The NHL has announced that the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets will face off in the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic. The outdoor game is set to take place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, which is also the home of the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
This will mark the eighth NHL Heritage Classic, the first since 2023 when the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Calgary Flames 5-2 at Commonwealth Stadium. Princess Auto Stadium has previously hosted the Heritage Classic in 2016, where the Jets played against the Oilers in front of 33,240 fans, with Edmonton winning 3-0.
Winnipeg recently played their second outdoor game in 2019, beating the Calgary Flames 2-1 in overtime at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. For Montreal, this will be their first outdoor game since 2017 and their fifth overall. Their record in these games is 2 wins and 2 losses, with their last outdoor game ending in a 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators at Lansdowne Park.
The Canadiens-Jets game will be the third outdoor event planned for 2026. Earlier in the year, the New York Rangers will visit the Florida Panthers on January 2 at Lawndepot Park in Miami, and on February 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium, marking their second outdoor game in Florida within a month.
In addition to the game announcement, the NHL revealed a multi-year extension with Tim Hortons as the title sponsor of the Heritage Classic, continuing their long-time partnership.
Fan Take: This announcement is thrilling for hockey enthusiasts, as outdoor games bring a unique blend of tradition and excitement, reconnecting fans with the roots of the sport. Hosting the Heritage Classic in iconic Canadian venues helps celebrate hockey’s rich heritage while growing the game’s popularity in new markets.
