Premier Lacrosse League Schedule 2026: Complete Dates & Times

The 2026 Premier Lacrosse League schedule features an expanded, action-packed season running from late February through September. With the return of the fast-paced Championship Series and a 12-week regular season across multiple U.S. cities, fans can expect more games and viewing opportunities than ever before. Whether you’re tracking key dates, planning to attend a weekend event, or looking for broadcast times, this guide covers everything you need to follow the PLL season—from the Championship Series opening games to the season-ending championship final.

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2026 PLL Season Schedule Overview: Key Dates & Season Structure

The 2026 Premier Lacrosse League season features a unique dual-format structure that spans from February through September, offering fans two major competitive events, including the Championship Series and the season-ending PLL Championship Final. The season begins with the Championship Series in late February and culminates with the Championship Final in September. This expanded format, according to league announcements, extends the regular season to 12 weeks—providing more competitive games and fan engagement opportunities than previous years.

Championship Series: February 27 – March 8, 2026

The 2026 season kicks off with the Championship Series running from February 27 through March 8 at The St. James in Springfield, Virginia. This two-weekend event features the Olympic-style "Sixes" format, with the top four PLL teams from the 2025 season—the New York Atlas, Denver Outlaws, California Redwoods, and Carolina Chaos—competing alongside all four WLL teams. Semifinals are scheduled for March 7, followed by championship finals on March 8 with the Women's Lacrosse League final at 11:00 AM ET and the PLL final at 3:00 PM ET. Championship Series games stream on ESPN+ via the ESPN App.

• Two-weekend tournament format at The St. James, Springfield, Virginia

• Olympic-style "Sixes" format featuring the top four 2025 PLL teams plus all four WLL teams

• Semifinals on March 7 (WLL 2:00 PM ET, PLL 6:30 PM ET)

• Championship finals on March 8 (WLL at 11:00 AM ET, PLL at 3:00 PM ET)

• Exclusive streaming on ESPN+

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Regular Season: May 8 – August 16, 2026

The regular season launches on May 8–10 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah, and concludes with the final weekend on August 14–16 before the playoffs begin. According to the official PLL schedule announcement, this 12-week format represents an expansion from previous seasons, spanning multiple venues across the United States, including major lacrosse markets. The regular season features traditional field lacrosse rules with full rosters, contrasting with the Championship Series' condensed Sixes format.

Special Events: All-Star Game & College Draft Dates

The 2026 PLL and WLL All-Star Weekend is scheduled for Sunday, July 5, 2026, at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. The WLL All-Star Game tips off at 2:00 PM ET, followed by the PLL All-Star Game at 5:30 PM ET, with both contests airing on ESPN and ESPN2. The College Draft typically occurs in the spring between the Championship Series and the regular season opener.

PLL Championship Series 2026 Schedule: Sixes Format Explained

The Championship Series runs from February 27 through March 8, 2026, at The St. James in Springfield, Virginia, and features the Olympic-style Sixes format, a faster and more compact version of traditional lacrosse that showcases elite athleticism in a condensed timeframe.

What is the Sixes Format? Olympic-Style Lacrosse Rules

The Sixes format represents lacrosse's evolution toward Olympic inclusion, featuring six players per side (instead of traditional 10v10) on a smaller field measuring 70 meters by 36 meters (approximately 77 by 39 yards). According to World Lacrosse official rules, games consist of four 8-minute quarters with a 30-second shot clock, creating a faster-paced, higher-scoring experience compared to traditional field lacrosse.

Key rule differences include:

The format emphasizes continuous action with limited stoppages, making it ideal for television broadcast and attracting new audiences. After a goal in the Sixes format, the goalkeeper retrieves the ball and restarts play—there are no faceoffs after goals.

Championship Series Game Schedule: Round-Robin to Finals

The 2026 Championship Series spans two weekends with a structured progression from round-robin play to championship finals. According to ESPN's broadcast announcement, the tournament features the top four PLL teams from 2025 plus all four WLL teams, with no quarterfinal round.

Tournament Structure:

Fourth-place teams at the end of round-robin play are eliminated, while first-place teams earn an automatic bye to the championship final. The second- and third-place teams face off in the semifinals on March 7. The Women's Lacrosse League Championship Final precedes the PLL final at 11:00 AM ET on March 8, creating a full day of championship lacrosse action.

The St. James Venue: Championship Series Location Guide

The St. James sports complex in Springfield, Virginia (Washington D.C. metro area) serves as the exclusive venue for the entire 2026 Championship Series. Located at 6805 Industrial Road, Springfield, VA 22151, this state-of-the-art facility features climate-controlled indoor turf fields specifically designed for elite-level lacrosse competition.

Venue Details:

The indoor venue eliminates weather-related cancellations and provides consistent playing conditions throughout the tournament. Single-game tickets start at $29, with multi-day passes offering access to all Championship Series games across both weekends.

2026 Regular Season Schedule: 12-Week Breakdown & Playoff Structure

The 2026 PLL regular season runs from May 8-10 through August 14-16, featuring an expanded 12-week format across 12 different venues nationwide. After the regular season concludes, the playoffs proceed through quarterfinals on August 29, semifinals on September 7, and culminate in the Championship Final on September 20 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.

