The Kelowna Rockets have announced their intent to bid for the right to host the 2026 Memorial Cup. As part of the Canadian Hockey League’s rotation of the event, the Western Hockey League is scheduled to host the Memorial Cup in late May 2026.
If successful in their bid, it would be the second time that the Rockets would host the ten-day tournament. Kelowna last hosted the prestigious tournament in 2004 with Captain Josh Gorges, 18-year-old defenceman Shea Weber and eventual tournament MVP goaltender Kelly Guard. The Rockets went on to capture the 2004 Memorial Cup on home ice in front of a sold-out crowd at Prospera Place.
The Rockets were set to host the 2020 Memorial Cup before it was canceled due to Covid-19. Tourism Kelowna was a integral partner in the 2020 bid process, representing the tourism industry on both the bid committee and the host committee, before the event was cancelled.
The 2026 Memorial Cup will be the 106th edition of the tournament, which features the playoff champions from the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, in addition to the WHL host team. If the bid is successful, the event would generate significant significant economic impact to Kelowna. The 2019 Memorial Cup Presented by KIA, which was hosted in Halifax contributed $12.3 million in GDP to the Canadian economy through direct and spin-off impacts. Of this, $7.5 million (61%) accrued in the Halifax area, while 84% of the total GDP impact remained in Nova Scotia.
In 2018, Tourism Kelowna established a Major Events Strategy to further our destination’s national and international exposure, and become competitive as a host city for major events. A significant driver of overnight visitation and economic activity, sport tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry with over $7.4 billion in annual spending by domestic and international visitors. Through this strategy Tourism Kelowna has been involved in securing major events such as Skate Canada International 2019, BreakOut West Music Festival in 2018 & 2023, the Montana's Brier 2025, and Country Music Week and the CCMA Awards 2025.
For more information on our Major Events Strategy or to discuss hosting your next sport event in Kelowna, contact me at sara@tourismkelowna.com or at (250) 861-1515 ext. 218.
