The World Junior Championship runs from December 26 to January 5, and Edmonton is at the centre of it: Team Canada plays every preliminary round game at Rogers Place, and the semifinals and gold medal game are here too. For Edmontonians, that means eleven days of world-class hockey right downtown, in the middle of the holidays.
Whether you've got tickets, you're hoping to find some, or you plan to follow along from the couch, here's how to make the most of the tournament as an adult in the city: the schedule, game day tips, a New Year's Eve plan and a day trip worth taking.
Team Canada's schedule in Edmonton
Canada plays all four of its preliminary round games at Rogers Place, and every one starts at 5 p.m.:
Edmonton hosts Group B, which also includes Czechia, Latvia, Norway and Switzerland, so there's hockey downtown almost every day of the preliminary round. The quarterfinals are on January 2, the semifinals on January 4, and the bronze and gold medal games on January 5, all with games at Rogers Place.
Watching the games you can't get tickets for
Even die-hard fans won't make it to every game. With up to four games a day across Edmonton and Red Deer, most of the tournament will be watched at home, at a friend's place or around a holiday table.
If you've cut the cord, the World Juniors are a good reason to sort out live TV before Christmas. More Edmonton households now stream live channels through an IPTV subscription, which brings live TV to an app on your smart TV or streaming box with a familiar channel guide and no cable box to rent. If you go that route, set it up early, confirm the sports channels you want are included, and test it on a regular game before Boxing Day.
A few tips for watching at home:
Plan dinner around 5 p.m. Every Canada preliminary game lands right at supper time, so make it the main event.
Go wired if you can. An ethernet cable to your TV is far steadier than Wi-Fi when the whole family is online over the holidays.
Keep the afternoon free. Some of the best non-Canada matchups start in the early afternoon.
Getting tickets
Tickets for the World Juniors in Edmonton were first offered through Hockey Canada's priority draw, which has now closed. Game packages for Edmonton ranged from eight-game bundles to a full-event package, and Hockey Canada is also offering premium VIP packages with medal round seats and exclusive experiences.
If you're shopping for tickets now, stick to official sellers and verified resale platforms. Holiday sporting events are a magnet for ticket scams, so be wary of social media sellers asking for e-transfers, and never pay for tickets you can't verify.
Making a game day of it downtown
A World Juniors game is more than three periods of hockey. A little planning turns it into a full night out, and theweekend guide is a handy way to see what else is on downtown around game time:
Take transit. Rogers Place sits right in ICE District, a short walk from downtown LRT stations, which saves you from holiday parking and icy lots.
Eat early. With 5 p.m. puck drops for Canada, book an early lunch or a late afternoon bite downtown, or plan a post-game dinner instead.
Dress for the walk. Late December in Edmonton can mean -25°C with the wind chill. Layers, a warm hat and good boots make the walk to and from the arena a lot more pleasant.
Soak up the atmosphere. ICE District hosted dozens of free watch parties during last summer's World Cup, so keep an eye out for fan events and gatherings around the arena during the tournament.
New Year's Eve with Team Canada
Canada's final preliminary game, against Czechia on December 31, might be the best ticket in town. Czechia played for gold last year, and this game will likely decide first place in Edmonton's group.
With a 5 p.m. start, it also fits neatly into a New Year's Eve plan. Catch the game, head out for a late dinner downtown, and still have plenty of time to ring in 2027 at one of the parties on theEdmonton events calendar. If you're watching at home, the game makes a great opening act for a New Year's party.
A day trip to Red Deer
The other half of the tournament is played about an hour and a half south at Red Deer's Marchant Crane Centrium, home of the WHL's Rebels. Group A features Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden and the United States, including a Sweden vs. Finland rivalry game on opening day.
A Red Deer game makes a good holiday day trip: an easy drive down the QE2, a game in an intimate junior hockey arena and back in Edmonton by evening. Check road conditions before you go, and leave extra time for winter driving.
The medal round
The biggest days of the tournament all happen in Edmonton. The quarterfinals are split between Edmonton and Red Deer on Saturday, January 2. The two semifinals are at Rogers Place on Monday, January 4, at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and the bronze and gold medal games follow on Tuesday, January 5, at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Edmonton has a good track record with this tournament. Canada won gold the last time the World Juniors came here, in the summer of 2022, and the city has now hosted the event four times since 2012.
Frequently asked questions
When are the World Juniors in Edmonton?
The World Juniors run from December 26, 2026, to January 5, 2027, with games at Rogers Place in Edmonton and the Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer.
What time does Canada play at the World Juniors?
Canada's four preliminary round games all start at 5 p.m. Mountain Time at Rogers Place.
Are World Juniors tickets still available?
The priority ticket draw has closed, but VIP packages and resale tickets may still be available. Buy only from official sellers and verified resale platforms.
Where is the World Juniors gold medal game?
The gold medal game is at Rogers Place in Edmonton on January 5, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time.
Make it a holiday tradition
The World Juniors are one of the best things about the holidays in Canada, and having them right here in Edmonton makes them even better. Grab tickets if you can, plan a few game days downtown, and set up your living room for the rest. By January 5, you'll have spent the season the way hockey fans dream of.
