Tourism Red Deer, in partnership with The Red Deer Rebels and Westerner Park, Hockey Canada, The Government of Alberta, The City of Red Deer and Red Deer County, is excited to announce that Red Deer will co-host the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship with Edmonton from December 26, 2026 to January 5, 2027.
“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. This event, and others like it, continues to demonstrate our region’s ability to host on a national and international level,” said Jesse Smith, CEO, Tourism Red Deer.
This event will bring world-class junior hockey players and passionate fans from across the globe to Red Deer. Beyond the tournament games themselves, fans—both local and visiting—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, beginning December 26, 2026, is projected to draw over 20 000 attendees and generate over $15 million dollars in visitor spend across Alberta. Red Deer can expect approx. $3.0 million of that visitor spend and over 4000 out of town visitors, locally, during this tournament.
The action will take place across two premier venues in two host cities:
- Red Deer will host 14 games at the Marchant Crane Centrium at Westerner Park, home of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels.
- Edmonton’s Rogers Place, home of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, will serve as the primary host for 17 games, including both semifinals and the gold and bronze medal matchups.
“Westerner Park is proud to host a portion of the IIHF World Junior Championship at the Marchant Crane Centrium. 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,” said Shelly Flint, CEO, The Westerner Exposition Association.
Red Deer’s selection reflects its longstanding connection to this tournament—beginning with its first hosting of this event in 1995 as well as the planned co-host for the cancelled 2022 event. The 2027 tournament returning to Red Deer marks an exciting new chapter in that legacy.
“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, Red Deer Rebels.
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.
For more information on the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit hockeycanada.ca and and follow Tourism Red Deer on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
