2026-27 NHL Preseason Schedule: Full 65-Game Slate, Dates & Matchups

The full 2026-27 NHL preseason schedule is here. The league released the complete slate on August 13: 65 games across eight days, September 19 to 26, 2026, at 36 NHL and neutral-site arenas. It is the shortest preseason in years, trimmed to make room for the new 84-game regular season that drops the puck Tuesday, September 29. Here is every exhibition game, day by day, plus the marquee matchups worth watching.

2026-27 NHL Preseason: Quick Facts

• Dates: Saturday, September 19 through Saturday, September 26, 2026
• Games: 65 total across 8 days
• Venues: 36 NHL and neutral-site arenas
• Opening night: 7 games on September 19, headlined by Los Angeles vs. Vegas at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California
• Busiest day: Saturday, September 26 with 14 games
• Regular season opens: Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Times are listed in ET and are subject to change. Most preseason games air on team and regional streams rather than national TV; check your club’s listing for the broadcast.

2026-27 NHL Preseason Schedule (Day by Day)

Saturday, September 19 (7 games)

Sunday, September 20 (7 games)

Monday, September 21 (8 games)

Tuesday, September 22 (10 games)

Wednesday, September 23 (4 games)

Thursday, September 24 (11 games)

Friday, September 25 (4 games)

Saturday, September 26 (14 games)

Marquee Preseason Games to Watch

• Kraft Hockeyville (Sep 21): Montreal vs. Ottawa at Colisee Videotron in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, celebrating the community’s Hockeyville win with arena upgrades and equipment.
• Opening-night neutral site (Sep 19): Los Angeles vs. Vegas at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California opens the preseason.
• Hershey (Sep 21): Philadelphia vs. Washington at Giant Center, home of the Capitals’ AHL affiliate.
• Greensboro (Sep 24): Carolina vs. Nashville at First Horizon Coliseum.

Why the 2026-27 Preseason Is Shorter

The regular season expands to 84 games in 2026-27, the first change to its length since the mid-1990s. To fit the extra games in without running deeper into the summer, the league trimmed the exhibition slate. The result is a tight, eight-day preseason from September 19 to 26, with camps opening later and fewer tune-up games than usual before the regular season starts September 29.

Print your 2026-27 preseason planner

Grab the one-page planner: the day-by-day game count for all 65 exhibition games, plus the four neutral-site games worth traveling for. Print it and check off camp as it unfolds.

More 2026-27 NHL Schedules

Once the preseason wraps, keep going with our full 2026-27 coverage: the free printable full-season schedule, the national TV schedule (172 games on ESPN and TNT), and opening night on September 29. You can also grab your team’s full calendar and add it to Google or Apple Calendar.

2026-27 NHL Preseason FAQ

When does the 2026-27 NHL preseason start?

The preseason opens Saturday, September 19, 2026 with seven games and runs through Saturday, September 26. The regular season begins Tuesday, September 29.

How many NHL preseason games are there in 2026-27?

65 preseason games across eight days at 36 NHL and neutral-site venues, a compressed slate shortened to make room for the new 84-game regular season.

Are NHL preseason games on TV?

Most preseason games stream on team and regional outlets rather than national networks, though national coverage returns for the regular season, which opens Tuesday, September 29 with an ESPN opening-night tripleheader (Carolina at Florida, Rangers at Bruins, Blackhawks at Golden Knights). Check your club’s official listing for each game’s broadcast or stream.

William Lewis Editor, Author

Will has been covering sports of all types for more than 18 years. He is a lifelong Kentucky Wildcat fan and loves to cheer on the Nashville Predators in the NHL.

See Full Bio