LLBWS attracts highest TV ratings in more than a decade

Aug 30, 2026; South Williamsport, PA, USA; Curacao Region players cheer on the field after defeating the Mountain Region 11-2 to win the Little League World Series championship game at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images The Little League Baseball World Series drew its highest television ratings since 2015, ESPN announced Tuesday. An average of 1.1 million viewers tuned in over the course of the event on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Overall, LLBWS ratings were up 7% from the previous year, which included several additional high marks for individual contests. The championship game on Sunday, in which Curacao defeated Henderson, Nev., 11-2, netted 2.9 million viewers on ABC, an increase of 21% from 2025 with a peak of 3.7 million tuning in. The United States championship game that saw Henderson beat Hamilton, Ohio, 12-2 pulled in an average of 2.5 million, while the International championship game in which Curacao topped Tokyo 4-0 attracted 1.6 million. The latter game saw its best ratings since 2023 with an increase of 27% over 2025. Ratings for the consolation game in which Tokyo defeated Hamilton 3-2 were up 39% with an average of 903,000 viewers, the highest figure for that contest in 10 years. The LLBWS also enjoyed its most-watched non-championship game since 2021, as Hamilton vs. Phenix City, Ala., drew 2.1 million viewers. That figure was the highest for a LLBWS contest on ESPN in 11 years. --Field Level Media