The 2026 NHL All-Star Game will no longer be taking place at UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders.
Instead, the arena located at Belmont Park will host a major international hockey event leading up to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. According to the Associated Press, the event will likely feature Olympic teams facing off in exhibition games as a warm-up before heading to Italy for the Games.
This change is part of the NHL’s renewed emphasis on international competition, fueled by the success of the Four Nations Face-Off earlier this year. That tournament, which reignited the fierce rivalry between the United States and Canada, generated a significant boost in fan engagement. As a result, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman opted to cancel the traditional All-Star Game to make way for another high-profile global event.
The decision has drawn criticism from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who sent a letter to Commissioner Bettman on Monday. In it, she expressed disappointment over the cancellation, citing the lost economic opportunity for the region.
“While we understand the significance of the Winter Olympics, the conflict was foreseeable and could have been addressed through early coordination,” Hochul wrote. “This decision overlooks the efforts by New York State and sends the wrong message to every public entity that has supported the NHL.”
Governor Hochul urged the league to compensate by hosting another major hockey event with comparable or greater economic and cultural impact in 2027.
Commissioner Bettman had previously indicated that the league is exploring a “major hockey event” at UBS Arena in 2027, though further details have yet to be announced.
UBS Arena was originally announced as the host of the 2026 All-Star Game during February’s Stadium Series clash between the Islanders and Rangers at MetLife Stadium. It would have marked the first time since 1983 that the Islanders hosted the NHL’s midseason showcase.
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