2026 World Junior Championship schedule

Tournament in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, from Dec. 26-Jan. 5

, and ASMedia

2025 December 23 . 5:27 AM

1 min read

This image is taken in a stadium. At the bottom of the image there is a board and a pole. In the... — This image is taken in a stadium. At the bottom of the image there is a board and a pole. In the middle of the image a few men are playing ice hockey with hockey sticks and skates. In the background many people are sitting on the chairs. There are a few lights and a few people are standing. There are many boards with text on them.

2026 World Junior Championship schedule

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship will take place in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Running from December 26 to January 5, the tournament will feature top young hockey talent from around the world.

The event kicks off on December 26 with four preliminary-round matches. One highlight is the U.S. facing Germany at 6 p.m. ET in St. Paul’s Grand Casino Arena. Later that evening, Canada, led by projected 2026 top draft pick Gavin McKenna, will take on Czechia at 8:30 p.m. ET in Minneapolis.

The preliminary round runs until December 31, with all games split between two venues. The U.S. will play its group matches—including clashes with Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Germany—at Grand Casino Arena. Meanwhile, Canada’s Group B games against Finland, Czechia, Latvia, and Denmark will be held at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

The knockout stage begins on January 2 with the quarterfinals. The semifinals follow on January 4, and the medal games will close the tournament on January 5.

Teams will compete across two arenas in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. The U.S. and Canada enter as strong contenders, each playing in front of home crowds. The tournament will showcase future NHL stars before a global audience.