Hockey Schedule 2026-27: Every Major League on One Page
The hockey schedule 2026-27 spans the NHL and the main European leagues, with seasons opening between 1 September and 29 September 2026. This page lines up the confirmed start and end dates, the special events and the points where playoff dates are still to be announced.
Hockey Schedule 2026-27 at a Glance
Ice hockey does not have one calendar, it has several overlapping ones. The NHL season runs from 29 September 2026 to 10 April 2027, while most European leagues start in September and finish their regular seasons between late February and late March 2027. Playoffs then run into April and May, and the national-team season closes with the World Championship in Germany in May 2027.
If you are building a trip, the useful question is not only when each league plays, but which weeks overlap. Early autumn is the busiest period for a hockey fan: nearly every league is in its opening weeks, arenas are fresh, and travel is still cheap in terms of weather risk. Midwinter has fewer European league dates because of international breaks and the big tournaments around Christmas.
Hockey schedule 2026-27: the confirmed season windows
- NHL: 29 Sep 2026 to 10 Apr 2027, 84 games per team, playoffs from mid-April.
- Liiga (Finland): from 1 Sep 2026, regular season ending 23 Mar 2027.
- DEL (Germany): 17 Sep 2026 to 7 Mar 2027, playoffs from 10 Mar.
- SHL (Sweden): 19 Sep 2026 to 16 Mar 2027.
- National League (Switzerland), Czech Extraliga, Ligue Magnus: all start on 15 Sep 2026.
- ICE Hockey League: 18 Sep 2026 to 24 Feb 2027 for the regular season.
- Elite League (UK): 12 Sep 2026 to 18 Apr 2027 including cup and playoffs.
Anything not listed here, such as exact playoff start dates in several countries, is not announced yet and we will not guess it.
NHL Hockey Schedule 2026-27: Dates That Matter
The NHL moves to an 84-game regular season for the first time, so the calendar is longer than fans may remember: 1,344 games in total across the league between 29 September 2026 and 10 April 2027. The playoffs start in mid-April 2027, with the exact first date not announced yet, and the Stanley Cup Final is expected in June 2027.
NHL special events in the 2026-27 schedule
- 25 Oct 2026: Heritage Classic, Winnipeg against Montréal, Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
- 12 and 14 Nov 2026: Global Series in Helsinki, Veikkaus Arena, Seattle and Carolina each hosting one game.
- 18 and 20 Dec 2026: Global Series in DĂŒsseldorf, PSD Bank Dome, Ottawa and Chicago each hosting one game.
- 31 Dec 2026: Winter Classic, Utah against Colorado, Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City.
- 4 to 7 Feb 2027: All-Star break, with the event at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
- 20 Feb 2027: Stadium Series, Dallas against Vegas, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Looking beyond the 2026-27 schedule
Nothing is announced for 2027-28 yet. The league usually publishes its full schedule in the summer, so the next real dates will most likely arrive around July 2027. The World Cup of Hockey is set for February 2028 in Calgary, Edmonton and Prague with eight teams.
European Hockey Calendar 2026-27: League by League
European leagues are shorter than the NHL, typically 44 to 68 games per team, which means more intense calendars with a game almost every weekend and often a midweek date as well. That is good news for visitors: you can usually fit a game into a city break without planning months ahead.
SHL, Liiga and the Nordic hockey calendar
Sweden's SHL has 14 teams playing 52 games, starting on 19 September 2026 with the regular season ending on 16 March 2027. Finland's Liiga is in a transitional year with 17 teams and 64 games each, starting on 1 September and finishing the regular season on 23 March 2027. Both leagues keep their final playoff schedules for later announcement.
DEL, National League, Extraliga and Ligue Magnus dates
Germany's DEL plays 52 games per team over 14 clubs, with playoffs starting 10 March 2027 and a champion decided by 30 April 2027 at the latest. Switzerland's National League and the Czech Extraliga also run 14 teams and 52 games, both opening on 15 September 2026. France's Ligue Magnus has 12 clubs playing 44 games, also opening on 15 September 2026.
ICE Hockey League and Elite League dates
The ICE Hockey League brings together 14 clubs from Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy, playing 52 games from 18 September 2026. The UK's Elite League has 10 teams playing 54 league games from 12 September 2026, plus cup competition and playoffs through 18 April 2027.
Hockey Calendar 2026-27: International Tournaments and Cups
The club calendar is only half of the picture. Several international events sit on top of it and can be the main reason to book a trip.
Champions Hockey League dates and Spengler Cup
The Champions Hockey League brings 24 teams together in a single league table, with the final scheduled for 23 February 2027 at a venue still to be announced. The Spengler Cup in Davos is traditionally played in late December; the exact 2026 dates are to be confirmed.
World Juniors 2027 schedule
The World Junior Championship takes place in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, from 26 December 2026 to 5 January 2027. It overlaps the Christmas period and the NHL Winter Classic on 31 December, so fans in North America have a crowded week.
World Championship 2027 dates in Germany
The men's World Championship runs from 13 to 30 May 2027 in DĂŒsseldorf and Mannheim, with the opening game on 13 May at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen. It overlaps with the closing weeks of European playoffs and the NHL conference finals period, which is why the tournament rosters often change as national teams are confirmed.
Hockey Season Dates 2026-27: Building a Trip Around the Calendar
The best trips combine two or three games in a short window. A few combinations work particularly well based on the confirmed dates.
Autumn hockey dates: a Nordic or Central European weekend
From mid-September to early November every European league is in full swing. A Friday in Switzerland or Czechia followed by a Saturday in Germany or Austria is realistic because the arenas are close by rail or short flights. Check the club fixture once released, since weekday games are common.
December schedule: DĂŒsseldorf and the holiday tournaments
The NHL Global Series games in DĂŒsseldorf on 18 and 20 December 2026 fall in the same week as the beginning of the holiday tournament period. After that, fans can follow the World Juniors in Alberta, which begin on 26 December, or look to Davos for the Spengler Cup in late December, dates to be confirmed.
Spring dates: playoffs and the World Championship
March and April are playoff season for most leagues, with schedules often set only a few days ahead. If you want to see a deciding game, plan flexibly and book refundable travel where possible. In May, the World Championship in Germany becomes the centre of the hockey calendar.
Hockey Schedule Tickets: When and How to Buy
Ticket timing differs by league. Season-ticket holders get first access in most places, then individual game sales open to the public, often a few weeks before the season starts for regular fixtures. Special events and tournaments usually follow their own staged sale, sometimes with a presale for registered fans before general sale.
Buying hockey tickets from abroad
Always start with the official box office of the club or event. Resale marketplaces exist, but they can be more expensive and you should check delivery rules and venue transfer policies before buying. Our email alert tells you when official windows open so you do not need to check every site every day.
What is not confirmed yet in the schedule
Playoff dates in several leagues, the exact dates of the 2026 Spengler Cup, ticketing details for the 2027 World Championship and everything for the NHL 2027-28 season are not announced yet. We update this page as soon as official information is available.