Edmonton and Red Deer in Alberta have been chosen to jointly host the 2027 world junior hockey championship. The decision was made following the cancellation of previous plans due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 26, 2026, to January 5, 2027.
Originally selected to host the 2021 edition, Edmonton and Red Deer had to adapt as pandemic restrictions forced all games to be held at Edmonton’s Rogers Place without any spectators. Subsequently, the 2022 tournament was also awarded to the same cities but was canceled due to outbreaks of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
The tournament was eventually held in August at Rogers Place, but faced challenges with low attendance. Officials from the International Ice Hockey Federation attributed the lack of fans to the high cost of tickets, the unusual timing of the event, and allegations of sexual assault involving members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team.
Rogers Place, with a capacity of 18,500 seats, will once again be the main venue hosting 17 games, including the semifinals and medal matches. The remaining 14 games will take place at the 7,050-seat Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer.
The 1995 tournament marked the debut of the world junior championship in Alberta, with Red Deer, Edmonton, and Calgary as co-hosts. In 2012, Edmonton and Calgary also joined forces to host the event.
Looking ahead, Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota are preparing to host the 2026 world championship. The United States, as the host nation, will enter the tournament as the defending champion following their victory in the 2025 event held in Ottawa.