NHL Schedule Announcement
The release of the NHL schedule is always a big moment on the hockey calendar, as it signals the first time fans can look ahead to exact dates and times that they’ll be able to head to the rink to cheer on their favorite team.
Vivid Seats has a full breakdown below of the 2026-27 NHL schedule release and other key dates for the upcoming season.
When will the 2026-27 NHL schedule be released?
Vivid Seats has complied the historical NHL schedule release dates, which can help fans understand when the 2026 NHL schedule for the regular season will be released:
- 2026-2027: July 15, 2026 (Anticipated)
- 2025-2026: July 16, 2025
- 2024-2025: July 2, 2024
- 2023-2024: June 27, 2023
- 2022-2023: July 6, 2022
- 2021-2022: July 22, 2021
When is the 2026 NHL Draft?
The 2026 NHL Draft will begin on June 26 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the first overall pick and are expected to select standout forward Gavin McKenna, who is widely regarded as the top prospect in this year’s class. Other highly touted prospects include Ivan Stenberg, Chase Reid and Caleb Malhotra.
When is Opening Night for the 2026-2027 NHL Season?
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the start of the 2026-27 NHL season was tentatively scheduled for Sept. 29.
In addition to the atypically early puck drop, the upcoming season will feature an 84-game schedule instead of the current 82-game schedule, another feature of the new CBA. NHL training camps and preseason games will also begin sooner than usual and will be much shorter compared to previous seasons.
Where will the 2027 NHL All-Star Game Take Place?
The 2027 NHL All-Star Game and 2027 NHL All-Star Skills will take place Feb. 6 at UBS Arena on Long Island, New York. The NHL is also unveiling a new format for the 2027 All-Star Game.
The 2027 NHL All-Star Game will feature five teams – Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States and a “World” team comprised of international players from countries outside of the other four teams – competing in a three-on-three, round-robin exhibition tournament.
Each team will consist of 11 players: nine skaters and two goaltenders. The NHL will select 30 players from each of the participating teams – Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States and the World team. From that list, fans will have the opportunity to select eight players from each team. The remaining three roster spots for each team – one forward, one defensemen and one goaltender – will be selected jointly by the NHL.
Each team will play four 5-minute games during the round-robin tournament. There will not be an overtime period or shootout in the event of a tie.
The top two teams from the round robin will advance to a 10-minute final based on the following points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss. The winning team will claim a $2 million prize.
When is the 2026-2027 Winter Classic?
The 2026-2027 NHL Winter Classic will take place on December 31, 2026 (New Year’s Eve) as the Utah Mammoth host the Colorado Avalanche at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
The Winter Classic will be the second of three outdoor games on the NHL schedule for the 2026-27 season, with the Stadium Series rounding out the schedule.
When is the 2027 Stadium Series?
The 2027 Stadium Series features the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights at AT&T Stadium on Feb. 20. This will mark the second time the Stars and the state of Texas will serve as hosts of an NHL outdoor game.
NHL Global Series
The 2026 NHL Global Series games in Finland and Germany will mark the 13th season that the NHL has traveled to Europe to play regular-season games.
The Seattle Kraken and Carolina Hurricanes will play two games in Helsinki, Finland.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will play in Düsseldorf, Germany.
NHL 2026-27 Schedule: Key Dates
- June 17: Buyout Window Open
- June 23: Board of Governors Meeting
- June 26-27: NHL Draft
- June 29: Qualifying Offer Deadline
- July 1: NHL Free Agency
- Late September: The 2026-27 Season Starts
- Dec. 31: Winter Classic
- Feb. 6: NHL All-Star Game
- Feb. 20: Stadium Series
- Mid-April: Regular Season Concludes and Stanley Cup Playoffs Begin
- June: Stanley Cup Finals