The 2026 Frozen Four schedule and bracket is the end of the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament. The matches take place on April 9th and 11th, 2026. This year marks a historic first: the Frozen Four heads to Las Vegas for the first time, bringing high-stakes action to the bright lights of the Strip at T-Mobile Arena. We have all of the tournament details, bracket, and more for you below.
2026 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament Overview
The 2026 NCAA men’s hockey championship features a 16-team single-elimination bracket:
- 6 automatic qualifiers (conference tournament champions from Hockey East, ECAC, Big Ten, NCHC, CCHA, and Atlantic Hockey America).
- 10 at-large bids selected by the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee based on PairWise Rankings and overall performance.
Teams are seeded and placed into four regional sites (no longer strictly geographic). Winners from each regional advance to the Frozen Four semifinals and championship.
2026 NCAA Frozen Four Schedule Key Dates and Venues (2026)
Here is the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four schedule, key dates, and more for you below.
- Regionals – March 26-29, 2026 (Thursday-Sunday, with first rounds March 26-27 and finals March 28-29)
- Albany, NY – MVP Arena (Times Union Center), hosted by ECAC Hockey
- Loveland, CO – Budweiser Events Center, hosted by Denver
- Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premier Center, hosted by Nebraska-Omaha
- Worcester, MA – DCU Center, hosted by Holy Cross
- Frozen Four – April 9 & 11, 2026 (Thursday and Saturday)
- Semifinals: Thursday, April 9 (typically early afternoon and evening sessions, e.g., ~2:00 PM PT and ~5:30 PM PT; exact times TBA post-selection)
- National Championship Game: Saturday, April 11 (typically ~2:30 PM PT or similar; exact TBA)
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV (home of the Vegas Golden Knights; capacity ~18,000 for hockey)
- Hosts: University of North Dakota and Las Vegas Events
This Vegas debut promises an electric atmosphere with NHL-caliber facilities, fan-friendly entertainment, and crossover appeal for hockey enthusiasts.
2026 NCAA DI Men’s Hockey TV and Streaming Info
As we get closer to the tournament, the 2026 NCAA DI Men’s Hockey TV and streaming info will be confirmed for you.
Broadcast details will be finalized closer to the tournament (typically announced post-bracket reveal around late March). Expect:
- ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews) for regionals and Frozen Four.
- Streaming on ESPN+ for most games.
- Check NCAA.com or official partners for live updates, highlights, and full schedule once released.
Printable 2026 NCAA Frozen Four Bracket
Once it is released, you will be able to download our free printable 2026 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament Blank Bracket (PDF) to fill in teams as the bracket is revealed. Perfect for office pools, watch parties, or tracking your predictions. Until then, you can checkout the printable 2025 Frozen Four Bracket and more below to see how the matches were setup.
Early Projections and Key Teams to Watch
As of late January 2026, the season is heating up with conference races tight. Look for Big Ten dominance to continue-teams like Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Penn State often stack the top of PairWise rankings thanks to strong non-conference schedules and depth.
Other contenders:
- NCHC powerhouses (North Dakota, Denver, Minnesota-Duluth) for Midwest/West strength.
- Hockey East standouts (Boston College, Boston University, Providence).
- Potential sleepers from ECAC (Quinnipiac) or emerging programs.
Many top prospects are NHL draft picks or future stars-track them here as they chase the national title before turning pro.
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Women’s Frozen Four Schedule 2026
For fans of women’s college hockey, the 2026 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four schedule is set for March 20 & 22 at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, PA (hosted by Penn State). The women’s tournament uses an 11-team format with campus regionals leading to the championship weekend. We’ll have full coverage, schedules, and printables closer to selection.
Stay tuned to SportsBrackets.net for bracket reveal updates (expected late March), live scores, predictions, and more printables as the road to Vegas unfolds. The 2026 Frozen Four is set to be unforgettable-don’t miss it.
Last updated: January 30, 2026. Dates/times subject to NCAA confirmation.
