2026 BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championship Calgary

A facility that has hosted just about every major event in curling will get another turn in the spotlight, it was announced jointly today by World Curling and Curling Canada.

The 2026 BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championship will be played March 14-22 at the WinSport Event Centre in Calgary.

“World Curling is delighted to see Calgary announced as the host of the BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championship 2026,” said Beau Welling, President of World Curling. “Calgary has long been a proud hub for the sport, and we’re excited to see top athletes from around the world continue to inspire and showcase our sport at what will be an exciting competition.”

WinSport has become a significant go-to for major curling events over the past five years. In 2021, it successfully staged a series of closed-door major championships during the pandemic, including the World Women’s and Men’s Championships, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and the Montana’s Brier.

More recently, it hosted the 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and 2024 PointsBet Invitational, and will later this year again be host of the PointsBet Invitational, Sept. 30-Oct. 5.

“We’re as grateful as always that can continue to work with our partners at World Curling in putting on these events, and we have every confidence that WinSport once again will be an ideal host for the 2026 BKT Tires World Women’s Championship,” said Nolan Thiessen, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada. “As one of the first major international curling championships after the Olympics, this event will take on higher visibility and we’re excited about what a world-class city such as Calgary will have in store for the best women’s curling teams on the planet.”

The WinSport Event Centre, which opened in 2011 with a seating capacity of around 3,000, has hosted numerous national and international competitions in a variety of sport, and it will be the fourth World Curling competition played there, including the two 2021 world championships and the inaugural Pan Continental Championships in 2022.

“It is an incredible honour to be selected as the host city for the 2026 Women’s World Curling Championship,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “Calgary is the perfect backdrop for this championship and we look forward to welcoming athletes, fans, and visitors to experience the hospitality and enthusiasm that define our city!”

BKT, as a multinational leading manufacturer in the Off-Highway industry, has been a partner of World Curling and Curling Canada since 2020, and this will be the third consecutive world championship in Canada with BKT as the title sponsor.

“We are proud of the solid relationship we have been creating with the fans of one of the most followed sports in Canada,” said Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director at BKT Europe. “Our bond is rooted in the values we share with Curling Canada, such as proximity to the territory, and is growing stronger year after year. As the Title Sponsor of a World Curling Championship for the third consecutive year, we will keep offering unique experiences to the supporters. We are excited to see that our journey will continue with the BKT 2026 World Women’s Curling Championship.”

It will be the third time the World Women’s Championship has been played in Alberta, and Swiss teams prevailed on both previous occasions. In 2021, it was Team Silvana Tirinzoni claiming gold, while in 2012 at Lethbridge, Team Mirjam Ott won the world title.

“Alberta has built a strong reputation as a premier destination for world-class sporting events, and we’re excited to continue the tradition by welcoming the 2026 BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championship to Calgary,” said the Honourable Joseph Schow, Alberta’s Minister of Tourism and Sport. “Hosting this event not only brings the world’s top curling talent to our province — it’s an opportunity to show athletes and fans from around the world the rich sports culture, vibrant communities, beautiful landscapes and warm hospitality that make Canada’s wild side so special.”

TSN/RDS, the official broadcast partner of Curling Canada’s Season of Champions, will provide complete coverage of all Team Canada games and playoff games at the 2026 BKT Tires World Women’s Championship.

Ticket and volunteer information will be released in the coming weeks. Fans are encouraged to sign up on the Curling Canada Collective  to receive updates.

“Building on the success of hosting the incredible Scotties Tournament of Hearts last year in Calgary, we’re thrilled to have been selected to host the 2026 World Women’s Curling Championship. This event will bring the world’s best curlers to Calgary, providing an unforgettable experience for both Calgarians and curling fans,” said Carson Ackroyd, Senior Vice President of Sales at Tourism Calgary. “The championship is projected to generate over $11 million in economic impact, supporting Tourism Calgary’s 1,100-plus local business members and engaging the community through a variety of cultural and sport development activations. Together, we’ll cheer on teams with Calgary’s signature hospitality.”

The world women’s championship began in 1979 in Perth, Scotland, and was contested separately from the men’s championship through 1988. During that time, the women’s event was held twice in Canada, in 1983 in Moose Jaw and 1986 in Kelowna.

In 1989, the championships were combined for the first time in Milwaukee, Wis., and remained so through 2004. During that time, Canada first hosted the joint championships in 1991 in Winnipeg, followed by five Ford World Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships (Brandon, Man., 1995; Hamilton, 1996; Kamloops, 1998; Saint John, N.B., 1999 and Winnipeg, 2003).

Beginning in 2005, when the men’s and women’s world championships were separated once again, Curling Canada, known then as the Canadian Curling Association, agreed to alternately stage a men’s and women’s event in Canada each year.

“Calgary and WinSport have proven to be outstanding hosts for numerous major championship curling events in recent years, so we’re excited to have another opportunity to welcome competitors and fans to our province,” said Jill Groves, Executive Director of Curling Alberta. “Calgary’s committed group of volunteers is extremely committed and knowledgeable and will be working very hard over the 14 months to make the 2026 BKT Tires World Women’s Championship memorable for everyone.”

Canada has won a leading 18 women’s world titles since 1979; Switzerland is next at 10, followed by Sweden with eight.

The 2024 BKT Tires World Women’s Championship was played in Sydney, N.S., last March, with Canada’s Team Rachel Homan winning her second world championship gold medal .

The 2025 LGT World Women’s Championship  will be played in Uijeongbu, South Korea, March 15-23.

"WinSport is thrilled to be welcoming the 2026 World Women’s Curling Championship to the WinSport Event Centre next March," said Barry Heck, WinSport President and CEO. "We have a proud history of successfully hosting major curling events and are excited to once again welcome the many teams, tournament organizers, partners, and fans here in Calgary. WinSport looks forward to celebrating the talent, passion, and camaraderie that define this incredible sport and this prestigious championship, while building on our tradition of delivering world-class events."

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For more information:

Al Cameron
Director, Communication & Media Relation
Curling Canada
Tel: (403) 463-5500
[email protected]

Kyle Jahns
Manager, Communication and Media Relations
Curling Canada
Tel: 204-803-8221
[email protected]

Christopher Hamilton
Head of Communications and Marketing
World Curling
[email protected]

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