Publication date: 08 Jul 2025
About the Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championship is one of the most prestigious ice hockey competitions in the world. It takes place annually and has been organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) since 1920.
Originally, the tournament was only held as part of the Winter Olympics, but since 1930 it has been held annually and until 1991 it was known as the World and European Championships.
The world championships in women’s ice hockey have been held since 1990.
Official website of the International Ice Hockey Federation
2026 Ice Hockey World Championships
Where will the matches be held?
In 2026, the Ice Hockey World Championship will be held in Switzerland — in the cities of Zurich and Fribourg. The tournament is scheduled for the period from May 15 to 31.
The matches will be held in two modern arenas: Swiss Life Arena in Zurich, which can accommodate about 11,200 spectators, and BCF Arena in Fribourg with a capacity of about 8,000 people.
Who will take part?
The tournament will bring together 14 of the world’s best national teams, divided into two groups by city.
So far, it is known that the participation of the Russian and Belarusian teams remains in question due to the current restrictions.
The 2026 World Championship is a great opportunity to see the best hockey players on the planet in action and enjoy the atmosphere of a real sports festival in one of the most beautiful corners of Europe.
History of the Championship
The first World Championship took place in 1920 during the VII Olympic Games but the competition did not gain World Championship status until 1982.
Since 1976, not only professional but also amateur players have participated in the World Championships.
Sweden has staged the world championships 11 times.
Over the history of the championships, Canada and the USSR/Russia have each won 27 gold medals.
Previous IIHF World Championships results
| The year | Venue | Results / Places by country |
| 2025 | Sweden, Denmark | 1 – USA
2 – Switzerland 3 – Sweden |
| 2024 | Czech Republic | 1 – Finland
2 – Canada 3 – Czech Republic |
| 2023 | Latvia, Finland | 1 – Canada
2 – Germany 3 – Latvia |
2027 Ice Hockey World Championships
It is already known that the 90th Ice Hockey World Championship will be held in Germany in the spring of 2027.
Keep an eye on the dates of the ice hockey championships and other events in our Sports Events Calendar.
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