City of Kirkland to Host 26th Junior League Softball World Series

Published on July 30, 2026

Media Contact:
David Wolbrecht
Communications Program Manager
dwolbrecht@kirklandwa.gov

The Junior League Softball World Series (JLSWS) returns to the City of Kirkland for the 26th year this August. A true world series, the softball tournament brings together 10 teams from five regions across the globe for a week of high-level competition. A City-sponsored Welcome Rally will kick off the tournament at 2 p.m. at Lee Johnson Field on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, and games will be played at Everest Park from Sunday, Aug. 2 to Saturday, Aug. 8.

The Welcome Rally is open to the community and free to attend. Eventgoers can expect a Parade of Champions, live DJ, performances, and a celebrity game known as the Cats & Dawgs Kirkland Classic. The celebrity teams will be captained by former Seattle Seahawk Marcus Trufant and former University of Washington football player Terry Hollimon. Kirkland City Councilmembers and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson will be in attendance.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Junior League Softball World Series back to Kirkland,” said City Councilmember Amy Falcone. “Our city has a long history of celebrating women’s sports, and we are excited to support these young athletes from around the world. It’s a chance for our community to enjoy a premier sporting event while showing off Kirkland as a one-of-a-kind destination.”

The Junior League Softball World Series is administered by Little League and features athletes ages 12 to 14. A total of 27 games will be played in Kirkland during the 2026 tournament. View the tournament schedule to find game times. To learn more about the Welcome Rally, visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/softball.

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