When Does Olympic Hockey Start? 2026 Men’s and Women’s Key Dates
Source : Picture by 2026 Getty Images
The ice hockey competitions at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina are currently underway, featuring the historic return of NHL players for the first time since 2014. The women’s tournament began on February 5, 2026, followed by the men’s tournament on February 11, 2026.
Men’s Tournament Overview
The men’s competition features 12 national teams divided into three groups of four. Preliminary round-robin play determines seeding for a single-elimination playoff bracket.
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Finland | USA |
| Czechia | Sweden | Germany |
| Switzerland | Slovakia | Latvia |
| France | Italy (Host) | Denmark |
Key Men’s Schedule Dates:
- Preliminary Round: February 11 – February 15, 2026
- Qualification Playoffs: February 17, 2026
- Quarterfinals: February 18, 2026
- Semifinals: February 20, 2026
- Gold Medal Game: February 22, 2026
Women’s Tournament Status
The women’s preliminary round is nearly complete. In a major early result on February 10, 2026, the United States routed defending champion Canada 5–0.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| USA (12 pts) – Clinched | Sweden (12 pts) – Clinched |
| Canada (6 pts) – Clinched | Germany (8 pts) |
| Czechia (4 pts) – Clinched | Italy (6 pts) – Clinched |
| Switzerland (2 pts) – Clinched | Japan (3 pts) |
| Finland (0 pts) – Clinched | France (1 pt) |
Women’s Tournament Overview
The women’s tournament consists of 10 teams and is currently in its final stages. In a notable preliminary result on February 10, the United States defeated defending champions Canada with a 5–0 shutout.
Key Women’s Schedule Dates:
- Preliminary Round: February 5 – February 10, 2026
- Quarterfinals: February 13 – February 14, 2026
- Semifinals: February 16, 2026
- Gold Medal Game: February 19, 2026
Tournament Overview
- Venues: All matches are being held in Milan at two primary arenas: the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena and the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
- Men’s Tournament: Features 12 teams and runs from February 11 to February 22, 2026.
- Women’s Tournament: Features 10 teams and runs from February 5 to February 19, 2026.
- Key Absences: Russia and Belarus remain banned from competition due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Notable NHL Stars Participating
Teams have selected full 25-man rosters featuring elite NHL talent.
- Canada: Led by captain Sidney Crosby, featuring Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and teenage star Macklin Celebrini.
- USA: Captained by Auston Matthews, with stars Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk, and Quinn Hughes.
- Germany: Anchored by Leon Draisaitl.
- Switzerland: Led by Roman Josi and Nico Hischier.
Upcoming Key Dates
- February 13–14: Women’s Quarterfinals.
- February 17: Men’s Qualification Playoff Round.
- February 18: Men’s Quarterfinals.
- February 19: Women’s Gold Medal Game.
- February 22: Men’s Gold Medal Game.