This summer, Columbus will once again become a home base for one of the most joyful, affirming traditions in LGBTQ+ sports: the Gay Softball World Series—returning to our city in 2026.
For those who know GSWS, you already understand the magic: the competition, the camaraderie, the chosen family, the moments where a city becomes a shared we. For those who are new to it, here’s the short version:
GSWS is widely recognized as the largest annual LGBTQ+ single-sport athletic competition in the world, bringing together thousands of athletes, coaches, volunteers, and supporters from across the United States and beyond. And in 2026, that world is coming back to Columbus.
Columbus will host the Gay Softball World Series for the fourth time, continuing a legacy of welcoming LGBTQ+ athletes with pride, care, and community. Each time GSWS has come to Columbus, it has reflected something true about our city: we know how to show up—not just with logistics, but with heart.
At the end of January, International Pride Softball delegates and representatives traveled to Columbus as part of their planning process for GSWS 2026. During their time here, they met with local partners and had the opportunity to experience the city and community that will host the World Series in 2026. Stonewall Columbus was honored to welcome the delegates and to take part in those conversations—sharing our community’s history, values, and priorities, and reinforcing our shared commitment to creating an experience rooted in inclusion, safety, accessibility, and belonging.
As part of that visit, Stonewall Columbus Executive Director Densil Porteous had the opportunity to speak with delegates at a welcome gathering—helping set the tone for the work ahead and underscoring the importance of strong partnership between GSWS leadership, city stakeholders, and Columbus’ LGBTQ+ community.
— Densil Porteous (he/they), Executive Director, Stonewall Columbus
GSWS is, of course, about softball—but it is also about visibility. It is about LGBTQ+ people claiming space together in joy and competition. It is about chosen family, resilience, and the power of being seen fully and safely in public.
That’s why hosting GSWS matters. And it’s why Stonewall Columbus is proud to play a role in the work ahead.
Stonewall Columbus is Central Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community center and advocacy organization. For more than four decades, we have worked to ensure that community experiences—from Pride to year-round programming—reflect our values of inclusion, dignity, and belonging.
As Columbus prepares for GSWS 2026, Stonewall Columbus will serve as a community partner and bridge:
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connecting GSWS leadership with local LGBTQ+ community voices
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advising on cultural competency, accessibility, and inclusive engagement
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collaborating with city partners to support thoughtful safety planning
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and helping ensure GSWS reflects the full diversity and history of queer life in Columbus
Hosting means more than welcoming people to our city—it means ensuring they feel safe, respected, and genuinely included once they arrive.
How our community can be part of the welcome:
Between now and the start of GSWS 2026, there will be many ways for our local community to get involved—whether you are an athlete, volunteer, ally, business owner, or someone who simply wants Columbus to shine.
Opportunities will include:
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Volunteering for welcome events and on-the-ground hospitality
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Supporting LGBTQ+-owned and affirming local businesses
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Helping shape an accessible and inclusive experience
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Showing up—because nothing communicates belonging like a city that truly turns out
To everyone who will travel here for the Gay Softball World Series in 2026: welcome in advance. We are honored you are coming, and we are committed to making Columbus a place where you can compete, connect, and celebrate with pride.
To our local community: this is who we are. Let’s welcome the world.
