when are the frozen four games 2026: Dates & Venue

The 2026 Frozen Four semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, April 9, and the national championship game is set for Saturday, April 11. All three games will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

If you’re planning to attend or watch, the dates are only part of the schedule. Here’s how the tournament weekend works, what to know about game times and time zones, and how to plan tickets, travel, and viewing. You’ll also find a quick explanation of the bracket, so it’s clear which games determine the national champion and what information to confirm before making plans.

When are the frozen four games 2026?

The 2026 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four is scheduled for April 9 and April 11, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The two national semifinals take place Thursday, April 9. The winners advance to the championship game on Saturday, April 11.

There is no Frozen Four game scheduled for Friday in this format. Friday falls between the semifinal doubleheader and the title game, giving the finalists a day without a game. The event has three games in total: two semifinals and one championship.

Event	Date	Venue	What it decides
National semifinal 1	Thursday, April 9, 2026	T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas	First place in the championship game
National semifinal 2	Thursday, April 9, 2026	T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas	Second place in the championship game
National championship	Saturday, April 11, 2026	T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas	National champion

Game start times and television assignments are separate details from the event dates. Check the current NCAA tournament schedule and official event information for the confirmed puck-drop times, broadcast channel, and streaming options before you travel or set a viewing plan.

Where is the 2026 Frozen Four?

The games are scheduled for T-Mobile Arena, an indoor arena on the Las Vegas Strip. The venue is part of the arena district near Park MGM and New York-New York. Its central location can make it convenient to combine a game with nearby hotels, restaurants, and attractions, but it also means traffic and pedestrian crowds can be heavy around event time.

Las Vegas uses Pacific Time. In April, the city observes Pacific Daylight Time, or PDT. If you’re following from another time zone, convert the posted local start time before tuning in. For example, a game listed at 5 p.m. in Las Vegas starts at 8 p.m. Eastern. Always use the published start time rather than estimating from a previous year’s schedule.

How the Frozen Four schedule works

The Frozen Four is the final stage of the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey tournament. The name refers to the four teams that reach the national semifinals—not to four games. The two semifinal winners play for the title two days later.

Teams qualify by advancing through the national tournament’s regional rounds. The field is divided into four regional brackets, and each regional produces one team for the Frozen Four. That leaves four semifinalists in Las Vegas, with two teams moving on to the championship.

1. Regional rounds: Teams compete in the tournament’s regional brackets. Each regional winner earns a place in the national semifinals.
2. Semifinal day: All four remaining teams play on Thursday, April 9. The winner of each matchup advances.
3. Championship day: The two semifinal winners meet on Saturday, April 11, for the national title.

The matchups depend on the completed tournament bracket, so the teams and game order may not be known until the regional rounds finish. If you’re buying tickets before the bracket is set, expect to know the event date and venue before you know which teams will play in each semifinal.

Are the game times available?

The confirmed event dates establish which days to keep open, but they do not tell you the puck-drop time. Start times can differ by game and are announced as part of the official schedule. Avoid relying on a past tournament’s times: the host city, television schedule, and event planning can change from year to year.

Before booking a flight, choosing a dinner reservation, or arranging a watch party, check the current schedule for all three games. Pay attention to whether a listing uses local Las Vegas time or your own time zone. A time-zone conversion can shift the game into a different evening for viewers elsewhere, even though the local calendar date stays the same.

For attending fans, leave a buffer between the listed puck drop and your arrival at the arena. You may need time for transit, security screening, finding your seat, and getting through busy entrances. If traveling with a group, agree on a meeting point outside the busiest entrance areas in case mobile service is slow.

How to plan tickets and travel

Start with the game dates, then decide whether you want to attend both semifinal games, the championship, or the full event. A ticket for one day does not automatically include admission to the other day. Read the ticket listing carefully so you know which session, seat, and date it covers.

Use official NCAA, arena, or authorized ticketing channels when possible. If you buy through a resale marketplace, review the seller protections, delivery method, seat details, and refund terms before paying. Check whether the ticket is for a specific session or a package, and keep your ticket accessible on your phone before arriving.

