Oct 8, 2026
·Hannah Kimnach
Outdoor hockey in Canada is making a comeback this year, with two iconic Canadian franchises taking to the ice. The 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic returns on Sunday, October 25, bringing the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens together for a special outdoor NHL game at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
After a three-season hiatus, the Heritage Classic is back for its eighth edition, complete with throwback uniforms, decades of hockey history, and the unmistakable nostalgia of watching the game under the open sky.
From the 2026 matchup and newly unveiled jerseys to the history behind one of hockey's most celebrated traditions, here's everything fans need to know about the NHL Heritage Classic.
Who is playing in the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic?
The Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens will face off in the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic, marking the eighth installment of the NHL's signature Canadian outdoor hockey event.
For Winnipeg, the matchup is an opportunity to celebrate the city's rich hockey history and 15 years since the Jets returned to the NHL in 2011. The Canadiens were fittingly Winnipeg's opponent in the team's first game back, making the 2026 Heritage Classic a meaningful full-circle moment for both franchises. The Canadiens also have a special connection to the event’s origins, having played in and won the inaugural NHL Heritage Classic in 2003.
The 2026 matchup brings together two NHL teams with plenty of outdoor hockey history:
Winnipeg Jets: The 2026 Heritage Classic will be the Jets’ third NHL outdoor game. They previously faced the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 Heritage Classic and the Calgary Flames in 2019.
Montreal Canadiens: The Canadiens will make their fifth NHL outdoor appearance in the 2026 Heritage Classic, and their first since 2017. They enter the matchup with a 2-2-0 record in outdoor regular-season games.
When is the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic?
The 2026 NHL Heritage Classic takes place on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
The event is considered part of the 2026–27 NHL regular season, meaning the result counts toward the standings just like any other game.
Where is the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic being played?
The 2026 NHL Heritage Classic will be played at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba, home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
The outdoor stadium will temporarily transform from a football venue into an outdoor hockey arena, with an NHL rink built directly on the stadium field.
Princess Auto Stadium has previously hosted the Heritage Classic, when Winnipeg welcomed the event in 2016 with the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Jets 3-0.
The 2026 matchup marks the event's return to Winnipeg exactly one decade later, giving local fans another chance to watch NHL hockey on a big outdoor stage.
Unlike a typical NHL arena, Princess Auto Stadium features a football-stadium seating layout, creating different sightlines and viewing distances. Fans planning to attend should keep this in mind when comparing seats and ticket prices.
What do the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic jerseys look like?
The NHL Heritage Classic is about more than just bringing a hockey game outdoors. It's a celebration of the teams, traditions, and generations of fans that have shaped one of Canada's favorite pastimes. And few things capture that nostalgia better than the uniforms.
On October 7, 2026, the 2026 Heritage Classic uniforms were officially unveiled, revealing special-edition jerseys for both the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens.
The intentionally designed jerseys blend a vintage vibe with thoughtful details that pay tribute to each franchise's history.
With the Heritage Classic returning for the first time since 2023, the throwback designs are a fitting way to welcome back one of the league's most nostalgic events.
Winnipeg Jets 2026 Heritage Classic jersey: A nod to the '80s and '90s
The Winnipeg Jets' 2026 Heritage Classic jersey draws inspiration from the franchise's classic uniforms of the 1980s and 1990s, resurfacing a familiar look for longtime fans.
The predominantly white jersey complements Winnipeg's current navy uniform while incorporating several retro-inspired details, such as a vintage crest and felt lettering and numbers.
For Jets fans, the design is more than an homage to the past. It's a visual connection to the franchise's original era in Winnipeg, before the original Jets relocated to Arizona in 1996.
While today's Jets are a different NHL franchise, the uniform celebrates the hockey identity that has remained part of Winnipeg's culture.
Montreal Canadiens 2026 Heritage Classic jersey: A tribute to hockey tradition
With more than a century of history behind the franchise, the Montreal Canadiens have plenty of inspiration to draw from.
Their 2026 Heritage Classic jersey combines the team's signature red and blue with a vintage off-white. Several smaller design elements make the uniform particularly meaningful, including the "Les Habitants" collar detail, which pays tribute to the franchise’s iconic nickname, and a fleur-de-lis that honors the province of Québec.
For Montreal, it’s a symbolic reference to its return to the Heritage Classic, as the Canadiens were one of the two teams that helped launch the outdoor hockey tradition in 2003.
What is the NHL Heritage Classic?
The NHL Heritage Classic is a special outdoor regular-season NHL game that celebrates Canada's hockey history and the sport's outdoor roots.
The event features NHL teams playing in an open-air stadium rather than a traditional indoor hockey arena. Football stadiums are commonly converted into temporary outdoor rinks, allowing thousands of additional fans to take part in the occasion.
The Heritage Classic is one of the NHL's signature outdoor events, alongside the NHL Winter Classic and NHL Stadium Series.
What makes the Heritage Classic so unique is its distinctly Canadian identity. The event traditionally highlights Canadian teams, historic rivalries, throwback uniforms, and the cultural connection between hockey and the communities where the sport grew.
Although the setting is different, the game itself follows standard NHL regular-season rules and counts toward each team's season record.
When was the first NHL Heritage Classic?
The first NHL Heritage Classic took place on November 22, 2003, at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3.
It was a historic moment for professional hockey, becoming the first outdoor regular-season game in NHL history.
The success of the 2003 Heritage Classic helped establish outdoor NHL games as major events and paved the way for the annual NHL Winter Classic, which debuted in 2008.
More than two decades later, the Heritage Classic continues to celebrate that same idea of bringing professional hockey back to the outdoor setting where generations of Canadian players first learned to love the game.
