Iowa high school softball state tournament 2026: Full schedule, brackets, and new double-elimination format

The Iowa high school softball state tournament begins Monday, July 20, in Fort Dodge, with 40 teams competing for state championships across five classes. This year introduces a double-elimination format, guaranteeing each team at least two games.

Play runs through July 24 at multiple fields, including Triton Field, Channel Seeds Field, Iowa Central Field, Hy-Vee Field, and Farm Bureau Field. The tournament showcases Iowa's top talent and community pride.

Class 5A schedule and brackets

Monday, July 20

• No. 1 Waukee Northwest vs. No. 8 Pleasant Valley, 11:45 a.m., Triton Field
• No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes vs. No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 2 p.m., Triton Field
• No. 2 Ankeny Centennial vs. No. 7 Dowling Catholic, 4:15 p.m., Triton Field
• No. 3 Valley vs. No. 6 Southeast Polk, 6:30 p.m., Triton Field

Tuesday, July 21

• Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m., Triton Field
• Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 1:15 p.m., Triton Field
• Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 3:30 p.m., Triton Field
• Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 5:45 p.m., Triton Field
• Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 8 p.m., Triton Field

Wednesday, July 23

• Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7, 11 a.m., Triton Field
• Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9, 1:15 p.m., Triton Field
• Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 3:30 p.m., Triton Field
• Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11 (if needed), 5:45 p.m., Triton Field
• Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12 (if needed), 8 p.m., Triton Field

Friday, July 24 - State championship: TBD vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m., Channel Seeds Field

Class 4A schedule and brackets

Monday, July 20

• No. 1 ADM vs. No. 8 Burlington, 10:30 a.m., Channel Seeds Field
• No. 4 Western Dubuque vs. No. 5 Winterset, 12:45 p.m., Channel Seeds Field
• No. 2 Carlisle vs. No. 7 North Polk, 3 p.m., Channel Seeds Field
• No. 3 Fort Dodge vs. No. 6 Clear Creek Amana, 5:15 p.m., Channel Seeds Field

Tuesday, July 21

• Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 10:15 a.m., Channel Seeds Field
• Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 12:30 p.m., Channel Seeds Field
• Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 2:45 p.m., Channel Seeds Field
• Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 5 p.m., Channel Seeds Field
• Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:15 p.m., Channel Seeds Field

Wednesday, July 23

• Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7, 10:15 a.m., Channel Seeds Field
• Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9, 12:30 p.m., Channel Seeds Field
• Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 2:45 p.m., Channel Seeds Field
• Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11 (if needed), 5 p.m., Channel Seeds Field
• Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12 (if needed), 7:15 p.m., Channel Seeds Field

Thursday, July 23 - State championship: TBD vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m., Channel Seeds Field

Class 3A schedule and brackets

Monday, July 20

• No. 1 Williamsburg vs. No. 8 West Liberty, 11:15 a.m., Iowa Central Field
• No. 4 Mount Vernon vs. No. 5 PCM, 1:30 p.m., Iowa Central Field
• No. 2 Wahlert Catholic vs. No. 7 West Delaware, 3:45 p.m., Iowa Central Field
• No. 3 Albia vs. No. 6 Van Meter, 6 p.m., Iowa Central Field

Tuesday, July 21

• Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 10:45 a.m., Iowa Central Field
• Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 1 p.m., Iowa Central Field
• Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 3:15 p.m., Iowa Central Field
• Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 5:30 p.m., Iowa Central Field
• Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:45 p.m., Iowa Central Field

Wednesday, July 23

• Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7, 10:45 a.m., Iowa Central Field
• Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m., Iowa Central Field
• Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 3:15 p.m., Iowa Central Field
• Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11 (if needed), 5:30 p.m., Iowa Central Field
• Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12 (if needed), 7:45 p.m., Iowa Central Field

Friday, July 24 - State championship: TBD vs. TBD, 5 p.m., Channel Seeds Field

Class 2A schedule and brackets

Monday, July 20

• No. 1 Grand View Christian vs. No. 8 Cardinal, 10 a.m., Hy-Vee Field
• No. 4 Iowa City Regina vs. No. 5 Hinton, 12:15 p.m., Hy-Vee Field
• No. 2 Durant vs. No. 7 Ridge View, 2:30 p.m., Hy-Vee Field
• No. 3 Wapsie Valley vs. No. 6 Logan-Magnolia, 4:45 p.m., Hy-Vee Field

Tuesday, July 21

• Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 10 a.m., Hy-Vee Field
• Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 12:15 p.m., Hy-Vee Field
• Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 2:30 p.m., Hy-Vee Field
• Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4:45 p.m., Hy-Vee Field
• Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m., Hy-Vee Field

Wednesday, July 23

• Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7, 10 a.m., Hy-Vee Field
• Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9, 12:15 p.m., Hy-Vee Field
• Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 2:30 p.m., Hy-Vee Field
• Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 11 (if needed), 4:45 p.m., Hy-Vee Field
• Loser Game 12 vs. Winner Game 12 (if needed), 7 p.m., Hy-Vee Field

Thursday, July 23 - State championship: TBD vs. TBD, 5 p.m., Channel Seeds Field

Class 1A schedule and brackets

Monday, July 20

• No. 1 Exria-EHK/Audubon vs. No. 8 Edgwood-Colesburg, 12 p.m., Farm Bureau Field
• No. 4 West Monona vs. No. 5 Southeast Warren, 2:15 p.m., Farm Bureau Field
• No. 2 Clarksville vs. No. 7 North Butler, 4:30 p.m., Farm Bureau Field
• No. 3 St. Edmond vs. No. 6 Remsen St. Mary's, 6:45 p.m., Farm Bureau Field

Tuesday, July 21

• Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 10:30 a.m., Farm Bureau Field
• Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 12:45 p.m., Farm Bureau Field
• Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 3 p.m., Farm Bureau Field
• Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 5:15 p.m., Farm Bureau Field
• Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:30 p.m., Farm Bureau Field

Wednesday, July 23

• Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7, 10:30 a.m., Farm Bureau Field
• Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9, 12:45 p.m., Farm Bureau Field
• Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 3 p.m., Farm Bureau Field
• Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 11 (if needed), 5:15 p.m., Farm Bureau Field
• Loser Game 12 vs. Winner Game 12 (if needed), 7:30 p.m., Farm Bureau Field

Friday, July 24 - State championship: TBD vs. TBD, 2:30 p.m., Channel Seeds Field

This article originally appeared on the Des Moines Register.