2026 in ice hockey

The following is a list of the events taking place in ice hockey for the year 2026 throughout the world.

Winter Olympics and Paralympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will take place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The ice hockey events will take place at the PalaItalia Santa Giulia and Fiera Milano Rho in Milan.

• February 11 – 22: Ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament
• February 11 – 22: Ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament

• March 7 – 15: Para ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Paralympics

World Championships

2026 World Ice Hockey Divisions for the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) are taking place between December 7, 2025 and November 16, 2026.

World Junior Ice Hockey Championships

• December 26, 2025 – January 5: 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
  •   Sweden defeated   Czechia, 4–2, to win their third World Junior Ice Hockey Championship title.
  •   Canada defeated   Finland, 6–3, to win the bronze medal.
  •   Denmark was relegated to Division I – Group A for 2027.

Divisions

• December 7, 2025 – December 13, 2025: Division I – Group A in Bled
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Norway, 2.   Kazakhstan, 3.   Austria, 4.   Slovenia, 5.   Ukraine, 6.   France
  • Norway was promoted to the Top Division for 2027.
  • France was relegated to Division I – Group B for 2027.
• December 8, 2025 – December 14, 2025: Division I – Group B in Milan
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Hungary, 2.   Estonia, 3.   Lithuania, 4.   Poland, 5.   Japan, 6.   Italy
  • Hungary was promoted to Division I – Group A for 2027.
  • Italy was relegated to Division II – Group A for 2027.
• January 4 – 10: Division II – Group A in Bucharest
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   South Korea, 2.   Great Britain, 3.   Croatia, 4.   Romania, 5.   China, 6.   Spain
  • South Korea was promoted to Division I – Group B for 2027.
  • Spain was relegated to Division II – Group B for 2027.
• January 18 – 24: Division II – Group B in Belgrade
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Netherlands, 2.   Australia, 3.   Israel, 4.   Serbia, 5.   New Zealand, 6.   Iceland
  • The Netherlands was promoted to Division II – Group A for 2027.
  • Iceland was relegated to Division III – Group A for 2027.
• January 18 – 24: Division III – Group B in Bishkek
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Kyrgyzstan, 2.   Hong Kong, 3.   Mexico, 4.   Luxembourg, 5.   South Africa, 6.   Iran
  • Kyrgyzstan was promoted to Division III – Group A for 2027.
• January 19 – 25: Division III – Group A in Sofia
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Chinese Taipei, 2.   Bulgaria, 3.   Belgium, 4.   Turkey, 5.   Thailand, 6.   Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Chinese Taipei was promoted to Division II – Group B for 2027.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina was relegated to Division III – Group B for 2027.

IIHF World Women's U18 Championship

• January 10 – 18: 2026 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship in Sydney
  • The   United States defeated   Canada, 2–0, to win their tenth World Women's U18 Championship title.
  •   Czechia defeated   Sweden, 4–3, to win the bronze medal.
  •   Finland was relegated to Division I – Group A for 2027.

Divisions

• January 5 – 11: Division I – Group B in Katowice
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   China, 2.   Poland, 3.   Austria, 4.   Great Britain, 5.   Spain, 6.   Australia
  • China was promoted to Division I – Group A for 2027.
  • Australia was relegated to Division II – Group A for 2027.
• January 12 – 18: Division I – Group A in Ritten
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Germany, 2.   Japan, 3.   Norway, 4.   Denmark, 5.   France, 6.   Italy
  • Germany was promoted to the Top Division for 2027.
  • Italy was relegated to Division I – Group B for 2027.
• January 19 – 25: Division II – Group A in Istanbul
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   South Korea, 2.   Kazakhstan, 3.   Latvia, 4.   Netherlands, 5.   Turkey, 6.   New Zealand
  • South Korea was promoted to Division I – Group B for 2027.
  • New Zealand was relegated to Division II – Group B for 2027.
• January 26 – February 1: Division II – Group B in Cape Town
  • Final Round Robin placements: 1.   Romania, 2.   Iceland, 3.   Chinese Taipei, 4.   Mexico, 5.   Belgium, 6.   South Africa
  • Romania was promoted to Division II – Group A for 2027.
  • South Africa was relegated to Division III for 2027.
• January 29 – February 4: Division III in Bangkok
  • The tournament was cancelled due to, "unforeseen circumstances, which made it impossible to stage the tournament as planned." ^[1]