NHL Heritage Classic history: Past games and winners
The 2026 NHL Heritage Classic will be the eighth game in the event's history.
Unlike the NHL Winter Classic, which is traditionally held annually, the Heritage Classic has taken place less frequently, with several years separating some events.
Here's a look at every NHL Heritage Classic matchup leading up to 2026:
Year | Matchup | Location | Winner |
2003 | Edmonton, Alberta | Montreal Canadiens | |
2011 | Calgary, Alberta | Calgary Flames | |
2014 | Vancouver, British Columbia | Ottawa Senators | |
2016 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Edmonton Oilers | |
2019 | Regina, Saskatchewan | Winnipeg Jets | |
2022 | Maple Leafs vs. Sabres | Hamilton, Ontario | Toronto Maple Leafs |
2023 | Edmonton, Alberta | Edmonton Oilers | |
2026 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | TBD |
The event has produced several memorable moments, from the freezing inaugural game in Edmonton to the 2023 Battle of Alberta between the Oilers and Calgary Flames.
Now, after three seasons without a Heritage Classic, the tradition returns to Winnipeg for another celebration of Canadian hockey.
Why is the NHL Heritage Classic important?
The NHL Heritage Classic celebrates something that goes beyond wins, losses, and the regular-season standings. It’s representative of hockey's place in Canadian culture.
Long before NHL arenas and professional hockey leagues, generations of Canadian players learned the game on frozen ponds and backyard rinks.
The Heritage Classic brings that tradition to the modern NHL, pairing professional players and large stadium crowds with an environment that recalls the sport's earliest days.
The event also creates opportunities to celebrate local hockey communities, historic franchises, and some of the league's most memorable rivalries.
For fans, that means more than a typical regular-season matchup. Outdoor games feature their own unique uniforms, larger crowds, and atmospheres that players and spectators rarely encounter during a typical NHL game.
The 2026 game is particularly meaningful for Winnipeg, which is celebrating 15 years since the Jets returned to the NHL in 2011, and Montreal, whose participation connects the modern event to the original Heritage Classic more than two decades earlier.
How are teams chosen for the NHL Heritage Classic?
The NHL selects the teams and host city for each Heritage Classic, with matchups generally emphasizing Canadian hockey history, established rivalries, team milestones and anniversaries, and meaningful connections to the host location.
Unlike the Stanley Cup Playoffs, teams don't qualify for the Heritage Classic based on standings or regular-season performance.
The Jets-Canadiens matchup in 2026 checks several boxes, bringing together two Canadian franchises with important connections to the event's history.
Why was there no NHL Heritage Classic in 2024 or 2025?
The NHL Heritage Classic did not take place in 2024 or 2025, making the October 2026 matchup the first edition since the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Calgary Flames in 2023.
The Heritage Classic hasn’t historically operated on a strictly annual schedule, and gaps between events aren’t uncommon. Previous breaks between seasons have occurred, including the three-year stretches between 2016 and 2019 and between 2019 and 2022.
Unlike the regularly scheduled Winter Classic, the Heritage Classic is staged more as a special event rather than an annual fixture.
What can fans expect at the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic?
Beyond the Jets-Canadiens game itself, fans attending the 2026 Heritage Classic can expect a full day of hockey festivities in and around Princess Auto Stadium.
The NHL has scheduled the Scotiabank NHL PreGame celebration on October 25 in the University of Manitoba's U Lot, across the street from the stadium.
The event will feature family-friendly activities, interactive hockey games, live music, special appearances, and other special attractions.
Entry to the pregame festivities requires a 2026 Heritage Classic game ticket.
Fans attending should also prepare for the logistics of an outdoor NHL game, including changing weather conditions, varied seating sightlines, large crowds, and ticket entry procedures.
Be sure to review the latest stadium policies, parking details, and event updates beforehand.
Where can I buy 2026 NHL Heritage Classic tickets?
Fans can find 2026 NHL Heritage Classic tickets on SeatGeek for the matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium on October 25, 2026.
Ticket prices vary depending on seating location, availability, and demand. Because the Heritage Classic is a special outdoor event rather than a typical NHL home game, it's worth comparing several seating sections before making a purchase.
When shopping for tickets, keep in mind that outdoor stadium layouts can create different viewing angles and distances from the ice than fans may be accustomed to at NHL arenas.
Why buy NHL Heritage Classic tickets on SeatGeek?
SeatGeek makes it easy to browse available NHL Heritage Classic tickets and compare options in one place, helping fans find seats that match their budget and preferences.
Interactive seat maps let fans explore available sections and get a clearer sense of their view from the stands, while Deal Score helps evaluate the relative value of listings based on factors such as seat location and price.
All-in transparent pricing makes it easy to see the total cost, including mandatory fees, before checkout.
And eligible purchases are backed by SeatGeek's Buyer Guarantee, giving fans added confidence when securing their seats for the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic.
How to buy 2026 NHL Heritage Classic tickets on SeatGeek
Buying tickets for the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic is simple:
Visit: SeatGeek's NHL Heritage Classic tickets page and select the event.
Browse available tickets: Explore the Princess Auto Stadium seating map and compare sections, prices, and available listings.
Compare ticket value: Use Deal Score and available filters to narrow your options based on your budget and seating preferences.
Select your seats: Choose the ticket listing that works best for you and review the full order details.
Complete your purchase: Check out securely, then follow the delivery instructions for your tickets.
With the Heritage Classic returning after three seasons away, the 2026 matchup offers fans a rare opportunity to watch two historic Canadian hockey teams take the ice under the open sky.
Whether you're traveling to Winnipeg or local to the area, the Heritage Classic is a chance to experience a tradition that has helped define outdoor NHL hockey for more than two decades.