Introduced as a new staple of the NHL calendar 18 years ago, the Winter Classic is beloved by fans and the players who get to compete in front of huge stadium crowds and on the ice outdoors.
Most years, the Winter Classic takes place in colder climates, often in the more northern states of the US. This year, it’s coming to a famously warm part of the country to create a unique experience for all involved.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 NHL Winter Classic and the teams set to compete in what’s usually used as a baseball stadium.
When Is The 2026 NHL Winter Classic?
The 2026 NHL Winter Classic will take place on 2 January 2026. Puck drop is scheduled for 8pm ET, which is 1am GMT.
What Is The NHL Winter Classic?
The NHL Winter Classic is an annual event in which two NHL teams play a regular season game in an outdoor stadium to battle in the elements and welcome a much larger crowd.
NFL, MLB, and college sports stadiums have all seen an ice hockey rink built on their pitches since the NHL Winter Classic was introduced in 2008.
In that time, the event has seen a record attendance of 105,491 in 2014 and looks primed to max out the 36,742 capacity of the LoanDepot Park in 2026.
Where Is The 2026 Winter Classic?
Florida will play host to the Winter Classic for the first time in 2026. Given that the Stanley Cup has been won by a Floridian team in four of the last six years, it makes sense for this event to come to the Sunshine State now.
More specifically, the game will be played on the pitch of the Miami Marlins MLB team at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. The stadium can seat over 36,700 people and has a retractable roof.
The plan is to have the roof opened for the 2026 Winter Classic, but that likely won’t bring in particularly challenging weather conditions. As it stands, the forecast is for 21o, some wind, and cloudy skies.
What Teams Are Playing In The 2026 Winter Classic?
The Florida Panthers will technically be the home team for the 2026 Winter Classic, welcoming the travelling New York Rangers to LoanDepot Park in Miami.
Coming into the game, the Panthers held a far stronger home record after recovering from a rough start to the campaign. The Rangers, on the other hand, only secured five home wins by their 40th game of the season.
The Madison Square Garden residents have been far better on their travels and have enjoyed a lot of success in outdoor games, but the surging home team look to be the favourites in the betting markets.
Who Are The Best Players At The 2026 Winter Classic?
The Florida Panthers will continue to be without their elite two-way center and captain Aleksander Barkov, but in his place, veteran Brad Marchand has stepped up to lead by example.
Marchand and Sam Reinhart have led the Panthers in scoring this season, being the only two who have put up more than a point per game by their 37th outing. The Panthers may also have Matthew Tkachuk back for the first time this season.
On the blueline, Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones have remained strong, while Sergei Bobrovsky has gradually built back up his stat line after a difficult start and now he boasts three shutouts.
At the other end of the ice Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick have put up exemplary numbers in the crease all season, including a .910 save percentage for the former and 1.79 goals against average for the latter.
Adam Fox is on his way back, but likely won’t feature in the 2026 Winter Classic. He’s a big loss to the blueline corps, but there’s plenty of experienced talent to pick up the slack.
Vincent Trocheck will face his old team and has continued to tally points, lay down hits, and boast a high win percentage in the faceoff circle. Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad will provide the top scoring options for NYR.
Which Team Will Win The 2026 Winter Classic?
At the opening of the NHL odds, the Florida Panthers will arrive as the favourites, but the Rangers have made a habit of winning these outdoor games.
In the Winter Classic, the Rangers were the away team in 2012 and 2018 and defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 and the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime. In total, NYR have played five outdoor games and won them all.
Both teams entered the end of December in very good form, with the Rangers on an eight-game winning streak and the Panthers going 7-3-0 in their last ten.
Should Tkachuk return, the Panthers would look primed to win their home Winter Classic. However, given their form, record in these events, and play of their goaltenders, the Rangers get the pick to win the outdoor game here.
