Ice Hockey World Championships 2026 live stream: How to watch ice hockey for free
TL;DR: Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free on IIHF.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
We’re still a long way from international hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but there’s more to come. We know that the ice hockey world’s focus is firmly on the resolution of the NHL season right now, but the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is here to give fans something other than a particular interest in the Stanley Cup.
The tournament doesn’t have quite the same prestige as the Winter Olympics, but the 2024 World Championships was a huge success in terms of attendance. We expect this tournament in Switzerland to be as popular as the USA, Canada, Czechia, Sweden, Finland, and other top teams competing on the ice.
If you would like to watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the Ice Hockey World Championships?
The Ice Hockey World Championships is an annual international men’s ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The 16 teams are divided into two groups for the First Round which is played in a single round robin format. The top four teams from each group advance to the knockout round.
The defending champions are Czechia.
When is the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships?
The 2026 IIHF World Championships will be held May 15-31. This year’s tournament will be hosted by Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.
Mashable Top Stories
How to watch Ice Hockey World Championships 2026 for free
The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is available to stream live for free on IIHF.TV.
IIHF.TV is not available in some areas due to regional broadcast restrictions (restricted areas listed here), but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in an accessible location, meaning you can stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free anywhere in the world.
Stream the Ice Hockey World Championships live for free by following these simple steps:
-
Sign up for a streaming-ready VPN (like ExpressVPN)
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open the application and connect to the server in an access point
-
Connect to IIHF.TV
-
Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free anywhere in the world
Only $12.99 at ExpressVPN (with money back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming aren’t free, but they often offer excellent money-back guarantees. By using these offers, you can watch Ice Hockey World Championships 2026 without committing your money. Obviously this isn’t a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to spread the word before making your investment back.
If you want to keep permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you will need to register. Luckily, the best VPN for streaming live sports is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for Ice Hockey World Championships?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live games on free platforms, for many reasons:
-
Servers in 105 countries
-
The user-friendly app is available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
-
Strict no-logging policy to keep your data safe
-
Fast connection speed
-
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
-
30 day money back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN retails for $68.40 and includes four additional months for free – an 81% discount for a limited time. This plan includes a year of unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).
Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey world championships for free with ExpressVPN.
