Get Ready to Return Home to GSWS

Since 1977, the Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) has brought together LGBTQ+ and ally athletes from across the United States and Canada to Play with Pride. Over the years, GSWS has grown into the largest single sport LGBTQ+ athletic competition in the world, and in 2026, the International Pride Softball (iPride) Gay Softball World Series returns to Columbus, Ohio, for a record fourth time (2010, 2015, 2021). This year’s series will be held from Sunday, August 30, to Saturday, September 5, 2026. 

Teams from iPride’s 57 member cities will qualify across seven divisions of play, with hundreds of teams and thousands of athletes all competing together at the nation’s largest softball complex, Berliner Sports Park. Over five days of play and hundreds of games, these teams leave it all out on the field, fighting in spirited competition to reach the pinnacle of LGBTQ+ softball. 

But much like softball, the Gay Softball World Series is more than a game. It’s a week of events, a celebration of LGBTQ+ sport, and an opportunity to continue building community nearly 50 years in the making. Visit our FAQ page to learn more about GSWS, how to qualify, and the week’s events and schedule.