USA Hockey announced this week that tickets for the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship will go on sale to the public starting on Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. CT, exactly one year before the tournament begins in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

The 29-game tournament features the best players age 20 and under from around the world, including numerous future NHL stars. Games will be played at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis beginning Dec. 26, 2025, with the bronze- and gold-medal matches facing off on Jan. 5, 2026.

The full schedule will be announced at a later date, but tournament organizers have noted that the games will be staggered, allowing fans the opportunity to attend all of them.

“It’s going to be an unbelievable tournament, and I encourage fans to get their tickets early,” said Minnesota hockey legend Lou Nanne, who is an honorary co-chair of the tournament. “Not only does the World Junior Championship offer a first look at the future stars of the game, but we can’t wait for the world to experience what the State of Hockey is all about.”

The 2026 event will mark just the third time World Juniors games have been played in Minnesota. The Twin Cities last hosted the event in 1982, and in 2005 the secondary site was Thief River Falls, Minn., with Grand Forks, N.D., serving as the primary venue.

Prices for the all-tournament ticket package will range from $1,499 to $2,499 per seat, plus taxes and fees. Fans can sign up by 10 a.m. on Dec. 18 for priority access to ticket presale opportunities at the mnsportsandevents.org website. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Dec. 26 at the website 2026.worldjunior.hockey.

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