World Junior Championship 2027 Venues & Locations: Host Cities Guide

Canada will host the IIHF World Junior Championship 2026-27 for the 20th time overall. Edmonton and Red Deer, two Alberta cities, will jointly host all games. This Guide covers both official venues, host cities, their history, and key location details, including where each game will be played.

DetailInfo
Host CountryCanada
Host ProvinceAlberta
Host CitiesEdmonton & Red Deer
Primary VenueRogers Place, Edmonton (17 Games)
Secondary VenueMarchant Crane Centrium (14 Games)
Distance Between CitiesApprox 150 km
Tournament Edition51th
Canada Hosted20th time overall

Where is the WJC 2027 Played?

The 2026-27 Tournament will take place in Alberta, Canada’s 4th-largest province. Edmonton, the provincial capital, will host most games as the primary venue. Red Deer, a smaller city located roughly halfway between Edmonton and Calgary, will serve as a co-host. Together, these two cities will host all 31 matches of the tournament.

World Junior Championship 2027 Host Cities

World Junior Championship 2027 Alberta map showing Edmonton and Red Deer distance

Edmonton

Edmonton is the primary host city and will host 17 games at Rogers Place. This includes both semifinals, the Bronze Medal game, and the Gold Medal Final. 

The city boasts a strong hockey culture, serving as home to the NHL’s Oilers and the WHL’s Oil Kings. The downtown “Ice District” has become one of North America’s premier sports and entertainment hubs.

Red Deer

Red Deer is hosting 14 preliminary-round and quarterfinal games at the Marchant Crane Centrium arena. Geographically, this mid-sized city is located almost halfway between Edmonton and Calgary. Red Deer is home to the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, giving it real credibility in junior hockey.

Official Venues for the 2027 Edition

Two arenas, Rogers Place in Edmonton and Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer, will host the 2027 World Junior Ice Hockey Tournament.

Rogers Place, Edmonton

Group B’s preliminary games will be played at Rogers Place in Edmonton, which was built in 2016. The arena capacity is about 18,500 for hockey games and up to 20,000 for concert events.

Rogers Place Edmonton World Junior Championship 2027 venue

Location: 10220 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0H6, Canada

Marchant Crane Centrium, Red Deer

Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer will host Group A preliminary-round games of the 2027 World Junior Championship. The arena opened in 1991 and seats about 7,050 for hockey events. It will host 14 games during the tournament.

Marchant Crane Centrium Red Deer World Junior Championship 2027 venues

Location:  4847A 19 St, Red Deer, AB T4R 2N7, Canada

Venue Comparison

DetailMarchant Crane CentriumRogers Place
CityRed DeerEdmonton
Opened19912016
Home TeamsRed Deer Rebels (WHL)Edmonton Oilers (LNH), Oil Kings (WHL)
Capacity705018500
Games Hosted 202714 games, including preliminary and quarterfinal17 games, including semifinals & medal rounds
AtmosphereJunior hockey atmosphere, close-to-ice experienceLarge-scale NHL-style production, high energy

Why Edmonton & Red Deer Were Chosen?

Alberta has a proven track record of successfully hosting World Junior Championships. Edmonton offers NHL-caliber facilities, while Red Deer brings an authentic, passionate junior hockey culture. 

Red Deer had previously been selected as a co-host twice but lost games due to COVID-19-related disruptions. This edition finally offers the city the long-awaited opportunity to host the competition in front of spectators.

Distance Between Host Cities

Edmonton and Red Deer are closely connected host cities, making it easy for fans to travel between venues.

DetailInformation
DistanceApprox 150km
Travel Time1.5 – 2 hours by car
Main RouteHighway 2 (QEII Highway)
ConnectivityDirect Highway link between the two cities
Fan AccessEasy same-day travel for attending games in both venues

Past World Junior Championships in Alberta

  • 1995: Red Deer was one of the main host sites, alongside Calgary and Edmonton. Canada won the gold medal.
  • 2012: Edmonton and Calgary co-hosted the tournament; Canada won the bronze medal.
  • 2021: Edmonton and Red Deer had been selected to co-host the event, but it was ultimately held in a restricted “bubble” in Edmonton due to COVID-19; Canada won silver.
  • 2022: The tournament returned to Edmonton for a rescheduled summer edition, during which Canada won its 19th World Junior Championship gold medal.
  • 2027: Edmonton and Red Deer will finally co-host the tournament as planned, with fans in both cities.

Conclusion

The 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, hosted by Alberta, finally delivers on years of postponed plans. Edmonton delivers an NHL-caliber production, while Red Deer offers the authentic, intimate atmosphere of junior hockey. With world-class arenas, a strong hockey culture, and excellent connections between venues, the tournament promises a thrilling experience for both players and fans.

Frequently Asked Questions

The tournament will be held in two cities in Alberta, Canada: Edmonton and Red Deer. Rogers Place will host the majority of the games, while the Centrium will host the remaining matches.

The two cities are approximately 150 kilometers apart and are directly connected by Highway 2. The drive typically takes between 1.5 and 2 hours, depending on traffic conditions.

Red Deer hosted the World Junior Championship in 1995, alongside Calgary and Edmonton. The city was also selected as a co-host for the 2021 and 2022 editions, but those plans were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rogers Place can accommodate approximately 18,500 spectators for hockey games, making it the largest arena in the tournament. The Centrium has a capacity of approximately 7,050 seats for hockey games.