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2026 NHL Winter Classic

The 2026 NHL Winter Classic was an outdoor regular-season National Hockey League game played on January 2, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The 2026 NHL Winter Classic was an outdoor regular-season National Hockey League game played on January 2, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida. The New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 5–1, and Mika Zibanejad recorded the first hat trick in Winter Classic history. It was the 17th Winter Classic and the first NHL outdoor game held in Florida.

Background

The NHL Winter Classic is a regular-season outdoor game held near the start of the year. The 2026 edition continued that tradition and was announced as part of the 2025–26 NHL season.

Game and result

The Rangers and Panthers met on January 2, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami. New York won 5–1, with Mika Zibanejad's three-goal performance standing out as a historic first for the event.

Venue significance

loanDepot park became the first Florida site to host an NHL outdoor game. The choice made the 2026 Winter Classic the southernmost outdoor game in NHL history.

Broadcast and attendance

The game was scheduled for an evening start and broadcast on NHL television partners in North America. The NHL and event coverage described the stadium setup and ticket sales as part of the event's rollout.

Key facts

  • The 2026 Winter Classic was played on January 2, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida.
  • The New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 5–1.
  • Mika Zibanejad scored the first hat trick in Winter Classic history.
  • It was the first outdoor NHL game held in Florida.
  • The 2026 edition was the 17th Winter Classic.
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Canadian context

The Winter Classic is part of the NHL calendar followed closely by Canadian hockey audiences, and the game was broadcast on Canadian NHL television partners.

Frequently asked questions

Who played in the 2026 Winter Classic?
The New York Rangers played the Florida Panthers.
Who won the 2026 Winter Classic?
The New York Rangers won 5–1.
Where was the 2026 Winter Classic held?
It was held at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida.
Why was the 2026 Winter Classic notable?
It was the first outdoor NHL game in Florida and the 17th Winter Classic.
Who scored the historic hat trick?
Mika Zibanejad of the Rangers scored the first hat trick in Winter Classic history.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_NHL_Winter_Classic
    Supports: Game date, venue, teams, result, and Mika Zibanejad's hat trick.
  2. NHL — https://www.nhl.com/events/nhl-winter-classic/2025-26/
    Supports: Official event listing for the 2026 NHL Winter Classic, teams, venue, date, and final score.
  3. NHL — https://www.nhl.com/panthers/info/winterclassic
    Supports: Official Panthers page describing the 2026 Winter Classic and its Florida venue significance.
  4. NHL — https://www.nhl.com/news/2026-nhl-winter-classic-tickets-on-sale-june-4-2025
    Supports: Announcement that the 2026 edition was the 17th Winter Classic and details on the event's timing.
  5. NHL — https://www.nhl.com/events/nhl-winter-classic/2025-26/fan-guide
    Supports: Fan guide confirming the venue, date, and scheduled start time.
  6. NHL — https://www.nhl.com/video/2026-winter-classic-rink-build-timelapse-6386653185112
    Supports: Rink build footage and confirmation of the Miami location and game pairing.