Wait. Outdoor ice hockey in South Florida?
That will indeed happen when the National Hockey League plays its 2026 NHL Winter Classic game on Friday, January 2, at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. This venue is usually home to the city’s baseball team, the Miami Marlins.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will host the New York Rangers.
This will be the first of two outdoor NHL games this season, both in Florida. The other game, the 2026 NHL Stadium Series, will take place on February 1 in Tampa, featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Boston Bruins.
What can you expect from the 2026 Winter Classic? Read on to find out.
What is the NHL Winter Classic? How many Winter Classics have taken place?
The NHL Winter Classic is a regular-season game played outdoors, usually at a baseball or American football stadium. The NHL first held a regular-season outdoor game in 2003 in Canada. In 2007, the league announced the first Winter Classic, scheduled for New Year’s Day 2008.
Since then, the Winter Classic has occurred every year, typically on January 1 or 2. The only exceptions were 2013 and 2021 when a league lockout and the Covid pandemic canceled the event, respectively.
No Winter Classic took place in 2025, as the 2025 Winter Classic was actually played on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2024, in Chicago.
Where and what time is the 2026 NHL Winter Classic?
The 2026 Winter Classic will take place on January 2, 2026, at loanDepot Park in Miami.
An ice rink will be set up on the field, marking the first time Florida has hosted an outdoor NHL game.
The puck will drop at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (1 a.m. UTC on January 3), which is 5 p.m. Pacific.
Who is playing in the 2026 NHL Winter Classic? Who are the top players?
The 2026 Winter Classic will feature the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers. The Panthers are the home team and the defending Stanley Cup champions.
As of December 29, 2025, the Panthers are in the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the Atlantic Division, with 44 points (21-15-2).
The Rangers are fourth in the Eastern Wild Card race and fifth in the Metropolitan Division with 43 points (19-17-5).
The Panthers’ leading scorer is veteran Brad Marchand, who has 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points. He is closely followed by fellow Canadian Sam Reinhart, with 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points.
On the other hand, the Rangers have struggled to score this season. They are led by Artemi Panarin, who has 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points.
How can I watch the 2026 NHL Winter Classic live?
The NHL Winter Classic will be broadcast by various rights holders worldwide.
In the United States, you can watch it on TNT (NHL on TNT) and TruTV, with streaming available on HBO MAX.
In Canada, the game will be available on Sportsnet (in English) and TVA Sports (in French).
Globally, the game may be streamed on the NHL’s own NHL.TV platform, subject to geographical restrictions. Other global rights holders may also show the game.
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