2022 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship | Info and program

The 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship is the 25th edition of the Top Division of the IIHF Women’s World Championship, the premier international tournament in women’s ice hockey. The tournament is organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and will take place from 6 to 16 November 2026 in Denmark.

On 3 October 2025, the IIHF decided at its congress in Nice to award Denmark the hosting rights for the World Championship, marking the second time Denmark will host the Women’s World Championship Top Division (the first time was in 2022).

The tournament will be played in two Danish host cities:

Herning, where the final stage games, including the semifinals and finals, will be held at Kvik Hockey Arena.

Esbjerg, the second host city, which will stage preliminary round games and some of the quarterfinals at Granly Hockey Arena.

The tournament format consists of two groups (A and B), with the top teams advancing to the playoff stage, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal games. In addition, there is a structured promotion and relegation system between the divisions in the women’s world ranking system.

Background: In 2025, Denmark and Austria were promoted to the Top Division following the Division I tournament, securing Denmark a place as one of the ten participating nations at the 2026 World Championship.

This edition of the championship also marks a strategic change: for the first time, the tournament will be held in November instead of the traditional spring schedule, representing a permanent change to the international calendar — partly to allow greater participation from professional players competing in leagues such as the PWHL.

Welcome to Herning

We look forward to seeing a lot of happy ice hockey fans, which in August and September will visit Herning.

Photo: Hotel Eyde

Must-see attractions in Herning

A trip around Birk is a visit to a fantastic world of beautiful buildings, artworks and landscapes. Are you interested in learning more about the development of Herning, you will have to visit the Tekstilmuseet.

Elia

Elia is a big sculpture in Herning.Cronhammars giant skulpture, ELIA is a mark of the new millenium. But the sculpturer is also a manifest of the willpower and the courage to go new ways, which has embossed Herning through decades.

HEART - Herning Museum of Contemporary Art

HEART - Herning Museum of Contemporary Art has come as a borderland between art and profession and is driven forward by the country known shirt manufacturer Aage Damgaard, who has made the foundation for the museum's collection. With Steven Holls unique architecture as scenery, you as a gu...

Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum

Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum is an artist museum built around a unique collection of the couple's works. Carl-Henning Pedersen donated several thousand of his and his wife's pictures to the city of Herning, which established the museum in 1976. The museum holds a total of mo...

Tekstilmuseet (The Textile Museum)

The textile industry has shaped Central Jutland like no other, and it continues to do so to this day. At Tekstilmuseet, people of all ages can experience and get insights into an industry that has dressed people all over the world and shaped the identity and development of Central Jutland....

Photo: Jannie Nyegaard

Tinghuset

The courthouse is built in Gothic style with pointed arches and jagged gables. The courthouse was completed in 1894, and it was listed in 1982.

Photo: VisitHerning

Herningsholm Museum

Herningsholm Museum is located within the oldest building in Herning, dating back to 1579. Here, you can hear about life on the heath – and about the stories it has inspired as well as the role it has played for the textile industry, which would later influence the area.

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Upcoming events

Look forward to the many events in our area.

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2026 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship