NHL Announces 2026 and 2027 Winter Classics in Utah on New Year’s Eve

The Utah Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche in the 2027 NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the date and venue during a visit to Salt Lake City for Utah’s first home playoff game in franchise history, where the Mammoth hosted the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Western Conference First Round.

The game will be played in the late afternoon or early evening, with Bettman noting it will be “prime time in the East” and that “some of it will be under the lights.”

Utah Mammoth owner Ryan Smith said the team plans to leverage the New Year’s Eve timing to create a full weekend of events, including a concert at the Delta Center following the game to celebrate the holiday.

Smith described the vision for the event as a “whole weekend” experience similar to an All-Star Game, featuring sports, concerts, and activities designed to showcase Utah and attract visitors for skiing and other winter activities.

The 2027 Winter Classic will mark the first outdoor game in Utah Mammoth franchise history and the 18th edition of the NHL’s annual outdoor showcase.

The NHL previously experimented with a different approach for the 2026 Winter Classic, hosting the Florida Panthers against the New York Rangers at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.