When Does the NHL Season Start?

Hockey season is long. From the first preseason game to the last game of the Stanley Cup Final, it covers about nine months. Here is the 2026-27 calendar, taken from the official NHL schedule, and what happens in each part of the year.

When does the NHL season start?

The 2026-27 regular season opened on September 29, 2026, with the Florida Panthers at the Carolina Hurricanes as the first game on the schedule. There were 5 games on opening day.

NHL seasons traditionally start in early October. This season started earlier than usual, and it is also longer: the schedule grew to 84 games per team. See how many games are in an NHL season.

When does NHL training camp start?

Training camps open in mid-September, a week or two before the preseason. Veterans report for physicals and testing, and rookies often arrive a few days earlier for rookie camp and prospect tournaments.

Preseason games began on September 19, 2026. Teams use them to look at prospects and settle their rosters. Preseason results do not count in the standings. By the first regular-season game, every team has to cut down to the 23-man limit explained in our roster rules guide.

When does hockey season end?

The 2026-27 regular season ends on April 10, 2027. Every team finishes its 84th game in the final days, and the last games often decide the final playoff spots and the first-round matchups.

After that comes the Stanley Cup playoffs, which usually start within a few days of the final regular-season game. Four rounds of best-of-seven series take about two months, so the Stanley Cup Final is played in June. The NHL announces exact playoff dates in the spring. The last Final, in 2026, was won by the Carolina Hurricanes.

When is the NHL regular season over?

On April 10, 2027. The playoff picture shows who is in, who is chasing, and each team's odds of making it until then.

Special games on the 2026-27 schedule

Some games are played away from either team's home arena: international games in Europe, outdoor games in stadiums, and other special events. The schedule lists 7 of them this season:

What does the full NHL calendar look like?

The NHL Draft, where teams pick the best junior, college and European prospects, is held in late June. On July 1 unrestricted free agents can sign with any team, which makes early July one of the busiest weeks on the hockey calendar even though no games are played.

What happens in the middle of the season?

A few fixed points break up the regular season:

• The holiday break. The NHL stops for Christmas so players can be home with their families. This season there are no games from December 23 to 25, 2026.
• The winter break. Most seasons pause for several days in late January or February, usually for the All-Star Game. This season's longest pause in the schedule is February 4 to 7, 2027.
• The trade deadline. Usually in early March. After it, teams can no longer trade players, so contenders load up and teams out of the race sell. The deadline also changes roster rules; see our roster guide.
• The stretch run. The final month decides most playoff spots. That is when the playoff picture and each team's clinch number matter most.

When does NHL hockey start each day?

Most NHL games start at 7 or 7:30 p.m. local time, with some afternoon games on weekends and holidays. Because the league spans four time zones in North America, games run from early evening on the East Coast to late night for West Coast games, especially if you are watching from the East. Our games tonight page lists every game in your own time zone with the TV channel.

How did hockey start?

If you searched "how hockey started" and meant the sport itself rather than the season, our history of hockey guide covers its origins, from the first indoor game in Montréal in 1875 to the founding of the NHL in 1917.