21 (Third place game): Loser of Game 19 vs Loser of Game 20, 10 a.m. ESPNGame 22 (Little League Softball World Series Championship): Winner of Game 19 vs Winner of Game 20, 3 p.m. ABCHow does a North Carolina softball team qualify for the Little League Softball World Series?A North Carolina softball team can earn its way into the Little League Softball World Series bracket in one of two ways, according to Little League. "As the host state of the event, the champion of the North Carolina Little League Softball tournament is granted direct entry into the LLSWS, while the runner-up of that tournament will have the opportunity to compete through the Southeast Region Tournament to earn a bid as the Southeast Region Champion," said Kevin Fountain, Senior Director of Communications for Little League InternationalWho won the 2025 Little League Softball World Series?The 2025Little League Softball World Seriesconcluded with Indiana and Pennsylvania competing for the title in Greenville, North Carolina.Pennsylvania made its first championship game appearance since 2018, and the West Suburban LL squad from Johnstown did not disappoint.Johnstown, representing the Mid-Atlantic region, recorded four consecutive shutout wins to end the tournament and capturethe 2025 LLSWS championship title with a 1-0 victoryover Floyds Knobs, Indiana, which was representing the Central region.The victory marks the first Little League Softball World Series title for a team from Pennsylvania since 1978.- Sherlon Christie, Jon Hoefling and Gabe Zaldivar.Sherlon Christie is a USA TODAY Sports senior trending editor and an expert on Little League Baseball and Little League Softball. You can reach him by email atschristie@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @sherlonchristie, on Bluesky at @sherlonchristie.bsky.socialThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Little League Softball World Series 2026: Meet the contenders