Regina to host 2026 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships

Regina will host the 2026 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, bringing elite young Indigenous hockey players to the Co-operators Centre from May 2 to 9, 2026.

The NAHC, organized by the non-profit Aboriginal Sport Circle and sanctioned by Hockey Canada, features 16 teams — eight male and eight female — made up of bantam and midget-aged Indigenous athletes. The annual event has served as a key platform for Indigenous sport development since 2002, said a Friday news release from the Regina Exhibition Association Limited.

The 2026 tournament will mark the first time Saskatchewan has hosted the championships since 2012, REAL's news release said.

The tournament is "a tremendous opportunity for our province to showcase our commitment to Indigenous sport," Fabian Head, third vice-chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, said in the release.

The championships create "a space where Indigenous youth can connect with their culture, build lasting relationships, and develop skills that extend far beyond the rink," he said.

The 2026 event will be hosted in partnership with Ochapowace Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan. 

"It's very exciting," said Preston Henry, chair of the 2026 NAHC bid and an Ochapowace member.

The bid was officially approved in February but had to be kept secret until it was publicly announced at the closing ceremony of this year's championship Friday night in Kamloops, B.C., said Henry.

"It's exciting to bring it back to Treaty 4 territory," he said.

Ochapowace Chief Shelley Bear says the fact her First Nation will co-host the championship reflects the community's focus on youth development through sports and recreation, which she called "vital tools for building confidence, leadership and resilience in our young people."

"When we provide these opportunities, we're not just developing better athletes — we're developing stronger communities and future leaders who carry their cultural pride with them in everything they do," Bear was quoted as saying in the news release.

Henry credited Chief Bear for her support throughout the bidding process.

"She's done a lot of the legwork," he said. "You don't always see how much happens behind the scenes to make something like this possible, so she definitely deserves a shout-out."

The NAHC typically delivers more than $1 million in economic impact per category to host communities, according to organizers.

Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski welcomed the announcement, calling the tournament a meaningful event for the city and province.

The event "strengthens the bonds between communities through the spirit of sport," Bachynski said in the press release.

The championship is part of the province's efforts to answer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action around sports and reconciliation, REAL's news release said.

Sandra Jackle, president and CEO of the Regina Hotel Association, which is supporting the championships, said the event is an "outstanding celebration of sport and culture" that "strengthens cultural connections and community pride across Canada."

More information on schedules and tickets for the 2026 championships will be released closer to the event. 

Planning for the event is expected to begin in the coming weeks, Henry said, with a focus on engaging local Indigenous communities.

"You really don't want to miss out on what will be a great event," he said.