ST PAUL, Minn. — USA Hockey made it official Friday, announcing that Minnesota will host the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Hockey Championship and reap the economic benefits that come with it.
The annual tourney brings together the top men's players from across the globe under the age of 20 currently representing 10 nations, with Russia and Belarus being excluded due to the war in Ukraine. The U.S. team is preparing to take on Sweden to determine the 2024 World Junior Champion.
"We're excited to bring this 50th-anniversary edition of the World Juniors to the state of hockey," said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. "We know the teams and fans are in for a first-class experience at world-class venues."
Games will take place at Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul and Mariucci Arena on the U of M campus in Minneapolis between Dec. 26, 2025, and Jan. 5, 2026. Hockey fans will stream into the State of Hockey from near and far, ready to drop plenty of dollars on lodging, food, shopping and tourist activities.
"This event happens at a time of year when hotel occupancy in St Paul is typcially about five percent," said Wendy Blackshaw, President and CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events. "Hundreds of thousands fans, players, coaches, people will come in, and it's not just the economic impact, which we estimate, based on a number of different formulas to be in the $70-80 million range. We are going to be internationally televised all over the world. It's almost like a commercial for our community."
The event will also feature team camps and exhibition games in cities across the state of Minnesota in the days leading up to the tournament in the Twin Cities. The timing and locations have yet to be decided, but will likely include cities like Rochester and Duluth.
"Minnesota is thrilled to host the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship - another major sporting event that brings excitement and an economic boost to the state," said Governor Tim Walz. "We look forward to welcoming teams and fans from across the globe and showing everyone what it means to be the State of Hockey."
Beyond the games, the bid by Minnesota Sports and Events also promised community events and attractions to help add to the appeal for families, curious Minnesotans and casual fans.
"We're doing a fan-fest that will be at Rice Park in St Paul, we'll probably also do a fan-fest in Xcel Energy Center," Blackshaw said. "We're doing all of these community events that don't just bring in people to go to the games, but a lot of other activities that people can be a part of."
"We're grateful to USA Hockey and the organizers from Minnesota," said Luc Tardif, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation. "Minnesota is rich with hockey history and it will be a most appropriate setting to host the 50th anniversary of this great championship."
The 2026 World Junior Championship will mark a homecoming of sorts: Minneapolis and St. Paul hosted the first-ever Worlds to be staged in the U.S. back in 1982. Other American locations include Anchorage, A.K. (1989), Boston (1996), Grand Forks, N.D. (2005), and Buffalo, N.Y. (2011 and 2018).
As is the case every year at the World Juniors, fans will get a chance to see the A-list of young hockey stars, many of whom will go on to play in the NHL. Among the Minnesotans who have represented Team USA are former Gophers Nick Bjugstad, Logan Cooley, Brock Faber, Hudson Fasching, Alex Goligoski, Erik Haula, Erik Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Matthew Knies, Jackson LaCombe, Ryan Lindgren, Casey Mittelstadt, Kyle Okposo, Mike Reilly, Brady Skjei and Blake Wheeler.
For more on the 2026 World Junior Championship and early ticket information, check out the Minnesota Sports and Events website.
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