World Junior Hockey Championships coming to St. Paul 

USA Hockey announced on January 5 that St. Paul and Minneapolis will serve as host of the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championship. The 10-nation tournament features the best men’s players in the world under 20 years of age. 

The 2026 event marks the 50th anniversary of the IIHF World Junior Championship. Xcel Energy Center, home of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild in St. Paul, and 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis, will serve as the competition venues.

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship will mark just the seventh time the U.S. has hosted the event. The first-ever U.S. host site was in Minneapolis/Saint Paul in 1982.

The 29 games of the championship take place over 10 days from December 26, 2025 – January 5, 2026.
Learn more at mnsportsandevents.org/2026-World-Junior-Hockey-Championship.