2026-27 NHL Outdoor Games: Heritage Classic, Winter Classic and Stadium Series

Updated September 5, 2026: The 2026-27 NHL schedule has three outdoor games: Canadiens-Jets in Winnipeg, Avalanche-Mammoth in Salt Lake City and Golden Knights-Stars in Arlington. All three dates, venues and U.S. national telecasts are confirmed. Tickets have also reached general sale, although inventory and checkout totals can change.

One label requires care: the 2027 Winter Classic is scheduled for December 31, 2026. This guide uses the NHL's official event names while always showing the calendar date, local time and Eastern Time so that fans can plan without relying on the year in the logo.

2026-27 NHL outdoor games at a glance

The three outdoor dates are spread across the season rather than grouped into one festival. Winnipeg opens the outdoor schedule in October, Utah hosts the New Year's Eve showcase, and North Texas closes the set in February. Each matchup is part of the regular season and carries the same standings value as an arena game.

Event	Matchup	Date and start	Venue	U.S. TV	Primary seller
2026 Heritage Classic	Montreal at Winnipeg	Oct. 25, 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT	Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg	TNT	Ticketmaster
2027 Winter Classic	Colorado at Utah	Dec. 31, 6 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. MT	Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City	TNT	Ticketmaster
2027 Stadium Series	Vegas at Dallas	Feb. 20, 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT	AT&T Stadium, Arlington	ABC	SeatGeek

The date-and-matchup list comes from the NHL's official schedule announcement. The channel and start-time information comes from later network schedule releases dated August 26. That matters because early event announcements may omit a time or carry older information.

Use this table as a planning snapshot, not as a substitute for the mobile ticket in your account. A kickoff-style stadium operation can change gate, parking or event details while the hockey matchup remains fixed. Before leaving, compare the listing in your ticket account with the complete NHL schedule and the event page.

Heritage Classic: Canadiens at Jets in Winnipeg

Montreal visits Winnipeg at Princess Auto Stadium on Sunday, October 25. The NHL on TNT schedule lists a 7 p.m. ET start, which is 6 p.m. local Central Time. There is a wrinkle worth knowing: the NHL event FAQ currently prints “6:00 PM MT.” Because Winnipeg observes Central Time and the later network schedule explicitly labels its times ET, fans should plan around 6 p.m. CT but confirm the final display in their mobile ticket before travel.

This is the eighth Heritage Classic, the NHL outdoor series built around Canadian teams and hockey history. Winnipeg last hosted the event at the same football venue in 2016, when 33,240 attended a 3-0 loss to Edmonton. The Jets will be making their third outdoor appearance overall; the Canadiens will be making their fifth and first since 2017. Those records add atmosphere, but they have no effect on the points available in October.

The official event FAQ identifies Ticketmaster as the primary seller and says the public sale began March 24 at 10 a.m. CT. It also says the game uses fully mobile tickets. That means a screenshot should not be your only access plan: add the ticket to the supported wallet if offered, sign in before reaching the stadium and keep your account credentials available.

Parking is a separate planning item. The FAQ directs fans to Ticketmaster for parking passes and says they are sold while supplies last. Check the live listing rather than assuming a game ticket includes a space. If no suitable pass appears, use the venue’s current transportation guidance close to game day; event-day road controls can differ from an ordinary Blue Bombers game.

An indoor Canadiens-Jets alumni game is scheduled at Canada Life Centre on October 24. It is a separate event, location and ticket from the outdoor game. Fans building a two-day trip should verify both orders instead of assuming one barcode or package covers the weekend. For the regular-season context around October 25, open the Winnipeg Jets schedule.

Winter Classic: Avalanche at Mammoth in Salt Lake City

Utah hosts Colorado at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday, December 31, at 4 p.m. MT, which is 6 p.m. ET. TNT has the U.S. national telecast. It is called the 2027 Discover NHL Winter Classic because the event carries the year it welcomes, but the game itself is on New Year's Eve 2026. Do not book a January 1 flight or hotel night solely from seeing “2027” in a search result.

The matchup creates two firsts. Utah becomes the 32nd active NHL franchise to appear in a regular-season outdoor game, completing the current league. Colorado is making its fourth outdoor appearance but its first in the Winter Classic series. Rice-Eccles is the University of Utah's football stadium, set between downtown Salt Lake City and the mountains, and the NHL notes that it holds more than 54,000 for college football. That football figure is venue context, not a promise of hockey-ticket capacity or remaining inventory.

The public ticket sale opened through Ticketmaster at 10 a.m. MT on June 16. The current Winter Classic FAQ describes a fully mobile event and says parking information will be released later. Anyone purchasing now should therefore check the live seat map and current event page rather than relying on the original on-sale notice.

The FAQ also warns that sight lines are not typical of indoor hockey. Its present layout has Utah shooting twice toward the north end zone in the direction of Section N23 and Colorado shooting twice toward the south end zone near Section S49, but the NHL marks that orientation subject to change. Treat it as a useful seat-map clue, not a contractual guarantee.

