The IIHF, NHL and NHLPA all signed an agreement to officially allow NHL players to participate in the 2026 Olympics – and potentially the 2030 edition.
Representatives of the three parties, including NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and IIHF president Luc Tardif, met on Wednesday at the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, to finalize the agreement.
The NHL and NHLPA previously agreed with the IIHF on major principles allowing NHL players to participate in February 2024. At the time, details still needed to be figured out, but the deal's now done for the first NHL participation in the Olympics since 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
“This is a tremendous day for international ice hockey and for fans across the globe,” Tardif said in a statement. “At the initiative of the IIHF, we have worked collaboratively with NHL and NHLPA in close collaboration with the IOC and Milano Cortina Organizing Committee to make this a reality. Bringing the best players in the world back to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 is a major step forward for our sport.”
Men's hockey games will take place on NHL-sized ice on two rinks in Milan from Feb. 11, 2026, to Feb. 22. The 12 national men's teams announced the first six players joining the roster in June.
The IIHF also noted this agreement opens the door for NHL participation in the 2030 Olympic Winter Games in the French Alps.
The NHL and NHLPA already announced a 2028 World Cup of Hockey, meaning we could see best-on-best men's hockey action every two years for the foreseeable future. It would be a big change from the past decade, which only featured the 2016 World Cup and then 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Graeme Roustan Show: Luc TardifThe IIHF’s president talks about working through difficult situations, the hardships in Ukraine and his relationship with the NHL.
“Best-on-best international tournaments like the Olympics provide the opportunity to create extraordinary moments for our players and fans alike,” NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh, said in a statement. “The return to the Olympics marks a monumental moment for hockey and we thank our partners – the NHL, IOC and IIHF – for this collaborative process. The skill and passion on display in Milano Cortina will build off the excitement of the 4 Nations Face-Off and continue our game’s global growth.”
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