National and World Sporting Events Coming to Halifax in 2026

Canada’s top taekwondo athletes are heading to the Halifax Convention Centre this February to compete for national titles. From youth to senior divisions, you’ll see some of the country’s best in action. Youth and cadet athletes will compete in a double-elimination format, while junior and senior divisions will follow a single-elimination format.  

Canada’s top up-and-coming figure skaters will take the ice at the RBC Centre this February for three days of pre-novice and novice competition. Witness athleticism, artistry, and precision on display at the national level.  

Experience the action up close at the Halifax Convention Centre, which will host more than 200 of Canada’s top karate athletes. Watch senior and under-21 competitors face off for national titles in their respective divisions.  

Eight teams, eight games, single elimination—only one will come out on top. Halifax set a U SPORTS men’s hockey championship attendance record of 43,513 fans at the Scotiabank Centre in 2015, and this year promises to be bigger than ever. Feel the tension build throughout the tournament as host Saint Mary’s University Huskies and two other Atlantic University Sport teams compete to bring the David Johnston University Cup back to the East Coast. 

The Halifax Mooseheads will host the QMJHL Draft for the first time in franchise history this June at the Scotiabank Centre. Friday kicks off with the excitement of the first round, followed by rounds 2 through 12 on Saturday as these young athletes take a major step forward in their careers. 

Sail Grand Prix (an international sailing competition) returns to Halifax two years after its record-breaking 2024 sellout. This year’s expanded race stadium includes grandstands and viewing opportunities on Georges Island, offering a unique vantage point at the northernmost stop on the Americas circuit. Get up close and watch the high-speed, hydrofoiling F50s, capable of reaching nearly 100 km/h, as they race head-to-head.  

The world’s best Masters paddlers are heading to Lake Banook, where thousands of competitors and spectators will gather as Canada races for a world title on home water. Athletes from around the globe will compete in high-level sprint canoe and kayak events, featuring a full slate of heats, finals, and medal ceremonies. This is a rare opportunity to see elite Masters competition up close, set against the iconic backdrop of Lake Banook’s world-class regatta course.  

This summer, Halifax will host the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Junior and U23 teams for the Canoe Sprint World Championships on Lake Banook. The event will feature more than 1,000 athletes from 60 countries, including many local youth participants who are carrying forward the region’s canoe and kayak legacy. Visitors can watch the races for free from the newly upgraded spectator areas. Join the excitement and cheer on Team Canada and all the young athletes taking part.