photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / James Assinder
14 clubs confirmed for European tournament, groups to be finalized
The 2026 IIHF Continental Cup is taking shape – and there’s a new, streamlined format for the upcoming season.
This year’s journey begins in October, with two first-round groups contested between Oct. 17-19. The winners of those sections will advance to November’s semi-final stage, from which four teams will emerge to contest the grand final on Jan. 15-18, 2026.
In total, 14 clubs are taking part in this year’s 28th edition of the Continental Cup. Eight of them will contest that first round – HK Mogo (LAT), Budapest JAHC (HUN), ACS Gyergyoi (ROU), HC Kremenchuk (UKR), Hockey Punks (LTU), KHL Sisak (CRO), Crvena Zvezda (SRB) and Narva (EST). Groups and venues for round one will be allocated soon.
A further six teams have a bye to the semi-finals. These include GKS Katowice (POL), finalists in the past two seasons, 2017 champions Nottingham Panthers (GBR), 2024 silver medallists Herning Blue Fox (DEN), 2023 runners-up Ducs D’Angers (FRA) and Torpedo Ust-Kaminogorsk (KAZ), bronze medallists in 2008. Also, in this Olympic season, one of the 2026 host cities is represented after SC Cortina won the Italian championship. Cortina last played in 2023/24 and is back for the second time in three years.
The 2026 IIHF Continental Cup is taking shape – and there’s a new, streamlined format for the upcoming season.
This year’s journey begins in October, with two first-round groups contested between Oct. 17-19. The winners of those sections will advance to November’s semi-final stage, from which four teams will emerge to contest the grand final on Jan. 15-18, 2026.
In total, 14 clubs are taking part in this year’s 28th edition of the Continental Cup. Eight of them will contest that first round – HK Mogo (LAT), Budapest JAHC (HUN), ACS Gyergyoi (ROU), HC Kremenchuk (UKR), Hockey Punks (LTU), KHL Sisak (CRO), Crvena Zvezda (SRB) and Narva (EST). Groups and venues for round one will be allocated soon.
A further six teams have a bye to the semi-finals. These include GKS Katowice (POL), finalists in the past two seasons, 2017 champions Nottingham Panthers (GBR), 2024 silver medallists Herning Blue Fox (DEN), 2023 runners-up Ducs D’Angers (FRA) and Torpedo Ust-Kaminogorsk (KAZ), bronze medallists in 2008. Also, in this Olympic season, one of the 2026 host cities is represented after SC Cortina won the Italian championship. Cortina last played in 2023/24 and is back for the second time in three years.
© International Ice Hockey Federation
Of this season’s competitors, five featured in last year’s tournament. GKS Katowice took bronze after the final in Cardiff, KHL Sisak topped its first-round group but fell in the second stage, as did Latvia’s Mogo. Crvena Zvezda and Narva both lost out in the opening round.
At the other end of the scale, Romania’s representative, ACS Gyergyoi, is making its Continental Cup debut. The team from Gheorgeni traces its roots back to 1949 but hit new heights after joining the Hungarian Erste League in 2018. It won that competition in 2023 – the club’s first major title – and this year won the Romanian championship for the first time to qualify for the Continental Cup.
Nottingham Panthers are the only previous winner to feature this season. In 2017, they were the first British team to lift the trophy and this time they could make it back-to-back success for GB following Cardiff’s triumph on home ice back in January.
Two other teams have previously won medals. Demark’s Herning Blue Fox twice claimed silver (2016, 2024), while France’s Ducs D’Angers came third in 2015 and were runners-up on home ice in 2023.
At the other end of the scale, Romania’s representative, ACS Gyergyoi, is making its Continental Cup debut. The team from Gheorgeni traces its roots back to 1949 but hit new heights after joining the Hungarian Erste League in 2018. It won that competition in 2023 – the club’s first major title – and this year won the Romanian championship for the first time to qualify for the Continental Cup.
Nottingham Panthers are the only previous winner to feature this season. In 2017, they were the first British team to lift the trophy and this time they could make it back-to-back success for GB following Cardiff’s triumph on home ice back in January.
Two other teams have previously won medals. Demark’s Herning Blue Fox twice claimed silver (2016, 2024), while France’s Ducs D’Angers came third in 2015 and were runners-up on home ice in 2023.