2026 IIHF World Championship Division I

See also: 2026 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships

2026 IIHF World Championship
Division I

Tournament details
Host countries	Poland   China
Venue(s)	2 (in 2 host cities)
Dates	2–8 May 29 April – 5 May
Teams	12
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The 2026 IIHF World Championship Division I consists of two international ice hockey tournaments organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Divisions I A and I B represent the second and the third tier of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships.

Group A tournament

2026 IIHF World Championship Division I A

Tournament details
Host country	Poland
City	Sosnowiec
Venue(s)	1 (in 1 host city)
Dates	2–8 May
Teams	6
Official website
Website

The Division I Group A tournament will be played in Sosnowiec, Poland from 2 to 8 May 2026.

Participants

Team	Qualification
Kazakhstan	Placed 15th in the Elite Division in 2025 and was relegated.
France	Placed 16th in the Elite Division in 2025 and was relegated.
Ukraine	Placed 3rd in Division I A in 2025.
Japan	Placed 4th in Division I A in 2025.
Poland	Host, placed 5th in Division I A in 2025.
Lithuania	Placed 1st in Division I B in 2025 and was promoted.

Standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	OTW	OTL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Kazakhstan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Promoted to the 2027 Top Division
2	France	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Ukraine	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Japan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Poland (H)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Lithuania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegated to the 2027 Division I B

First match(es) will be played: 2 May 2026. Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) result against closest best-ranked team outside tied teams; 6) result against second-best ranked team outside tied teams; 7) seeding before tournament.
(H) Host

Group B tournament

2026 IIHF World Championship Division I B

Tournament details
Host country	China
City	Shenzhen
Venue(s)	1 (in 1 host city)
Dates	29 April – 5 May
Teams	6
Official website
Website

The Division I Group B tournament will be played in Shenzhen, China from 29 April to 5 May 2026.

Participants

Team	Qualification
Romania	Placed 6th in Division I A in 2025 and was relegated.
South Korea	Placed 2nd in Division I B in 2025.
Estonia	Placed 3rd in Division I B in 2025.
China	Host, placed 4th in Division I B in 2025.
Spain	Placed 5th in Division I B in 2025.
Netherlands	Placed 1st in Division II A in 2025 and was promoted.

Standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	OTW	OTL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Romania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Promoted to the 2027 Division I A
2	South Korea	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Estonia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	China (H)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Spain	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Netherlands	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegated to the 2027 Division II A

First match(es) will be played: 29 April 2026. Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) result against closest best-ranked team outside tied teams; 6) result against second-best ranked team outside tied teams; 7) seeding before tournament.
(H) Host

References

{{ 2025–26 in men's ice hockey }}