The NHL Winter Classic is an annual regular-season game played outdoors at a major stadium. It has become one of the NHL's most recognizable traditions and has been held since 2008.
When Will the NHL Winter Classic 2027 Take Place?
The game will be played on December 31, 2026, as part of the 2026/27 NHL regular season. The start time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. local time (MT). Despite being played in December 2026, the event is officially known as the 2027 NHL Winter Classic.
Where Will the Game Be Held?
The Winter Classic will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the home venue of the University of Utah's football team. The stadium can accommodate more than 54,000 spectators and previously hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Who Will Play?
The 2027 Winter Classic will feature:
- Utah Mammoth — home team;
- Colorado Avalanche — visiting team.
For Utah Mammoth, the game will be the franchise's first regular-season outdoor game. Colorado Avalanche will make its fourth outdoor regular-season appearance.
Why Is the Game Special?
The Winter Classic combines a regular-season NHL game with the atmosphere of a major outdoor sporting event. For Utah Mammoth, the 2027 edition will mark the club's debut in the NHL Winter Classic and its first regular-season game played outdoors. Rice-Eccles Stadium is expected to welcome tens of thousands of fans for the New Year's Eve event.
History of the games
The history of friendly games between hockey clubs began in 1991. Back then, the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers played their first friendly outdoors.
After a while, NHL management decided to play one regular season game outdoors in early January. As part of the Winter Classic, the first game was played on 1 January 2008 between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. More than 70,000 fans attended that game.
One of the stadiums that host regular hockey games is the Michigan Stadium (also called The Big House). This stadium holds the world record for hockey game capacity with 104,173 spectators.
The 2023 match is known for the lowest temperature in the history of such matches. Because of the severe frost, the ice had to be specially heated. The match took place in Minneapolis (Minnesota, USA).
Results of the previous games
| The year | Venue | Results |
| 2026 | LoanDepot Park Miami, Florida | New York Rangers (5:1) Florida Panthers |
| 2025 | Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois | St. Louis Blues (6:2) Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2024 | T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington | Seattle Kraken (3:0) Vegas Golden Knight |
2028 NHL Winter Classic
The 2028 NHL Winter Classic match will traditionally take place in January. The location and participating teams are currently unknown.
Keep an eye on the dates of the NHL Winter Classic and other events on our Sports Events Calendar.
