Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026
The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday.
bc.ctvnews.caHere’s the latest: the Kelowna Rockets have been selected to host the 2026 Memorial Cup, with the tournament scheduled for spring 2026 in Kelowna, British Columbia. This was announced by the CHL and confirmed by multiple outlets in late November 2024, and Kelowna’s bid beat out four other WHL clubs (Brandon, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Spokane) to land the host city role .
Key details:
- Host city: Kelowna, BC
- Event timeframe: spring 2026, typically May, over about 10 days
- Upgrades planned: upgrades to Prospera Place (new scoreboard, improved lighting and sound, dedicated press box) to enhance fan and player experience
- Bids involved: five WHL clubs submitted bids; Kelowna won over Brandon Wheat Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, Spokane Chiefs
Notes and context:
- The Memorial Cup is CHL’s championship tournament featuring the top teams from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL; Kelowna previously hosted in 2004 and was slated to host the 2020 event before COVID-19 cancellations .
- Local confirmation from multiple outlets underscores the official status of Kelowna as host and the planned venue upgrades to accommodate the event’s scale .
If you’d like, I can pull the latest game schedules, participating teams, and venue logistics as the event approaches, and format them into a concise digest.