IIHF World U18 Championships

• April 22 – May 2: 2026 IIHF World U18 Championships in Piešťany

Divisions

• February 13 – 19: Division III – Group B in Sarajevo
• March 2 – 8: Division III – Group A in Hong Kong
• April 5 – 11: Division II – Group B in Belgrade
• April 12 – 18: Division II – Group A in Târgu Secuiesc
• April 18 – 24: Division I – Group A in Krynica
• April 25 – May 1: Division I – Group B in Tallinn

IIHF Women's World Championship

• November 6 – 16: 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship in Herning

Divisions

Main article: 2026 Women's Ice Hockey World Championships

• February 23 – March 1: Division III – Group A in Zagreb
• February 28 – March 6: Division III – Group B in Kohtla-Järve
• March 30 – April 5: Division II – Group B in Hong Kong
• April 12 – 18: Division I – Group A in Budapest
• April 12 – 18: Division I – Group B in Puigcerdà
• April 13 – 19: Division II – Group A in Bled

IIHF World Championship

• May 15 – 31: 2026 IIHF World Championship in Zurich and Fribourg

Divisions

Main article: 2026 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships

• April 6 – 12: Division II – Group B in Sofia
• April 12 – 18: Division IV in Kuwait City
• April 13 – 19: Division III – Group A in Cape Town
• April 13 – 19: Division III – Group B in Hong Kong
• April 20 – 26: Division II – Group A in Al Ain
• April 29 – May 5: Division I – Group B in Shenzhen
• May 2 – May 8: Division I – Group A in Sosnowiec

National Hockey League (NHL)

• October 7, 2025 – April 16: 2025–26 NHL season
  • The 2026 All-Star Game was cancelled due to the NHL's Olympic participation, with UBS Arena now scheduled to host the 2027 edition. ^[2]
• January 2: 2026 Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park in Miami
  • The New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers, by the score of 5–1.
• February 1: 2026 Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Boston Bruins in a shootout, by the score of 6–5.
• April – June: 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)

• September 5, 2025 – March 20: 2025–26 KHL season

Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)

• November 21 – April 25: 2025–26 PWHL season
  • May: 2026 Walter Cup playoffs

North America

Minor league professional (AHL/ECHL/SPHL)

• October 10, 2024 – April 19: 2025–26 AHL season
  • January 23, 2026: 2026 Outdoor Classic at Tradition Veterans' Complex in Hastings
    • The Milwaukee Admirals defeated the Iowa Wild, 3–2 in overtime.
  • April – June: 2026 Calder Cup playoffs
• October 17, 2024 – April 12: 2025–26 ECHL season
  • 41 games were postponed league-wide between December 26 and December 29, 2025, after the Professional Hockey Players' Association's ECHL contingent voted to go on strike. ^{[3] [4]} A tentative agreement was reached on December 27 to end the strike, ^[5] which was subsequently ratified by the PHPA on December 30. ^[6]
  • April – June: 2026 Kelly Cup playoffs
• October 17, 2025 – April 4: 2025–26 SPHL season
  • April: 2026 President's Cup playoffs

Junior (OHL/QMJHL/USHL/WHL)

• September 17, 2025 – April 4: 2025–26 USHL season
  • April – May: 2026 Clark Cup playoffs
• September 18, 2025 – March 21: 2025–26 QMJHL season
  • March – May: 2026 QMJHL playoffs
• September 18, 2025 – March 22: 2025–26 OHL season
  • March 26 – May: 2026 OHL playoffs
• September 19, 2025 – March 22: 2025–26 WHL season
  • March 27 – May: 2026 WHL playoffs
• May 22 – 31: 2026 Memorial Cup at Prospera Place in Kelowna

Collegiate

NCAA–Division I (USA)

• March: 2026 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey tournament (Frozen Four at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park)
• March – April: 2026 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament (Frozen Four at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise)

U Sports (Canada)

• March 19 – 22: 2026 U Sports University Cup Tournament at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax
• March 19 – 22: 2026 U Sports Women's Ice Hockey Championship at Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira

Europe

Tournaments

• August 28, 2025 – March 3: 2025–26 Champions Hockey League
  • Brynäs IF and EV Zug finished in joint third place, as the losing semi-finalists.
• October 14, 2025 – January 17: 2025–26 IIHF Continental Cup
  • The Nottingham Panthers defeated Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk, 4–2, to win their second IIHF Continental Cup title.
  • Herning Blue Fox defeated GKS Katowice, 3–2 in a shootout, to win the bronze medal.

