(Tourism Red Deer/Supplied)

By Ian Gustafson

World's best junior players

2027 World Juniors coming to Red Deer

Nov 18, 2025 | 12:05 PM

Hockey Canada announced that Edmonton and Red Deer will host the 2027 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship.

The announcement was made on Tuesday morning in Edmonton in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League and the IIHF.

The tournament is set to take place from Dec. 26, 2026, to Jan. 5, 2027, at Rogers Place in Edmonton and at the Centrium in Red Deer.

“We are thrilled to welcome the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship back to our region. Red Deer’s love for this game and our reputation for hospitality is the perfect combination to ensure an unforgettable experience for every athlete and fan in attendance,” said Jesse Smith, CEO of Tourism Red Deer. “This event, and others like it, continues to demonstrate our region’s ability to host on a national and international level.”

The bid was put together through a partnership between OEG Sports & Entertainment, the Red Deer Rebels, Hockey Alberta, the cities of Edmonton and Red Deer, and the Government of Alberta. In February 2024, the province invested $11 million to host events in communities throughout Alberta.

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The tournament will bring the best junior hockey players in the world to both communities, including 17 games at Rogers Place and 14 games at the Centrium in Red Deer.

Edmonton will serve as the primary venue and will host both semifinals and the bronze and gold medal games.

“We’re beyond excited for our fans, partners, and community to once again welcome the hockey world to Red Deer. This is a community that loves events, and we know their passion will be on full display once again next December,” said Merrick Sutter, senior vice-president of the Red Deer Rebels.

Outside of the games, fans will be able to take part in a variety of celebrations and activities, with exciting tournament activations planned both on-site and throughout the community.

The tournament is expected to bring over 20,000 attendees and generate over $15 million in visitor spending in both communities. Red Deer can expect approximately $3 million of that and over 4,000 out-of-town visitors during this tournament.

“Westerner Park is proud to host a portion of the IIHF World Junior Championship at the Marchant Crane Centrium,” said Shelly Flint, CEO of the Westerner Exposition Association. “This event highlights the importance of sport in our community and provides a valuable opportunity to showcase the strength of our facilities. It is an honour to support world-class competition in Central Alberta.”

Red Deer hosted the World Juniors in 1995 and co-hosted the tournament again in 2022 before it was cancelled.

Pre-tournament games are expected to take place throughout Alberta, which will allow fans across the province to watch the players in action before the puck officially drops in Edmonton and Red Deer on Boxing Day.

Tickets are expected to sell quickly. Details on ticket draws and packages, along with how to get involved with this event, will be released in the coming months.