How it unfolded
The anticipation for the 2026 World Men’s Curling Championships is building as the event is set to take place from March 27 to April 4, 2026, at the Weber County Ice Sheet in Ogden, Utah. This championship marks a significant occasion as it is the first time the competition will be held in the United States since 2022, drawing attention from curling enthusiasts worldwide.
Teams from 13 nations will compete in this prestigious event, showcasing their skills and strategies on the ice. Among the participating teams are curling powerhouses such as Canada, Sweden, Scotland, and Japan. Each team will be vying for the championship title, with Canada’s skip Matthew Dunstone leading his team into the competition, hoping to end a nine-year title drought since their last victory in 2017.
As the tournament approaches, the excitement among players is palpable. Matthew Dunstone expressed his feelings about the upcoming event, stating, “It’s been 10 years for me (since the junior bronze). It’s felt like a lifetime.” His teammate E.J. Harnden added, “This just feels like it’s a bonus. There’s just a sort of lightness that I feel and excitement that I feel, and I haven’t felt this way in a number of years.” These sentiments reflect the emotional stakes involved as teams prepare for the competition.
Sweden, a dominant force in recent years, has won seven world championships since 2013, led by skip Niklas Edin. Meanwhile, Scotland has claimed titles in both 2023 and 2025, making them formidable opponents in the upcoming championship. The competition format will see the top six teams from the round-robin stage qualify for the playoffs, adding to the intensity of each match.
The championship will be broadcast on TSN networks and available for streaming on TSN.ca, ensuring that fans can follow their favorite teams throughout the tournament. The bronze medal game and the gold medal game are both scheduled for April 4, 2026, promising an exciting conclusion to the event.
As the teams finalize their preparations, the focus is on executing their strategies and performing at their best. Colton Lott remarked, “It’s definitely not your regular teams that you’ve seen at the worlds prior,” highlighting the evolving nature of the competition and the emergence of new talent in the sport.
With the 2026 World Men’s Curling Championships just around the corner, the stage is set for an exhilarating week of curling action. Fans and players alike are eager to see which nation will emerge victorious and take home the coveted title.
