Ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics
US won both golds in overtime against Canada.
The ice hockey events at the 2026 Winter Olympics took place in two venues within the Milan cluster: PalaItalia and a pavilion at Fiera Milano. The men’s competition included 12 teams, while the women’s featured 10. Due to their military aggression in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus were barred from IIHF international championships for the 2026 program; the IOC permitted their athletes to participate only as Individual Neutral Athletes, which excluded team events. For the first time, the United States won gold in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, defeating Canada in overtime in each final. Switzerland earned bronze in the women’s event, and Finland took bronze in the men’s.
- Men's teams
- 12
- Women's teams
- 10
- Men's gold
- United States
- Women's gold
- United States
- Men's silver
- Canada
- Women's silver
- Canada
- Men's bronze
- Finland
- Women's bronze
- Switzerland
Lore & Background
The United States won gold medals in both the men's and women's tournaments for the first time, defeating Canada in overtime in each final. Switzerland earned bronze in the women's tournament, and Finland took bronze in the men's tournament. The men's tournament format remained the same as the previous four Olympics: three groups of four, followed by elimination rounds, with group winners and the highest-ranked remaining team receiving byes into the second round.
Reader's Guide
The 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey competitions marked a historic double gold for the United States, both won in overtime against Canada. The men's tournament saw the return of NHL players for the first time since 2014, following an agreement announced on 2 February 2024 between the IIHF and the NHL for a break in the regular season. Russia and Belarus were excluded from team events due to the IIHF's ban related to military aggression in Ukraine, though individual athletes could compete as neutrals. The women's tournament featured 10 teams, with six qualifying via the IIHF World Ranking after the 2024 Women's Ice Hockey World Championships, plus host Italy and three qualifiers. The men's tournament had 12 teams, with eight qualifying via the 2023 IIHF World Ranking, plus Italy and three qualifiers. These competitions underscored geopolitical tensions and the ongoing impact of the war in Ukraine on international sport.
Did You Know?
- The United States won both men's and women's gold medals for the first time, both in overtime against Canada.
- Russia and Belarus were banned from team events due to military aggression in Ukraine; individual athletes could compete as Individual Neutral Athletes.
- The NHL agreed to a break in its regular season to allow players to participate in the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
- The men's tournament had 12 teams and the women's tournament 10 teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where were the ice hockey games played at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The events were split across two facilities in the Milan area: PalaItalia and a dedicated pavilion inside Fiera Milano.
How many teams competed in the men's and women's ice hockey tournaments?
The men's draw featured 12 national teams, while the women's bracket was slightly smaller with 10 teams.
Why were Russia and Belarus absent from the 2026 Olympic ice hockey tournament?
Both nations were stripped of IIHF eligibility for the 2026 cycle following their military aggression in Ukraine. The IOC allowed their athletes to compete only as Individual Neutral Athletes, which ruled out team sports like hockey entirely.
Who won the ice hockey gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The United States captured both the men's and women's gold, edging out Canada in overtime in each final. It marked the first time in Olympic history that a single country swept both hockey titles at one Winter Games.
What made the 2026 Olympic hockey finals so memorable?
Both the men's and women's gold-medal games stretched into overtime before the Americans scored the decisive goal against Canada. That back-to-back overtime triumph made the U.S. the first nation to take both hockey crowns at a single Winter Olympics.
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