Currently running January 10–18, 2026, the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship is the top worldwide ice hockey competition for teenage female athletes. Held on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, the event is distributed between Sydney’s Centre 200 and the Membertou Sport & Wellness Centre.
With Canada returning as the defending gold medalist, eight elite countries are vying. With conventional powerhouses like the United States and Czechia in Group B, the competition has a new snake group structure. Canada leads Group A with Sweden, Switzerland, and a returning Hungarian team. This tournament is a critical exhibition for the future stars of the sport as they fight for world domination on home ice.
IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship 2026 Viewing Information
- Date: January 10 to 18, 2026.
- Venue: Sydney’s Centre 200 and the Membertou Sport & Wellness Centre.
- Start time: 9:00 AM ET.
- Defending Champion: Canada.
- Watch Live Stream: Start Watching Live Online (Available Worldwide)
2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship Schedule
| Date | Matchup / Round | ET Start Time | Local Time (AT) |
| Sat, Jan 10 | USA vs. Slovakia | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| Czechia vs. Finland | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM | |
| Sweden vs. Hungary | 4:00 PM | 5:00 PM | |
| Switzerland vs. Canada | 7:30 PM | 8:30 PM | |
| Sun, Jan 11 | Finland vs. Slovakia | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM |
| USA vs. Czechia | 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | |
| Mon, Jan 12 | Sweden vs. Switzerland | 10:00 AM | 11:00 AM |
| Canada vs. Hungary | 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | |
| Tue, Jan 13 | Czechia vs. Slovakia | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| Finland vs. USA | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM | |
| Canada vs. Sweden | 4:00 PM | 5:00 PM | |
| Hungary vs. Switzerland | 7:30 PM | 8:30 PM | |
| Thu, Jan 15 | Quarterfinal 1 | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| Quarterfinal 2 | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM | |
| Quarterfinal 3 | 4:00 PM | 5:00 PM | |
| Quarterfinal 4 | 7:30 PM | 8:30 PM | |
| Sat, Jan 17 | Relegation Game | 11:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| Semifinal 1 | 3:00 PM | 4:00 PM | |
| Semifinal 2 | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM | |
| Sun, Jan 18 | Bronze Medal Game | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
| Gold Medal Game | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
Participating Teams & Groups
The teams are divided into two groups of four using a serpentine seeding system based on their final ranking from 2025. The 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship features the top eight nations in the world.
| Group A | 2025 Rank | Group B | 2025 Rank |
| Canada (Host) | 1st | United States | 2nd |
| Sweden | 4th | Czechia | 3rd |
| Switzerland | 5th | Finland | 6th |
| Hungary | 8th (Promoted) | Slovakia | 7th |
How To Watch U-18 Women’s World Live in the USA, Canada, and Rest of the World?
- USA: All Team USA games air on NHL Network. Cord-cutters can stream via FuboTV, Sling TV (with Sports Extra), or YouTube TV by adding the necessary sports tiers.
- Canada: TSN and RDS provide exclusive coverage of all Team Canada games, the semifinals, and medal rounds. You can stream these on the TSN App or TSN+ with a digital-only subscription.
- Rest of World: Fans outside North America can watch every tournament game live and on-demand through IIHF.tv. A “Championship Pass” is typically available for roughly €10.
2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship Preview
The 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship kicked off today in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, marking the tournament’s third time on Canadian soil. Host and defending champion Canada aims for a fourth title in five years, led by returning standouts Caileigh Tiller and Maddie McCullough. They face stiff competition from a deep USA squad seeking revenge for 2025’s gold-medal shutout, anchored by star goaltender Morgan Stickney.
Key storylines include Slovakia’s Nela Lopušanová chasing the all-time tournament points record in her final U18 appearance and Hungary’s return to the top flight. With 70% of tickets sold, the event serves as a high-stakes audition for future PWHL and Olympic stars, culminating in the Gold Medal Game on January 18.
Why IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship 2026 Will Be Special?
The 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship is uniquely historic as it integrates deep cultural heritage with elite athletic milestones. Hosted in Nova Scotia, it features a landmark partnership with the Membertou First Nation, debuting a Mi’kmaq-inspired Team Canada jersey and providing 1,000 tickets to Indigenous youth to foster inclusivity.
On the ice, the spotlight is on Slovakian phenom Nela Lopušanová, who enters her final U18 tournament just seven points shy of breaking the all-time scoring record held by Kendall Coyne Schofield. Additionally, the event marks a “new era” for the IIHF, using a revamped serpentine seeding format that ensures more competitive parity. For host Canada, it’s a quest for a fourth title in five years on home soil.
Match Details: Why This Event is a Must-Watch
The 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship is a “must-watch” because it showcases the future stars of the PWHL and Olympic stage in a historically unpredictable environment. Unlike the senior division, the U18 tournament has seen frequent upsets, with non-traditional powerhouses like Czechia and Sweden breaking the Canada-USA “Gold Medal” monopoly in recent years.
This edition is especially vital as Slovakian superstar Nela Lopušanová attempts to break the all-time tournament scoring record on home soil’s neighbor. With Canada seeking back-to-back gold and the USA bringing a roster that has medaled 17 years straight, the stakes are peak. It’s a rare chance to see elite, high-stakes hockey played with the raw intensity of athletes fighting for their first world title.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the event? An annual international ice hockey tournament for female players under the age of 18, sanctioned by the IIHF.
- When is it? January 10–18, 2026.
- Where is it being held? In Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Preliminary games are at the Membertou Sport & Wellness Centre; playoff games are at Centre 200 in Sydney.
- How much are tickets? Single-game tickets start at $20 CAD. Gold Medal Game tickets are approximately $35 CAD.
- Are there packages? Yes, “Medal Round Packages” (covering all 9 playoff games) start at $200 CAD, and family 4-packs offer a “buy 3, get 1 free” discount.
- When do doors open? Venue doors open one hour prior to puck drop for all games.
- How old are the players? Players must be female and born on or after January 1, 2008.
- How many teams are there? 8 teams in the Top Division: Canada, USA, Sweden, Czechia, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Hungary.
