26 August - 2026 Second Women’s Para Ice Hockey World Championships in Australia!
Updated: 15 hours ago
Australia will host the second edition of the Women’s Para Ice Hockey World Championships. From 24 to 29 November 2026, six teams will take part in this tournament, what will take place in the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in New Castle, NSW.
Five teams are already confirmed: the United States, Canada, Norway, Great Britain and Australia. The sixth available spot is reserved for a national team to register by 15 September. If no team comes forward, it will be allocated to Team World, composed of players from nations without a women’s national team.
Para ice hockey has been an open-gender sport at the Winter Paralympics since 2010, but only four female players have competed until now. Hosting the 2026 World Championships was a key requirement for world para ice hockey (WPIH) in order to apply for a women’s tournament to be considered for the Alpes 2030 Paralympic Winter Games programme.
The tournament in Newcastle follows the successful inaugural edition staged in Dolny Kubin, Slovakia in 2025, marking a crucial milestone in the development of women’s Para ice hockey and a key step towards future inclusion in the Paralympic Winter Games programme. Team USA will travel to Australia as defending champions, following an undefeated campaign in Dolny Kubin that culminated in a 7-1 victory over Canada in the final. Norway claimed the bronze medal last year, followed by Great Britain in fourth, Team World in fifth and Australia in sixth.
Ice Hockey Australia President, Tim Kitching commented:
"Ice Hockey Australia is incredibly proud to host the 2026 Women’s World Championships and welcome the athletes and participating nations to Australia. This event is about more than competition. It is about creating opportunities, inspiring future generations, and advancing the growth of Women’s Para ice hockey. We are honoured to work alongside World Para Ice Hockey and Paralympics Australia to deliver a world-class event."
Photo: IPC
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