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 took place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The ice hockey events took place at the PalaItalia Santa Giulia and Fiera Milano Rho in Milan. February 5 – 19: Ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament The defeated , 2–1 in overtime, to win their third Olympic gold medal. defeated , 2–1 in overtime, to win the bronze medal. February 11 – 22: Ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament The defeated , 2–1 in overtime, to win their third Olympic gold medal. defeated , 6–1, to win the bronze medal. March 7 – 15: Para ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Paralympics The defeated , 6–2, to win their fifth consecutive and sixth overall Paralympic gold medal. defeated , 3–2, to win the bronze medal.
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 defeated , 4–2, to win their third World Junior Ice Hockey Championship title. defeated , 6–3, to win the bronze medal. 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. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. 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. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. 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. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. 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. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. 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. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Kyrgyzstan was promoted to Division III – Group A for 2027. January 19 – 25: Division III – Group A in Sofia Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. 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 defeated , 2–0, to win their tenth World Women's U18 Championship title. defeated , 4–3, to win the bronze medal. was relegated to Division I – Group A for 2027. Divisions January 5 – 11: Division I – Group B in Katowice Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. 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. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. 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. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. 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. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. 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."
IIHF World U18 Championships April 22 – May 2: 2026 IIHF World U18 Championships in Piešťany defeated , 4–2, to win their third World U18 Championship title. defeated , 4–1, to win the bronze medal. was relegated to Division I – Group A for 2027.
Divisions February 13 – 19: Division III – Group B in Sarajevo Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. was promoted to Division III – Group A for 2027. March 2 – 8: Division III – Group A in Hong Kong Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Uzbekistan was promoted to Division II – Group B for 2027. New Zealand was relegated to Division III – Group B for 2027. April 5 – 11: Division II – Group B in Belgrade Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. The Netherlands was promoted to Division II – Group A for 2027. Chinese Taipei was relegated to Division III – Group A for 2027. April 12 – 18: Division II – Group A in Târgu Secuiesc Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Japan was promoted to Division I – Group B for 2027. Spain was relegated to Division II – Group B for 2027. April 18 – 24: Division I – Group A in Krynica Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Switzerland was promoted to the Top Division for 2027. Poland was relegated to Division I – Group B for 2027. April 25 – May 1: Division I – Group B in Tallinn Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Austria was promoted to Division I – Group A for 2027. South Korea was relegated to Division II – Group A for 2027.
IIHF Women's World Championship November 6 – 16: 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship in Herning
Divisions
February 23 – March 1: Division III – Group A in Zagreb Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Romania was promoted to Division II – Group B for 2027. Bulgaria was relegated to Division III – Group B for 2027. February 28 – March 6: Division III – Group B in Kohtla-Järve Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Estonia was promoted to Division III – Group A for 2027. March 30 – April 5: Division II – Group B in Hong Kong Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Hong Kong was promoted to Division II – Group A for 2027. Belgium was relegated to Division III – Group A for 2027. April 12 – 18: Division I – Group A in Budapest Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. France and Italy were promoted to the Top Division for 2027. China was relegated to Division I – Group B for 2027. April 12 – 18: Division I – Group B in Puigcerdà Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Netherlands was promoted to Division I – Group A for 2027. Spain was relegated to Division II – Group A for 2027. April 13 – 19: Division II – Group A in Bled Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Poland was promoted to Division I – Group B for 2027. On April 8, 2026, withdrew from the tournament due to logistical issues. As a result, no team was relegated to Division II – Group B.
IIHF World Championship May 15 – 31: 2026 IIHF World Championship in Zurich and Fribourg defeated , 1–0 in overtime, to win their fifth World Championship title. defeated , 3–2 in overtime, to win the bronze medal. and were relegated to Division I – Group A for 2027. Divisions
April 6 – 12: Division II – Group B in Sofia Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. No team was promoted to Division II – Group A due to the freezing of the group following their tournament's cancellation. Chinese Taipei was relegated to Division III – Group A for 2027. April 12 – 18: Division IV in Kuwait City The tournament was postponed due to the 2026 Iran war on March 18, 2026, and later cancelled on March 25, with the group's current composition frozen from promotion and relegation. April 13 – 19: Division III – Group A in Cape Town Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Turkey was promoted to Division II – Group B for 2027. Turkmenistan was relegated to Division III – Group B for 2027. April 13 – 19: Division III – Group B in Hong Kong Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Uzbekistan was promoted to Division III – Group A for 2027. No team was relegated to Division IV due to the freezing of the group following their tournament's cancellation. April 20 – 26: Division II – Group A in Al Ain The tournament was postponed due to the 2026 Iran war on March 18, 2026, and later cancelled on April 7, with the group's current composition frozen from promotion and relegation. April 29 – May 5: Division I – Group B in Shenzhen Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Estonia was promoted to Division I – Group A for 2027. No team was relegated to Division II – Group A due to the freezing of the group following their tournament's cancellation. May 2 – May 8: Division I – Group A in Sosnowiec Final Round Robin placements: 1. , 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. , 6. Kazakhstan and Ukraine were promoted to the Top Division for 2027. Japan was relegated to Division I – Group B for 2027.
National Hockey League (NHL) October 7, 2025 – April 16: 2025–26 NHL season Presidents' Trophy and Western Conference regular-season winners: Colorado Avalanche Eastern Conference regular-season winners: Carolina Hurricanes Art Ross Trophy winner: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) The 2026 All-Star Game was canceled due to the NHL's Olympic participation, with UBS Arena now scheduled to host the 2027 edition. 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 18 – June 14: 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs June 14: The Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Vegas Golden Knights four games to two in the Stanley Cup Finals to win their second Stanley Cup. June 26 and 27: 2026 NHL entry draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo #1: Gavin McKenna (to the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Penn State Nittany Lions)
Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) September 5, 2025 – March 20: 2025–26 KHL season Continental Cup and Eastern Conference regular-season winner: Metallurg Magnitogorsk Western Conference regular-season winner: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl March 23 – May 21: 2026 Gagarin Cup playoffs May 21: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl defeats Ak Bars Kazan, four games to two in the Gagarin Cup Finals, to win their second consecutive and second overall Gagarin Cup.
Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) November 21 – April 25: 2025–26 PWHL season Regular season winner: Montreal Victoire April 30 – May 20: 2026 Walter Cup playoffs May 20: The Montreal Victoire defeat the Ottawa Charge three games to one in the 2026 Walter Cup Finals to win their first Walter Cup.
North America Minor league professional (AHL/ECHL/SPHL) October 10, 2024 – April 19: 2025–26 AHL season Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy & Atlantic Division winners: Providence Bruins Central Division: Grand Rapids Griffins Pacific Division: Ontario Reign North Division: Laval Rocket January 23, 2026: 2026 Outdoor Classic at Tradition Veterans' Complex in Hastings The Milwaukee Admirals defeated the Iowa Wild, 3–2 in overtime. April 21 – June 19: 2026 Calder Cup playoffs June 19: The Toronto Marlies defeat the Chicago Wolves four games to one to win their second Calder Cup title. October 17, 2024 – April 19: 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. A tentative agreement was reached on December 27 to end the strike, which was subsequently ratified by the PHPA on December 30.