Group play opens Dec. 26 in Alberta. The medal games land on Jan. 5. Every date, time and building is locked into the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship Schedule.
IIHF World Junior Championship Schedule 2027
Groups and venues
- Group A (Marchant Crane Centrium, Red Deer): United States, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Slovakia
- Group B (Rogers Place, Edmonton): Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, Latvia, Norway
Rogers Place also hosts the relegation game, both semifinals, the bronze-medal game and the final. The top four from each group move on to the quarterfinals on Jan. 2.
What to watch early
- USA opens against Germany on Dec. 26 (9:30 p.m. ET)
- Canada starts against Switzerland the same night (7:00 p.m. ET)
- Sweden, the defending champion, faces Finland on opening day
- New Year’s Eve brings USA–Sweden and Czechia–Canada
The United States is coming off a fifth-place finish in 2026 after back-to-back golds in 2024 and 2025. Canada returns with a deep draft-heavy group. Sweden arrives as the reigning champion.
How the knockout round works
- Quarterfinals + relegation — Jan. 2
- Semifinals — Jan. 4 at Rogers Place
- Bronze and gold medal games — Jan. 5 at Rogers Place
Games air on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN/RDS in Canada. Russia remains banned from IIHF play.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2027 World Juniors start?
December 26, 2026, with four group games.
Where is the tournament played?
Edmonton (Rogers Place) and Red Deer (Marchant Crane Centrium), Alberta.
When is the championship game?
January 5, 2027, at 9:30 p.m. ET at Rogers Place.
Who does the U.S. play first?
Germany on Dec. 26 at 9:30 p.m. ET in Red Deer.
Where is the full IIHF World Junior Championship Schedule?
The complete World Juniors schedule with every date, venue and ET time is listed above.
