Timmins, Ontario, is preparing to welcome over 300 young athletes for the 2026 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships, which begin on Feb. 8, 2026. The national tournament will bring 42 teams from across the country — 21 male and 21 female — to compete for the national U18 titles. The championships run Feb. 8–15, 2026 (eight days), according to host and local promotional materials; note that some Curling Canada event pages currently list Feb. 8–14 and organizers should be consulted for any final schedule changes.
Competition will be held at the McIntyre Curling Club and on the arena surface at the McIntyre Community Centre (the “Mac”), where the arena ice will be transformed with temporary curling sheets to accommodate multiple simultaneous draws. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for Feb. 8, with round-robin play slated for Feb. 8–13 and playoffs/finals on Feb. 14–15, per the event fact sheet.
Tourism Timmins estimates the event will bring over 300 athletes and an estimated 1,000+ visiting family members and officials, filling local hotels and restaurants. Similar U18 national championships have historically generated between $1.5 million and $2 million in local economic activity, and organizers say the event could provide a significant mid-winter boost for Timmins.
The 2026 event is a milestone for Timmins after the city was originally slated to host the U18 nationals in 2021 and 2022 but saw those plans disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic (the 2021 event was canceled and the 2022 event was relocated). Hosting the successful CCAA/Curling Canada College and University Championships in 2023 helped demonstrate the community’s readiness for a national U18 event.
George Pirie, the Member of Provincial Parliament for Timmins, praised the community for hosting the championships. Organizers say the local organizing committee comprises roughly 150–200 volunteers who will help stage the event.
