Newfoundland and Labrador to host 2026 Para Cup

Newfoundland and Labrador will host the 2026 Para Cup next fall, marking the return of the international para hockey tournament to the province for the first time since 2019.

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Paul Dinn made the announcement Monday on behalf of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation Minister Andrea Barbour during a Hockey Canada event in Paradise.

The provincial government, through the Celebrate NL program, is providing $30,000 to support the Town of Paradise in hosting the tournament. Celebrate NL aims to attract events that deliver social, cultural and economic benefits to communities across the province.

The Para Cup will feature four of the world’s top para hockey teams competing in what Hockey Canada describes as a premier international sledge hockey event.

Organizers say the tournament will also highlight local talent, including St. John’s native Liam Hickey, who was recently named to Team Canada’s national para ice hockey team. Hickey is set to compete at the Paralympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, in March.

Atlantic Canada has previously hosted several international para hockey events, and provincial officials say the 2026 tournament continues that tradition while giving local fans a chance to see elite athletes compete on home ice.