Quebec City was filled with anticipation as Hockey Canada revealed its decision to host the 2027 women’s world hockey championship and co-host the 2029 world junior hockey championship. Trois-Rivières, Que., will join Quebec City in hosting the world juniors during the annual holiday tournament.
The women’s championship will take place exclusively in Quebec City, primarily at the 18,000-seat Videotron Centre. Hockey Canada’s president and CEO, Katherine Henderson, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host these international events on behalf of the IHFF, emphasizing the expected enthusiastic fan support.
This will be Quebec City’s first time hosting the women’s world championship, with the previous event in Canada held in Brampton, Ont., in 2023. Isabelle Charest, the provincial minister responsible for sport, highlighted the pride of Quebec in hosting these prestigious tournaments.
Aside from the sporting aspect, event planner Gestev projects significant economic benefits for the host communities. The combined tournaments are estimated to attract around 440,000 visitors and generate approximately $60 million. Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand underlined the tournaments’ economic impact and the city’s increased visibility.
While Marchand expressed early support for the project, he acknowledged the challenges in securing financing and coordinating with various government levels. The province, Quebec City, and Trois-Rivières collectively contributed over $10 million towards hosting the tournaments, utilizing existing government programs for funding.
With the last major IHFF tournament in Quebec City held in 2008, when it co-hosted the men’s world championship with Halifax, anticipation for the upcoming championships is high. Henderson emphasized Quebec City’s significance as a hub for hockey, particularly in promoting women’s hockey and engaging fans.
Local players from the Titans, a collegiate women’s ice hockey team, shared their excitement about hosting the best female players and inspiring future generations. The impact of the announcement is already reverberating among players and supporters, with expectations building for the upcoming tournaments.
The host for the 2026 women’s world championship will be revealed during the IIHF semi-annual congress in October. Quebec City’s last world junior championship was in 1978, co-hosted with Montreal. Following the 2027 edition in Alberta, the tournament will move to Finland in 2028 after the 2026 event in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minn.