Kelowna is gearing up to welcome curling teams and fans from around the world for the Olympic Qualification Event, which is taking place at the Kelowna Curling Club from December 5 to December 18, 2025.
This prestigious competition marks the final opportunity for teams to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina. Over two exciting weeks in Kelowna, athletes will compete across three events: Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles Curling.
During the two-week event, world-class athletes, coaching staff, family and friends, and curling fans, some of whom may be visiting for the first time, will be exploring downtown Kelowna and beyond, meaning that the number of people in our city will be much higher than usual for this time of year.
Read on to learn more about the Championships and how you can prepare to warmly welcome these visitors!
About the Event:
- The event is comprised of three competitions: Men's Curling, Women's Curling, and Mixed Doubles.
- The Men's & Women's competition takes place from December 5 - 11
- The Mixed Doubles competition takes place from December 13 - 18. 21 teams will be competing.
- The event will welcome teams from Australia, China, Japan, USA, Korea, Netherlands, Germany, France, Hungary, etc.
- Event venue: The Kelowna Curling Club
- Official Event Schedule.
How to Prepare:
Kelowna’s local businesses play a significant role in shaping the visitor experience. Here’s how you can get ready:
- Inform Your Team
Let staff know about the event and the likely increase in visitors, including international guests. - Plan Staffing Levels
Adjust schedules to align with event dates and expected peak visitor times. - Show Your Kelowna Spirit Online
Welcome curling fans and athletes through your social media channels. Use the hashtag #exploreKelowna to join the community conversation. - Offer Specials or Promotions
Consider creating curling-inspired promotions for athletes and fans.
Business Readiness Toolkit
Tourism Kelowna has developed a readiness toolkit designed to help you leverage the event, maximize exposure, engage with attendees, and get involved in the excitement. The toolkit includes a deck with the event overview and examples & ideas of how to activate your business, the official event schedule, key curling lingo to help you talk the talk, and more.
Visit the official business toolkit.
Together, we can ensure everyone visiting for the championships has a remarkable experience at the event and while they #exploreKelowna.
Click here for more information about the Olympic Qualification Event. For more information about Tourism Kelowna's support of the event, please email me at sara@tourismkelowna.com.