Week-by-Week Regular Season Schedule Structure

The 2026 regular season schedule spans 12 weeks with games hosted in multiple cities across the United States. The season opens May 8-10 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah.

According to the official PLL announcement, the regular season features weekly doubleheaders. The 12 host cities include Salt Lake City, Providence, Baltimore, Charlotte, Long Island, San Diego, Chicago, Fairfield, Denver, Columbus, Boston, and Philadelphia.

Each team plays a balanced schedule against both conference rivals and cross-conference opponents, with games typically scheduled on Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons, and Sunday afternoons. The regular season concludes in mid-August (August 14-16), after which qualifying teams advance to the playoff rounds.

2026 Regular Season Venue Schedule:

Playoff Format: Path to the 2026 PLL Championship

The PLL playoff structure determines which teams advance to the Championship Final through a seeding-based qualification system. The league's eight-team structure is divided into the Eastern Conference (Boston Cannons, Maryland Whipsnakes, New York Atlas, Philadelphia Waterdogs) and the Western Conference (California Redwoods, Carolina Chaos, Denver Outlaws, Utah Archers).

Following the 12-week regular season, the qualifying teams advance through a multi-site playoff bracket:

2026 PLL Championship: September 20

The 2026 PLL Championship takes place on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. According to the official PLL and ESPN announcement, the championship game airs on ABC at 12:30 PM ET. The 2025 season delivered record viewership with 833,000 peak viewers on ABC, setting expectations for strong championship audiences in 2026.

PLL Game Times & Time Zone Guide for Every Match

Game times vary significantly based on the day of the week and broadcast network. Weekend games typically start in the afternoon to accommodate national television audiences while weekday games often air in the evening.

Standard Game Start Times by Day of Week

PLL game start times follow a consistent pattern designed to maximize viewership across different broadcast platforms. Weekend games on ABC and ESPN typically begin between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM ET, while weekday games on ESPN and ESPN+ generally start at 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM ET.

The 2026 Championship Series features specific time slots, with the Women's Lacrosse League Final at 11:00 AM ET and the PLL Final at 3:00 PM ET on March 8. Championship Series semifinals are scheduled for 2:00 PM ET (WLL) and 6:30 PM ET (PLL) on March 7. The 2026 PLL Championship Final on September 20 airs on ABC at 12:30 PM ET. Regular season weekend doubleheaders typically feature games at 1:00 PM ET and 4:00 PM ET.

Key Game Time Patterns:

• ABC PLL Championship (Sept 20): 12:30 PM ET

• ESPN+ Championship Series Final (Mar 8): 3:00 PM ET (PLL); 11:00 AM ET (WLL)

• Saturday games: Afternoon doubleheaders (1:00 PM & 4:00 PM ET)

• Weekday games: Evening slots (7:00–8:00 PM ET)

Time Zone Considerations for PLL Game Viewing

All PLL game times are initially announced in Eastern Time (ET). The official PLL website schedule automatically displays game times in your local timezone based on your browser settings.

Mobile apps for both the PLL and ESPN platforms send push notifications for upcoming games in your local time.

How to Watch PLL Games: Broadcast Schedule 2026

The 2026 PLL season offers multiple viewing options across ESPN platforms. Championship Series games stream exclusively on ESPN+, while regular season and playoff games are distributed across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and ESPN+. The 2026 PLL Championship Final on September 20 airs on ABC at 12:30 PM ET.

Team-by-Team Schedules: Find Your Favorite Team's Games

The Premier Lacrosse League features eight teams divided into two conferences, each with their own unique schedule of home city weekends and away games during the 12-week regular season from May through August.

Eastern Conference Team Schedules 2026

Western Conference Team Schedules 2026

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Conclusion: Your Complete 2026 PLL Schedule Resource

The 2026 Premier Lacrosse League season delivers an unprecedented lacrosse experience with its dual-format structure spanning from February through September. With the Championship Series kicking off February 27–March 8 at The St. James in Springfield, Virginia, and the expanded 12-week regular season running May 8 through August 14-16 across 12 different venues, fans have more opportunities than ever to experience professional lacrosse.

Key Takeaways for Your 2026 PLL Season Planning:

• Dual Season Structure: Championship Series (February 27–March 8) features the top four 2025 PLL teams plus all four WLL teams in the Olympic-style Sixes format; the Regular Season (May 8 through August 14-16) showcases traditional field lacrosse across 12 weeks

• All-Star Weekend: Sunday, July 5 at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland (WLL 2:00 PM ET, PLL 5:30 PM ET)

• Playoff Path: Quarterfinals August 29 (Minneapolis, TCO Stadium), Semifinals September 7 (Salt Lake City, Zions Bank Stadium), Championship Final September 20 (Harrison, NJ, Sports Illustrated Stadium) on ABC at 12:30 PM ET

• Record Viewership Growth: The PLL achieved 833,000 peak viewers on ABC in 2025, with ESPN viewership up 46% year-over-year

• Comprehensive Broadcast Coverage: Championship Series streams exclusively on ESPN+, with regular season games across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and ESPN+

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