Leagues

• September 9, 2025 – March 6: 2025–26 Czech Extraliga season
  • March – April: 2026 Czech Extraliga playoffs

• September 9, 2025 – March 9: 2025–26 National League season
  • March – April: 2026 National League playoffs

• September 9, 2025 – March 15: 2025–26 DEL season
  • Dresdner Eislöwen joined the league after promotion from the DEL2.
  • March – April: 2026 DEL playoffs

• September 9, 2025 – March 17: 2025–26 Liiga season
  • March – April: 2026 Liiga playoffs

• September 13, 2025 – March 14: 2025–26 SHL season
  • Djurgårdens IF joined the league after promotion from the HockeyAllsvenskan.
  • March – April: 2026 SHL playoffs

Asia

• September 6, 2025 – March 15: 2025–26 Asia League Ice Hockey season
  • Stars Kobe joined ALIH as an expansion team.
  • March – April: 2026 ALIH playoffs

Deaths

January

• David Branch, 77, Canadian executive (Ontario Hockey League, Canadian Hockey League) ^[7]
• Bob Pulford, 89, Canadian Hall of Fame left wing (Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings), coach (Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks), four-time Stanley Cup champion (1962–1964, 1967) ^[8]
• Glenn Hall, 94, Canadian Hall of Fame goaltender (Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, St. Louis Blues), Stanley Cup champion (1961) ^[9]
• Jason Lafreniere, 59, Canadian centre (Quebec Nordiques, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning) ^[10]
• Phil Goyette, 92, Canadian centre (Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres) and coach (New York Islanders), four-time Stanley Cup champion (1957–1960) ^[11]
• Bob Jones, 80, Canadian left wing (New York Rangers, Los Angeles Sharks, New York Raiders/Golden Blades/Jersey Knights) ^[12]
• Chuck Lefley, 76, Canadian centre (Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Jokerit), two-time Stanley Cup champion (1971, 1973) ^[13]

February

• Jim Morrison, 94, Canadian defenceman (Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins), coach (Baltimore Clippers, Kitchener Rangers, Kingston Canadians), and scout (Boston Bruins) ^[14]

See also

• 2025 in ice hockey
• 2026 in sports

References

1. "2026 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship Division III Cancelled". www.iihf.com.
2. "Isles set to host 2027 All-Star Weekend; Olympic sendoff axed". ESPN.com. October 21, 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
3. Stephens, Eric (December 22, 2025). "ECHL player union announces strike notice starting Friday". The Athletic . Retrieved 2025-12-26.
4. Ayen, Josh (December 26, 2025). "Komets game postponed due to players strike". WANE-TV . Retrieved 2025-12-26.
5. "ECHL, players' union reach tentative new CBA deal to end strike". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 27, 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
6. "ECHL OK's new 5-year labor deal, ends strike spanning 41 games". ESPN.com. December 30, 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
7. Tovell, Jonathan (January 5, 2026). "David Branch, Former Longtime OHL Commissioner, CHL President, Dies At 77". The Hockey News . Retrieved 2026-01-05.
8. "Pulford, 4-time Stanley Cup champion with Maple Leafs, dies at 89". NHL.com. January 5, 2026. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
9. "Hall, ironman goaltender with record 502 consecutive starts, dies at 94". NHL.com. January 7, 2026. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
10. Hui, Ling (January 14, 2026). "Former NHL player Jason Lafreniere dies at 59". Toronto Sun . Retrieved 2026-01-14.
11. "Phil Goyette, former forward and Islanders' first coach, dies". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 18, 2026. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
12. "Jones, Bob". sudbury.com. Village Media. January 24, 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
13. "Charles "Chuck" Lefley passes away at age 76". NHL.com. January 31, 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
14. "Former NHL defenceman Morrison, a three-time all-star with Leafs, dead at 94". thecanadianpressnews.ca. The Canadian Press. February 3, 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-03.