The Scotties Tournament of Hearts takes place in Mississauga January 23 – February 1, 2026
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is coming to the GTA for the first time, taking place from January 23 – February 1, at the Paramount Centre in Mississauga, and what’s interesting isn’t just the competition; it’s the culture around it.
One only needs to see the number of heads that look up when curling comes on the big screens at sports bars to know there is a renewed interest in the sport, especially with the growing excitement around the Winter Olympics. Curling is becoming more popular than ever, not only as a sport but also as a way to socialize and meet new people. Younger generations are taking to it as a shift toward more social, experience-driven outings; the curling vibe is very much in place in Canada. Now, will it ever replace the popularity of hockey in the bars and in the stands? Probably not, but it’s welcoming, communal, and genuinely fun to experience in person. And this is where the excitement of one of the country’s biggest tournaments happening in Mississauga comes in!
Canada’s national women’s curling championship
The Scotties is Canada’s national women’s curling championship, where the top teams from each province and territory compete for the national title – proof that the country’s most intense “heated rivalries” don’t always come with a body check or a hockey stick.
The culture is as important as the competition
What often surprises first-timers is that the event isn’t about sitting down to watch a single game. The social side of curling is just as important as the action on the ice. Curling Canada has described the social element as the backbone of the sport, and at the Scotties, that energy comes to life at “The Patch”.
First time in the GTA / Mississauga
For the first time ever, the Scotties is coming to the GTA, taking place in Mississauga at the Paramount Fine Food Centre (5500 Rose Cherry Place). For many Torontonians, this is the first real opportunity to experience the Scotties in person, rather than watching highlights from somewhere else in the country.
Set to be one of Mississauga’s largest sporting events, the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts highlights the city’s world-class sporting venues and reinforces its position as a premier destination for major national events.
Women front and centre
The Scotties has been putting elite female athletes front and centre with equal broadcast exposure, equal prize purses, and national visibility that many women’s sports are only now achieving. That makes the Scotties feel especially timely right now, as interest in women’s sport and winter competition continues to grow. Mississauga-based Kruger Products has been the title sponsor of the Scotties since the tournament’s inception, marking 45 years of continuous support.
Curling beyond the stereotype
For a long time, curling has been characterized as a sport for a certain audience. Curling Canada has been actively working to change that – investing in youth, accessibility, and grassroots programs across the country to broaden who sees themselves in the sport. That includes initiatives like Girls Rock, a free, female-led “try curling” program designed to introduce girls aged 8 – 16 to the sport, provide strong role models, and build confidence on and off the ice.
Here’s a look at how the two pools are set up:
(Teams listed according to overall seeding based on CTRS standings as of today, and listed in order of skip [player calling the shots], vice-skip [player holding the broom for the skip], second, lead, alternate, coach/High Performance Consultant)
* — denotes provincial champion for provinces with more than one team representing.
Pool A
- 1. Team Canada, Kerri Einarson (Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, Karlee Burgess, Krysten Karwacki, Reid Carruthers; Gimli, Man.)
