CALGARY — Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., will host the 2027 World Junior Hockey Championship after two previous plans to split the international tournament between the cities were derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the International Ice Hockey Federation announced host cities Tuesday for the tournament, which will run from Dec. 26, 2026 to Jan. 5, 2027.
Edmonton and Red Deer were originally chosen to host the tournament in 2021, but pandemic restrictions meant all games were played at Rogers Place in Edmonton without fans in attendance.
The cities were then awarded the right to host the 2022 tournament, but it was canceled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
It was later played in August at Rogers Place, but attendance was poor. International Ice Hockey Federation officials say high admission prices, the odd timing of the tournament and emerging allegations of sexual abuse against members of Canada's 2018 junior national team contributed to the lack of fans.
The 18,500-seat Rogers Place will once again serve as the main venue and host 17 games, including both the semi-finals and medal games.
An additional 14 games are scheduled at the 7,050-seat Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer.
Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary co-hosted the tournament in 1995 when the tournament debuted in Alberta. Edmonton and Calgary also took part in 2012.
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, will host the 2026 World Cup. Host USA will enter the tournament as the defending champion after winning the 2025 tournament in Ottawa.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2025.
