After a 12-year hiatus, NHL players are set to return to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee that will allow the world’s best players to showcase their talents on a global stage. The news comes as excitement for international hockey competition is surging following the success of the Four Nations Face-Off, which was played during the 2024 NHL All-Star break.
Taking place from February 11 to 22, 2026, these Olympics will be the first to feature NHL players since the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Games will take place at two venues in Milan: the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, both featuring NHL-sized rinks measuring 200 feet long by 85 feet wide.
The field has already been set, with twelve countries being chosen to participate in the tournament and divided into three groups.
Group A: Canada, Czech Republic, France, Switzerland
Group B: Finland, Italy, Slovakia, Sweden
Group C: Denmark, Germany, Latvia, United States
A group stage will be played from which the three group winners and the top second-place team will automatically secure a spot in the quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams will play qualifying games, with the four winners advancing to the quarterfinal round.
The dates for the elimination games will then be as follows:
Quarterfinals: February 18
*Semifinals: February 20
*Bronze Medal Game: February 21
*Gold Medal Game: February 22
*Played at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
As for the impact on the NHL season, the league will be idle during the Olympics, both to prevent teams from being disadvantaged by their players participating and also to allow the hockey audience to fully focus on the Olympic Games. The break will last from February 6 to 24, with games resuming on Wednesday, February 25.
When and how to buy tickets
Currently, limited ticket options are available on the Milan Games’ official website. There are currently two different types of tickets: reserved seats and hospitality.
A breakdown of the availability shows that many matches are already available for sale, but not every match has both ticket types available. Interestingly, all three of the US’ preliminary matches have both reserved seats and hospitality tickets available for sale. On the other hand, the Canadian qualifying matches have reserved seats available for only one match, while hospitality tickets are available for all three.
The reserved seats are priced at 190€ each (≈$223), but when we click through the sales portal, the end price is $234 each before taxes (final price for two tickets: $524). These seats are located in Category C, which are the only reserved seats currently being sold, and are also the furthest away from the ice.
Unfortunately, images of the arena or seat views are not available, because neither arena has been completed yet. Both are expected to be finished by December (which seems to be cutting it a little close, in typical Olympics fashion).
Obviously, the Olympics are trying to sell the worst tickets first to those who are most determined to attend. But that’s fine, because these venues are both on the small side. The Rho Arena will only hold 5,700 people, which likely explains why reserved seats are not currently available for any of these matches. Meanwhile, Santagiulia Arena can accommodate 16,000 people, which is why it will host the bigger rounds and matchups, including the medal games.
For those considering hospitality options, whether you want to guarantee a ticket for matches that are not currently offering reserved seats or simply feel a little fancy, here’s what those options include.
Clubhouse 26 Milano, the entry-level hospitality package, adds access to an in-town lounge with “Italian Aperitivo-inspired bites and beverages”. That’s both vague and not particularly helpful, but at least the tickets included are Category B, which are closer to the ice and better than the reserved seats currently available.
Meanwhile, the more expensive “Classic” package also provides lounge access, adds some more substantial food options, plus an alcoholic welcome drink, and a Category A seat, which are those on the lower level.
Given the size of each venue, we would expect the sightlines from any of these seats to be acceptable (notwithstanding seats with specific obstructions), so if you’re one of those people who absolutely want to be there, $260 per ticket seems fairly reasonable for the price of buying certainty (which will allow you to confidently book your travel arrangements). And if hospitality is your only option for certain games, ≈$400 for the Clubhouse tickets doesn’t seem that outrageous to us either.
WHAT’S NEXT
There’s no current timeline for additional seats or matches to be put on sale, but when they announce either, we’ll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, for those who are determined to be in Milan for the Olympics next February, take a look at these ticket options to see if there’s anything that works for you. If so, go ahead and buy them – having tickets in hand will make the rest of your trip planning much easier.
To sign up for the Winter Olympics’ mailing list, register here.