- 4. British Columbia, Taylor Reese-Hansen (Megan McGillivray, Kim Bonneau, Julianna Mackenzie, Todd Troyer; Victoria)
- 5. Manitoba-Lawes, Selena Njegovan (Kaitlyn Lawes [throws fourth rocks], Laura Walker, Kristin Gordon, Marcel Rocque; Winnipeg)
- 8. Ontario, Hailey Armstrong (Grace Lloyd, Michaela Robert, Rachel Steele, Lori Eddy, Stephen Robert; Whitby)
- 9. Saskatchewan, Jolene Campbell (Robyn Silvernagle, Rachel Big Eagle, Dayna Demmans, Ben Gamble; Regina)
- *-12. Nova Scotia-Stevens, Taylour Stevens (Maria Fitzgerald, Alison Umlah, Cate Fitzgerald, Kevin Ouelette; Halifax)
- 13. Northwest Territories, Nicky Kaufman (Sydney Galusha [throws second rocks], Megan Koehler, Ella Skauge, Brynn Chorostkowski, Kerry Galusha; Yellowknife)
- 16. Quebec, Jolianne Fortin (Mégane Fortin [throws lead rocks], Emy Lafrance, Megan Lafrance, Brandon Lafrance; Jonquière)
- 17. Yukon, Bayly Scoffin (Patty Wallingham [throws second rocks], Raelyn Helston, Bailey Horvey, Shelby Jensen, Carolyn McRorie; Whitehorse)
Pool B
- 2. Alberta-Skrlik, Kayla Skrlik (Geri-Lynn Ramsay [throws lead rocks], Margot Flemming, Ashton Skrlik, Crystal Rumberg, Shannon Kleibrink; Calgary)
- 3. Nova Scotia-Black, Christina Black (Jill Brothers, Jennifer Baxter, Karlee Everist, Marlee Powers, Stuart MacLean; Halifax)
- *-6. Alberta-Sturmay, Selena Sturmay (Danielle Schmiemann, Dezaray Hawes, Paige Papley, Ted Appelman; Edmonton)
- *-7. Manitoba-Peterson, Kelsey Calvert (Beth Peterson, Katherine Remillard, Melissa Gordon-Kurz, Jill Officer, Winnipeg)
- 10. Northern Ontario, Krista Scharf (Sarah Potts [throws lead rocks], Kendra Lilly, Ashley Sippala, Bella McCarville, Rick Lang; Thunder Bay)
- 11. New Brunswick, Mélodie Forsythe (Rebecca Watson, Carly Smith, Jenna Campbell, Melissa Adams; Fredericton)
- 14. Prince Edward Island, Amanda Power (Veronica Mayne, Emily Best, Sabrina Smith, Peter Gallant; Summerside)
- 15. Newfoundland and Labrador, Mackenzie Mitchell (Stacie Curtis [throws lead rocks], Jessica Wiseman, Kristina Adams, Geoff Cunningham; St. John’s)
- 18. Nunavut, Julia Weagle (Sadie Pinksen, Leigh Gustafson, Alison Taylor, Colin Hodgson; Iqaluit)
Note: Because some matchups featuring the pre-qualified teams were pre-set as part of ticket-marketing campaigns, the pools were adjusted based on the approved seeding methodology as worked on in collaboration with Curling Canada’s Athlete Council.
For the entire 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts schedule, click here.
And that’s not all! Curling may be front and centre but the nation’s biggest assemblage of women’s curling elite is celebrated at The Patch with one of the country’s most popular rock acts on opening night!
The Trews Headline Opening Night at The Patch
The Patch, known as “Canada’s largest travelling bar” because it plays a pivotal role at all Curling Canada’s championship events, is the tournament’s social hub. It’s a place to eat, drink (be sure to try their signature cocktail “The Hammer”), hang out, meet the athletes, and move in and out of games throughout the day. Think watch party meets concert meets very Canadian winter hang.
One of Canada’s most celebrated rock bands, The Trews, are headlining opening night Friday, January 23 at 10:30 p.m. The Patch is open to the general public – free admission (no tickets required), and is 19+ only after 8:00 p.m. See full list of daily entertainment and games here.
How to get tickets
Single-draw tickets start as low as $21 for adults and $10 for youth/students, making it an easy, affordable way to dip in – whether that’s popping by for one draw or building a full day around it. Opening weekend offers some extra fun for families with curling-themed games and activities including Search & Find, Let’s Play Curling! on Nintendo Switch, Curling Sudoku, in-seat bingo-style game cards, FloorCurl and more throughout the concourse.
For tickets: https://www.curling.ca/2026scotties/tickets/
Tickets are available online at curling.ca/tickets and in-person at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre box office during regular business hours. Phone inquiries can be made by calling 905-305-6000.
TSN/RDS, the official broadcast partners of Curling Canada’s Season of Champions, will provide complete coverage of the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. CLICK HERE for the broadcast schedule.
Best Korean Restaurants in Toronto | Best Matcha in Toronto | Best Happy Hour in Toronto
You must be logged in to post a comment.