Milano Cortina 2026: Para ice hockey schedule revealed 

The road to Paralympic gold is set. The official competition schedule for Para ice hockey at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games has been released. The eight-team tournament will take place 7-15 March 2025 at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.

Eight teams will be placed into two groups for the preliminary round, then move into the playoffs, where they will battle it out for Paralympic medal glory.

With tickets now available on the Milano Cortina 2026 website, the stakes and the atmosphere are poised to be historic.

“Every team arriving in Milano has earned its place through years of hard work and resilience. Their determination is raising the level of Para ice hockey worldwide, and this Paralympic tournament will be a celebration of how powerful and global our game has become,” said Michelle Laflamme, Senior Manager of World Para Ice Hockey.

Rivalries return to Paralympic stage

No rivalry in Para ice hockey draws more eyes or more history than Canada versus USA, a matchup that has defined the last decade. USA enters Milan as the reigning Paralympic champions, while Canada returns hungry after finishing second in the previous cycle. Their battles have defined podium outcomes year after year, and Milan becomes the latest chapter.

But the heavyweight collision is not the only storyline. Czechia versus China has quietly become one of the sport’s most intriguing matchups. China shocked the world in 2022 with a bronze medal finish and has since continued to threaten the podium. 

Czechia counters with unmatched consistency — three consecutive bronze medals at the World Championships, refusing to step off the podium in the last cycle. Both have proven they are no longer outsiders; they are contenders.

Together, these four nations have controlled every medal position at the World Championships over the last four years. Now, they all enter Milan with unfinished business.

🔥 🧊 PARA ICE HOCKEY! ​

Are you ready??​
No, you're not ready...​

Adrenaline, competitiveness, speed, grit, and determination!​

You can't miss the show of Para Ice Hockey!!​
🎟️ Buy your ticket now! https://t.co/6jMBm8hwIr#MilanoCortina2026 #Paralympics #ParaIceHockey… pic.twitter.com/ATS2xm9gK0

— Milano Cortina 2026 (@milanocortina26) November 18, 2025

Competition format & key dates

•    Tournament runs from 7 March 2026 to 15 March 2026.

•    Venue: Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Milan, Italy.

•    Eight teams divided into two groups (A & B).

•    Each team plays three games in their group (round-robin).

•    Points awarded: Three for a regulation win; one each for a regulation draw; one extra point for an overtime/ shoot-out win.

•    Top two teams from each group move to semifinals; teams ranked third and fourth proceed to classification games for positions five to eight.

•    Semifinal winners advance to the Gold medal game; losers play the Bronze medal game.

Italy’s home ice moment

While the focus centres on the global powerhouses, the host nation Italy will bring its own energy and home crowd to the rink. With Milan hosting the competition athletes and fans alike will feel the pulse of a truly international winter-para sport celebration.
Fans can secure their seats via the MiCo website, with full access to all sessions of this high-stakes tournament.

With rivalries reignited, a venue primed for spectacle, and medals on the line, Para ice hockey at Milano Cortina 2026 is set to deliver a tournament worthy of its legends.

Here’s the full schedule (CET) 

Saturday, 7 March 2026
10:05 – CZE vs JPN
13:35 – CHN vs GER 
17:05 – USA vs ITA
20:35 – CAN vs SVK

Sunday, 8 March 2026 
Rest day 

Monday, 9 March 2026
10:05 – CHN vs ITA
13:35 – CZE vs SVK
17:05 – GER vs USA
20:35 – JPN vs CAN

Tuesday, 10 March 2026 
10:05 – ITA vs GER
13:35 – USA vs CHN
17:05 – CAN cs CZE
20:35 – SVK vs JPN 

Wednesday, 11 March 2026 
Rest day 

Thursday, 12 March 2026 
14:35 – Playoffs 1 
19:05 – Playoffs 2 

Friday, 13 March 2026 
14:35 – Semifinals 1 
19:05 – Semifinals 2 

Saturday, 14 March 2026 
12:05 – Rank 7 
16:05 – Rank 5 

Sunday, 15 March 2026 
12:05 – Bronze medal game
16:05 – Gold medal game