New Year's Eve adds a scheduling consequence beyond the game. Allow time for holiday traffic and any downtown celebrations, and keep the evening after the scheduled finish flexible. Follow the Utah Mammoth schedule for the games around the event, while using your ticket account for gates, parking and any venue-specific update.

Stadium Series: Golden Knights at Stars in Arlington

Dallas hosts Vegas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Saturday, February 20, 2027. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. local Central Time, or 8 p.m. ET, and ABC will carry the game nationally in the United States. Arlington is between Dallas and Fort Worth, so a hotel or flight search labeled only “Dallas” may understate the ground trip to the stadium.

SeatGeek is the event's official primary ticket channel; the public sale began May 21 at 10 a.m. CT. The NHL FAQ also links separate NHL Experiences packages that combine particular seating with event perks. Compare what each product actually includes. A package price is not directly comparable with a ticket-only listing, and neither label guarantees that inventory remains at the price first advertised.

Current seat-orientation guidance has Dallas shooting twice toward the northeast end zone, in the direction of Section 148, and Vegas shooting twice toward the south end zone, near Section 123. The NHL marks those directions subject to change and warns that AT&T Stadium sight lines are not typical of an indoor hockey rink. Use the information to read the live map, not to promise yourself an unobstructed close-up from an end-zone section.

The event is fully mobile. The FAQ says parking information will be released later, so do not buy an unofficial parking listing merely because it appears next to a ticket search. Check the event page and stadium instructions again when parking and entry details are finalized. Families should also note the current policy: children under two may enter without a ticket only when sitting on a ticketed adult's lap without obstructing another guest's view.

For historical context, this will be Dallas's second outdoor game after its 2020 Winter Classic win at the Cotton Bowl. It is Vegas's third after losses at Lake Tahoe in 2021 and Seattle in 2024. Those are memorable backdrops, not useful prediction samples. The more relevant planning context is the Dallas Stars schedule around February 20.

Heritage Classic vs. Winter Classic vs. Stadium Series

The three names describe NHL event series and presentation traditions, not levels of competition. The Heritage Classic traces to the league's first modern outdoor regular-season game in Edmonton in 2003 and centers Canadian hockey stories. The Winter Classic began in 2008 and became the signature outdoor event around the turn of the calendar year. The Stadium Series, introduced in 2014, broadened the concept to more markets and has often used a more contemporary, city-and-venue-led look.

Those identities can shape uniforms, entertainment and the way the weekend is marketed, but the hockey result goes into the same regular-season table. A Heritage Classic win is not worth more because of its history, and a Stadium Series loss is not discounted because the rink sits inside a football footprint. Overtime and standings rules remain regular-season rules.

The 2026-27 set is historically notable for scale and participation. NHL schedule facts say the three games will raise the league's outdoor total to 48 and produce 43 unique matchups. When Utah steps onto the rink in Salt Lake City, every one of the 32 active franchises will have played an outdoor regular-season game.

Choosing the “best” event is therefore a fan decision, not a factual ranking. Winnipeg offers a Canada-centered matchup and an earlier fall date. Salt Lake City offers Utah's first appearance and a New Year's Eve schedule. Arlington offers a prime-time conference matchup in a massive football setting. Compare the team you want to see, the total trip cost, expected view and schedule risk; the brand name alone cannot answer those questions.

How to buy tickets and compare the real cost

Start from the NHL event page or ticket hub, not an advertisement that happens to rank first. For Winnipeg and Salt Lake City, the official path leads to Ticketmaster. For Arlington, it leads to SeatGeek. Those platforms can display both primary and resale inventory, so read the listing label instead of assuming every seat on an official platform is a standard ticket sold at its original price.

1. Set the correct event, date and city. The 2027 Winter Classic date is December 31, 2026, and the Dallas-hosted Stadium Series is in Arlington.
2. Search for the quantity you need. One low-priced single seat does not establish the cost of two adjacent seats.
3. Match the product. Compare ticket-only inventory with ticket-only inventory. Stadium Series experience packages may include perks that an ordinary seat does not.
4. Open every disclosure. Check section, row, accessible-seat conditions, limited-view language, transfer method and whether the listing is resale.
5. Compare the final total. Use the same currency and include applicable fees, tax, parking and transportation before deciding which event is cheaper.
6. Read the event terms before payment. Outdoor-game policies address time changes, alternate dates and limited refund circumstances; they are not identical to a simple cancellation guarantee.

The March, May and June on-sale times explain when primary sales opened; they do not establish what is available today. Inventory can disappear or return, resale sellers choose their own asks, and checkout totals move. This is why this guide does not publish a universal “tickets from” price. A stale bargain number is more likely to mislead than help.

Build a ceiling for the entire outing before opening the map. Include the ticket total, transport, a possible parking pass, lodging and a schedule buffer if you are flying. Then compare seats within that ceiling instead of raising it each time a better section appears. The broader 2026-27 NHL ticket guide explains primary, resale and package inventory in more detail.

Finally, preserve the confirmation and know which account holds the mobile ticket. If buying for a group, transfer tickets early enough for each person to sign in and load the barcode correctly. Do not post barcode screenshots, order numbers or account details in public travel groups while asking for help.

