Nottingham Panthers Set to Host Historic 2026 Continental Cup Final

1 January 2026 Sports

A Landmark Event for British Ice Hockey

The Nottingham Panthers are preparing for one of the most significant moments in British ice hockey history. Nottingham Panthers and the Motorpoint Arena will host the 2026 Continental Cup final, with six teams playing in a revamped extended final from Wednesday 14th to Saturday 17th January 2026. The revamped format creates the biggest European tournament ever to be held in the UK, marking a pivotal moment for the sport’s growth in Britain.

Panthers’ Current Season Success

The timing of this announcement comes as the Panthers are performing strongly in domestic competition. Despite the defeat, Panthers will go into Christmas top of the Elite League table. This achievement demonstrates the club’s strength and makes them formidable contenders for the Continental Cup tournament they will host. Nottingham Panthers, the host club for this season’s final, are the only previous winners in contention for 2026.

Tournament Details and International Competition

Panthers are joined by HC Torpedo (KAZ), GKS Katowice (POL) and Herning Blue Fox (DEN), while the two top sides from November’s four-team second-round group will complete the six-team final. Led by former Panthers coach Jonathan Paredes, French side Angers qualified as group winners with Latvia-based HK Mogo from Riga going through in second place. The six-team final will be split into two groups with round-robin games taking place between the Wednesday and Friday. The medal games are being held on the Saturday with the top team in each group facing each other for the Continental Cup trophy.

Significance for Nottingham and British Ice Hockey

This tournament represents a remarkable opportunity for British ice hockey to showcase itself on the European stage. The event will bring together elite teams from across the continent, providing local fans with unprecedented access to high-level international competition. For the Panthers, hosting this prestigious tournament whilst competing as previous champions adds extra significance, potentially inspiring a new generation of British ice hockey players and supporters.