The schedule for the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship has been confirmed, with the world’s best women’s hockey teams set to begin their quest for gold on 6 November 2026 in the Danish cities of Herning and Esbjerg.
The tournament will feature 10 teams competing for the world title, with preliminary-round action running through 11 November before the championship enters the playoff stage. The medal games will take place on Monday, 16 November.
Group A will feature the United States, Czechia, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, with all preliminary-round games played in Esbjerg. Group B will include Canada, Finland, Sweden, Japan and host nation Denmark, with preliminary-round action taking place in Herning.
The opening day will immediately deliver several exciting matchups. Canada will face Sweden, while Finland takes on host Denmark. In Group A, Czechia opens against Austria and the United States faces Switzerland.
Following the preliminary round, the playoff stage begins on Friday, 13 November with the relegation game and all four quarter-finals. The two semi-finals will be played on Sunday, 15 November, before the bronze and gold medal games conclude the tournament on Monday, 16 November.
This year’s tournament will also mark the introduction of the new competition format. Unlike in previous years, when the top five teams were placed together in Group A and the next five teams in Group B, the groups are now balanced based on the World Ranking and the results of last year's tournament. As a result, both groups feature a more even distribution of teams, creating competitive matchups throughout the preliminary round and adding further excitement to the race for the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship title.
Game Schedule is available here.
The tournament will feature 10 teams competing for the world title, with preliminary-round action running through 11 November before the championship enters the playoff stage. The medal games will take place on Monday, 16 November.
Group A will feature the United States, Czechia, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, with all preliminary-round games played in Esbjerg. Group B will include Canada, Finland, Sweden, Japan and host nation Denmark, with preliminary-round action taking place in Herning.
The opening day will immediately deliver several exciting matchups. Canada will face Sweden, while Finland takes on host Denmark. In Group A, Czechia opens against Austria and the United States faces Switzerland.
Following the preliminary round, the playoff stage begins on Friday, 13 November with the relegation game and all four quarter-finals. The two semi-finals will be played on Sunday, 15 November, before the bronze and gold medal games conclude the tournament on Monday, 16 November.
This year’s tournament will also mark the introduction of the new competition format. Unlike in previous years, when the top five teams were placed together in Group A and the next five teams in Group B, the groups are now balanced based on the World Ranking and the results of last year's tournament. As a result, both groups feature a more even distribution of teams, creating competitive matchups throughout the preliminary round and adding further excitement to the race for the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship title.
Game Schedule is available here.