Seats, weather and travel: what changes outdoors

A football stadium makes a dramatic backdrop, but the rink is much smaller than the field. Row height, horizontal angle and distance from center ice can matter more than a familiar lower-bowl label. Start with the live event map, find the rink rather than the football 50-yard line, and read every limited-view disclosure. The published shoot-twice end is useful for team preference, but it should come after the basic question: can you comfortably see the whole sheet?

Do not make a weather forecast months ahead. Winnipeg in October, Salt Lake City on New Year's Eve and Arlington in February present different possibilities, and the useful forecast window comes much closer to puck drop. Build a flexible clothing system: a moisture-managing base, warm middle layer and weather-resistant outer layer can be adjusted. Foot warmth and gloves matter during a long seated event. Confirm the venue's current bag, blanket and battery rules before packing; policies from an ordinary football game or a prior NHL event may not carry over.

Outdoor ice is engineered and refrigerated, yet weather and sunlight have affected past NHL event timing. That history is a reason to keep the day flexible, not evidence that any of these three games will be delayed. Avoid a tight postgame flight, prepaid connection or dinner reservation that fails if the start moves. Read the event's refund and alternate-date terms before committing to nonrefundable travel.

For entry, charge the phone, update the ticket app, sign in and save the ticket to the supported wallet when possible. Bring an approved charging option only after checking venue rules. Send each group member their own ticket in advance, agree on a meeting place outside the security line and keep a written note of the purchaser's account email without exposing a password.

Transportation is event-specific. Winnipeg currently offers separate parking passes, while the Utah and Arlington FAQs say parking details will come later. Recheck the official fan guide in the final week for lots, transit, rideshare zones, gate times and road closures. Arriving early is especially valuable when tens of thousands of hockey fans are learning a football venue's temporary rink layout at the same time.

How to watch the 2026-27 outdoor games

The confirmed United States national television plan as of September 5 is straightforward:

• Heritage Classic: TNT, Sunday, October 25 at 7 p.m. ET.
• Winter Classic: TNT, Thursday, December 31 at 6 p.m. ET.
• Stadium Series: ABC, Saturday, February 20 at 8 p.m. ET.

The ESPN announcement says the games in its national package stream live through the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited subscribers, which supplies a confirmed app route for the Stadium Series. Access still depends on the current subscription and location terms. For the TNT events, use the live options named in the event listing or your television provider close to game day. The 2026-27 schedule release reviewed for this guide identifies TNT but does not assign every outdoor telecast to a specific streaming product, so an older season's HBO Max or truTV listing should not be copied forward automatically.

In Canada, Sportsnet is the NHL's national rights partner for 2026-27. A current official event-specific feed list for all three games was not available in the material reviewed on September 5, so this guide does not guess which Sportsnet channel or digital tier will carry each one. Consult the NHL game listing and Sportsnet schedule when the event approaches.

A channel name also does not mean a legal free stream exists. Authentication, subscription rules and location restrictions can apply, and unauthorized “free” pages may expose viewers to misleading pop-ups or malware. Confirm access before puck drop, update the app if you plan to stream, and keep the television channel as a fallback where your service includes it.

Add each date to the NHL schedule calendar, then revisit the official listing during game week. Start-time adjustments are especially important for outdoor events: a calendar alert should prompt a final check rather than freeze an old listing forever.

2026-27 NHL outdoor games FAQ

How many NHL outdoor games are scheduled in 2026-27?

Three. The Heritage Classic is October 25 in Winnipeg, the Winter Classic is December 31 in Salt Lake City, and the Stadium Series is February 20 in Arlington. The NHL says this is the eighth season in league history with at least three outdoor games.

Why is the 2027 Winter Classic played in 2026?

The official event label points to the new year being welcomed, while the game is scheduled on New Year's Eve. The correct calendar appointment is Thursday, December 31, 2026 at 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET. January 1, 2027 appears in the event terms as a possible alternate date, not the scheduled date.

Are outdoor NHL games exhibitions?

No. These three are part of the 2026-27 regular season. The results and points count in the standings like other regular-season games. Separate alumni games, fan festivals or practices should not be confused with the listed NHL matchups.

Where are official outdoor-game tickets sold?

Follow the NHL event page to Ticketmaster for the Heritage Classic and Winter Classic, or to SeatGeek for the Stadium Series. Check whether a listing is primary, resale or a package before comparing it. The original public sales have already opened, but this article cannot guarantee live availability.

Can an outdoor game date or start time change?

Yes. The current event policies allow the NHL to alter timing and identify alternate dates in specified circumstances. Read the policy attached to your exact event before buying travel, because ticket validity and refund conditions depend on the official terms rather than a general rule summarized elsewhere.

What should I verify during game week?

Check the mobile ticket for the final start and gate, the NHL event page for operational notices, the venue fan guide for bag and transportation rules, and the broadcaster schedule for the channel or app. If those disagree, use the newest official event notice and contact the seller or venue through the details in your order.

The matchups are set and the sales are open; the remaining work is practical verification. Choose the event for its teams and setting, compare the complete cost, protect flexibility in the itinerary and recheck the details that an outdoor operation can change.