Las Vegas has a large range of hotel and transportation choices, but prices and availability vary with demand. Once you know which games you plan to attend, compare lodging by total cost and travel time rather than room rate alone. A hotel that looks close on a map may still involve a longer walk or a congested route at event time.

• Confirm the session: Make sure your ticket is for April 9, April 11, or both dates if a package clearly includes both.
• Check the seat location: Review the section and row, and note any restricted-view information in the listing.
• Plan your route: Look at public transit, rideshare pickup instructions, and walking access before game day.
• Allow extra time: Expect crowds near the arena and avoid planning a tight connection before puck drop.
• Review venue policies: Check current rules for bags, prohibited items, mobile tickets, and entry procedures.

A useful detail many visitors overlook: the distance between a hotel and the arena is not always a good measure of how long the trip will take. Las Vegas blocks, pedestrian bridges, casino entrances, and event traffic can add time. Check the actual walking route and the arena’s event-day transportation guidance instead of judging distance from a map pin.

How to watch the Frozen Four

If you’re not attending, look for the official broadcast and streaming details in the NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament schedule. The broadcaster can assign different games to different channels or services, so confirm the listing for each date rather than assuming every game will be available in the same place.

Streaming access may depend on your television provider, subscription, location, or the service carrying that particular matchup. Check that your device supports the chosen service and sign in before game time. If you plan to watch at a bar or restaurant, call ahead to confirm it will show the game; a venue may not carry every channel.

For a group viewing, put the time zone and game date in the invitation. The semifinals are both on Thursday, while the championship is on Saturday. If your guests are in different regions, share the local Las Vegas start time along with their converted time to prevent confusion.

What to expect during the games

Each semifinal is a separate matchup, and the winners—not the highest-seeded teams by default—advance to the title game. The championship is a single game that determines the national champion. If a game is tied at the end of regulation, the tournament’s official playing rules govern how overtime is handled.

The exact teams, pairings, and bracket path depend on results earlier in the NCAA tournament. That means a fan can plan around the dates well in advance but may need to wait for the regional rounds to know which team plays in a particular semifinal. Follow the bracket as it updates if you’re supporting a specific school.

The Frozen Four is a men’s tournament. The NCAA also holds a separate Division I women’s ice hockey championship, which is often called the Women’s Frozen Four. Its dates and location are not the same by default, so verify the women’s tournament schedule separately if that is the event you mean.

Common planning mistakes to avoid

Assuming the event lasts four games

“Frozen Four” describes the four teams that reach the final stage. The event itself includes two semifinal games and one championship game. There is no third-place game in the standard schedule.

Booking around an unconfirmed start time

Dates are useful for reserving travel, but a specific flight or reservation should account for the final game schedule. Wait for confirmed puck-drop times before making plans that leave little room for delays.

Mixing up local and broadcast times

A television listing may display a time based on your location, while the arena schedule typically uses local Las Vegas time. Check the time zone label, especially if you are traveling from the East Coast or watching from another region.

Expecting the bracket to be known early

The four participants emerge from the regional rounds. A ticket purchase may come before the field is final, so check the event’s ticket terms and understand what you are buying if you want to follow a particular team.

Using unofficial schedule reposts as the final word

Search results, social posts, and old event pages can repeat a previous year’s schedule. Confirm the dates, times, venue, and viewing details against current NCAA or event information before you make nonrefundable plans.

Quick checklist for the 2026 games

Keep these details together when making plans:

• Semifinals: Thursday, April 9, 2026.
• Championship: Saturday, April 11, 2026.
• Venue: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Local time zone: Pacific Daylight Time in April.
• Still to confirm: Specific puck-drop times, semifinal matchups, ticket details, broadcast channels, and streaming availability.

Save the official schedule page and check it again as the tournament approaches. That simple step helps you catch updates to game times or viewing information, while the confirmed dates give you a solid starting point for travel and ticket planning.

The 2026 Frozen Four semifinals are scheduled for April 9, with the championship game on April 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event has three games across two days, and the four participating teams will be determined by the regional tournament.

For when are the frozen four games 2026, mark both dates now, then confirm puck-drop times, ticket sessions, and broadcast details against the current official schedule before finalizing travel or viewing plans.