Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
BLOOMINGTON — The IHSA announced that coming in 2026, the Softball and Baseball State Finals will be moving to a single-weekend format, meaning all four classes will hold their finals the same day. That’s the result of the IHSA Board of Directors approving a pair of advisory committee recommendations at Wednesday’s meeting in Bloomington.
The move brings the two sports’ state finals in alignment with other multiclass IHSA sports. Boys and girls basketball adopted the single-weekend format starting with the 2021-22 season, with boys and girls soccer making the change from two weekends to one last school year.
“The move to a single-weekend state final format in basketball and soccer has been very well received overall, which led our baseball and softball advisory committees to seek out a similar format,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “I believe this has the potential to create an exciting culminating weekend for both sports.”
Currently, the 1A/2A Baseball and Softball Finals are in one week (week 48 of the IHSA calendar) with the 3A/4A finals in the two sports held the following week. Starting in 2026, the schedule will feature the Softball State Finals in all four classes to be held week 48 with the Baseball State Finals in all four classes to be held week 49.
This is the final season for the IHSA’s current hosting contract for the Softball State Finals at Louisville Slugger in Peoria, and it appears likely that will not change with the move to a single-weekend format.
“We believe that Louisville Slugger is the premier softball facility in the state,” said Anderson. “We have enjoyed a fantastic partnership with the staff there and it is our intention to hold the IHSA Softball State Finals there in 2026, and beyond, as the tournament transitions to the single-weekend format. We believe there is mutual interest from Louisville Slugger, and the many community partners that help put on the event and expect to be able to work together to make this official very soon.”
The 1A/2A baseball state finals are held at Dozer Park in Peoria, while the 3A/4A finals are held at Slammers Stadium in Joliet. The contract in Peoria runs through the upcoming state finals while the Joliet contract runs through the 2026 state finals.
“We intend to honor our current baseball hosting contracts and are open to multiple options in 2027 and beyond,” said Anderson. “Those options include holding the state finals at multiple venues in one city or continuing to contest the different classes at two sites on the same weekend. We have deep ties in both ballparks and communities, and will continue to work with both hosts, along with other key Illinois high school baseball constituents, to determine the best course of action for hosting the State Finals in the single-weekend format.”
The 2025-26 Softball State Finals will be June 5-6 while the Baseball State Finals will be June 12-13.
