WHC 2026-2028

[KTl]

Seems like a lot of countries plan to apply for hosting the WHC 2026 to 2028. Seems like Switzerland is certain for 2026, unless they can shuffle with one of the previous hosts (Russia 2023?)

The following federations have declared interest:

• Kazakhstan 2026 or 2027, Nur-Sultan and Almaty, ~12.000 seats each

• Great Britain 2026, location?, last WHC 1950

• Norway 2026, last WHC 1999

• Germany 2027 or 2028, last WHC 2017 with France

• Austria 2027, planed WH arena in Vienna, 20.000 seats, last WHC 2005
  
  My guess is that some of those cannot host alone, so we will see a couple of join applications (maybe UK + Norway?, maybe Austria + Slovakia?).

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[alko]

Seems like a lot of countries plan to apply for hosting the WHC 2026 to 2028. Seems like Switzerland is certain for 2026, unless they can shuffle with one of the previous hosts (Russia 2023?)

The following federations have declared interest:

• Kazakhstan 2026 or 2027, Nur-Sultan and Almaty, ~12.000 seats each

• Great Britain 2026, location?, last WHC 1950

• Norway 2026, last WHC 1999

• Germany 2027 or 2028, last WHC 2017 with France

• Austria 2027, planed WH arena in Vienna, 20.000 seats, last WHC 2005
  
  My guess is that some of those cannot host alone, so we will see a couple of join applications (maybe UK + Norway?, maybe Austria + Slovakia?).

In Slovakia there must be a new big arena. That was said after last WCH.

 

[BOS358]

In Slovakia there must be a new big arena. That was said after last WCH.

I believe that was for them to host the tournament in its entirety. If they were to co-host with Austria, then the Ondrej Nepela Arena would be sufficient and the Austrian group could be at the arena in Innsbruck.

As for the others mentioned by @KTI, I have no idea where new arenas are being planned or if they are at all, but I looked on Wikipedia for some potential sites for those countries.

GB could host in London and Manchester.

Germany has arenas in Cologne, Mannheim, Berlin, Dusseldorf, and Munich (and possibly others).

Norway only has Hakons Hall in Lillehammer, so they would need to either build another arena or co-host.

Austria has the previously mentioned Olympiahalle in Innsbruck, and if the new arena in Vienna gets built, those two cities could easily host.

 

[member 305909]

As we all know Austria is a winter-sport country but somehow that doesn't include hockey which is still regarded as a winter-sport.

The same could be said about Norway.

 

[BOS358]

As we all know Austria is a winter-sport country but somehow that doesn't include hockey which is still regarded as a winter-sport.

The same could be said about Norway.

Most people refer to skiing and related activities as "winter sports," much like how some sports aren't considered "summer sports" despite playing mostly in summer. With all those mountains in Norway and Austria, I'm not surprised that skiing dominates there.

 

[member 305909]

Hockey has come a long way from its roots. A good thing in a way because if it hadn't there couldn't be teams in places like Arizona or Vegas.

 

[hanshin44]

Seems like a lot of countries plan to apply for hosting the WHC 2026 to 2028. Seems like Switzerland is certain for 2026, unless they can shuffle with one of the previous hosts (Russia 2023?)

The following federations have declared interest:

• Kazakhstan 2026 or 2027, Nur-Sultan and Almaty, ~12.000 seats each

• Great Britain 2026, location?, last WHC 1950

• Norway 2026, last WHC 1999

• Germany 2027 or 2028, last WHC 2017 with France

• Austria 2027, planed WH arena in Vienna, 20.000 seats, last WHC 2005
  
  My guess is that some of those cannot host alone, so we will see a couple of join applications (maybe UK + Norway?, maybe Austria + Slovakia?).

Germany probably has the best infrastructure out of the group, considering their league is the best of the three. Arguably the UK has the best potential here, could help expand the sport in a country where it's mad basically no impact. Austria teaming with Slovakia would work well but they don't need a joint application, they have the ability to host it in their arenas. If Belarus can host it in 2014, Denmark in 2018, I know they can host it by themselves.
Switzerland in 2026, Germany in 2027, Austria in 2028. That would be genius as they all border one another and have the interest to really support it. UK is the biggest gamble I'd say. Norway would work fine. Kazakhstan I know absolutely nothing about despite having been there several times and seen their KHL teams.

 

[BOS358]

Switzerland in 2026, Germany in 2027, Austria in 2028. That would be genius

..because these are all places I desperately want to visit in the near future.

Fixed your post.

 

[hanshin44]

..because these are all places I desperately want to visit in the near future.

Fixed your post.

No, not particularly. In my eyes it just makes sense, because German/Austrian hockey fans would go to Switzerland, Swiss/Austrian fans to Germany, German/Swiss fans to Austria. Would help the region quite a bit and peak interest.

 

[BOS358]

It does make sense, but I guess I should have been clearer. Those are all countries that I want to travel to, so I'm all for them hosting, and the sooner, the better!

 

[BlizzardSloth]

Switzerland in 2026, Germany in 2027, Austria in 2028.

Living in Zurich with Austria and Germany within 1-2 hours per train I very much approve of this idea.

 

[Urbanskog]

Norway doesn't have adequate facilities to host the tournament.

 

[adsfan]

Seems like a lot of countries plan to apply for hosting the WHC 2026 to 2028. Seems like Switzerland is certain for 2026, unless they can shuffle with one of the previous hosts (Russia 2023?)

The following federations have declared interest:

• Kazakhstan 2026 or 2027, Nur-Sultan and Almaty, ~12.000 seats each

• Great Britain 2026, location?, last WHC 1950

• Norway 2026, last WHC 1999

• Germany 2027 or 2028, last WHC 2017 with France

• Austria 2027, planed WH arena in Vienna, 20.000 seats, last WHC 2005
  
  My guess is that some of those cannot host alone, so we will see a couple of join applications (maybe UK + Norway?, maybe Austria + Slovakia?).

From a geographic viewpoint, Austria would match up with the Czech Republic as a pair south and north.

 

[alko]

From a geographic viewpoint, Austria would match up with the Czech Republic as a pair south and north.

Czechs doesnt need to cooperate with others.

 

[KTl]

Czechs doesnt need to cooperate with others.

Neither does Sweden, however the 2025 WCH is shared with Denmark.

 

[BOS358]

From a geographic viewpoint, Austria would match up with the Czech Republic as a pair south and north.

It would work just as well with Slovakia (Innsbruck and Bratislava). And this is even more likely than an Austria/ Czech partnership because right now, both countries have only one arena that fits the IIHF's standards.