The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey Asia Championship is scheduled to take place from November 20 to 23, 2025, at the Beijing Ice Sports Training Base. Organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), this event is co-hosted by the Chinese Ice Hockey Association, the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, and the People's Government of Yanqing District, Beijing. Four of Asia’s leading national teams — China, Kazakhstan, Korea, and Japan — will face off in a round-robin format featuring six games.
These four teams represent the elite of Asian ice hockey. Kazakhstan, which holds the 13th position in the global rankings and is the defending champion of the last Asian Championship, is determined to extend its dominant streak. Japan, ranked 20th, is known for its strong technical skills and excellent team coordination. Korea, standing at the 22nd spot globally, excels in tactical discipline and maintains a stable performance level even under prolonged high-intensity competition.
The Chinese team has steadily enhanced its competitiveness through overseas training programs and participation in professional leagues, achieving significant improvements in tactical implementation and individual players' skills. Currently, China ranks 25th in the global standings. In the previous edition of the Asian Championship, the Chinese team showcased remarkable resilience by defeating Korea—a team they had not triumphed over in 18 years. The Chinese squad enters this year’s championship determined to build on its progress and achieve its best-ever result.
Since 2024, the IIHF Ice Hockey Asia Championship has been jointly promoted by the IIHF and the ice hockey associations of China, Korea, Japan, and Kazakhstan. It plays a crucial role in consolidating the foundation of Asian ice hockey and inspiring greater public participation in the sport.
As a key region associated with the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Yanqing District in Beijing is home to a range of world-class winter sports facilities. The Beijing Ice Sports Training Base, the main venue, was originally built for the Winter Olympics and is now Asia’s largest integrated ice sports complex. Equipped with internationally standard ice rinks and an advanced intelligent event management system, the base offers athletes a top-notch competitive environment. Furthermore, Yanqing District has been continuously optimizing the event organization process and enhancing service quality, with the aim of providing a high-quality and all-round experience for athletes, coaches, and spectators alike.
The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey Asia Championship will showcase the progress of Asian ice hockey and marks another step in China’s efforts to build on the legacy of the Winter Olympics and promote year-round winter sports. More importantly, it provides a vital platform for deepening regional cultural integration and mutual exchange in the field of ice hockey. The men's ice hockey teams from China, Korea, Japan, and Kazakhstan are set to jointly write a new chapter in the history of Asian ice hockey in Yanqing.
All six games will be streamed live on https://iihf.tv
Below is the game schedule for the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey Asia Championship:
Thursday, 20 November 2025
16:00 – Korea vs Kazakhstan
19:30 – Japan vs China
Saturday, 22 November 2025
16:00 – Japan vs Korea
19:30 – Kazakhstan vs China
Sunday, 23 November 2025
16:00 – Kazakhstan vs Japan
19:30 – China vs Korea
note: time zone: GMT+8