2026 IIHF World Championship: Complete Tournament Preview

From May 15 to 31, Switzerland becomes the center of the ice hockey world. The 2026 IIHF World Championship brings together 16 nations across two venues — Group A plays at the brand new Swiss Life Arena in Zürich, while Group B is hosted at BCF Arena in Fribourg.

Finland enters as the top-ranked nation in the world and will be looking to add another gold to their recent run of dominance. Canada and Sweden are the perennial favorites, both arriving with rosters packed with NHL stars freed up by early playoff exits.

The United States and Switzerland share a group and meet on opening night in what is already being billed as the game of the round. With home ice in Zürich and a 2024 silver medal under their belts, the Swiss have arguably never had a better chance to reach a final on home soil.

The format is unchanged from recent years: round-robin play in each group of eight, with the top four advancing to single-elimination quarterfinals on May 28. Semifinals follow on May 30, with the bronze and gold medal games on May 31 — all played in Zürich.