The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I, Group B is set to take place in Shenzhen, China, from April 29 to May 5, 2026. This tournament serves as the third tier of the World Championships, with six nations battling for a single promotion spot to Division I, Group A.
The games will be hosted at the Shenzhen Universiade Center, an 18,000-capacity arena that previously served as the centerpiece for the 2011 World University Games.
The puck is about to drop in Shenzhen! Six nations, one promotion spot,
Tournament Overview
Host: Shenzhen, China
Venue: Shenzhen Universiade Center
Format: Single round-robin (15 games total)
Stakes: The winner is promoted to Division I, Group A for 2027. Note that there is no relegation this year due to the cancellation of the Division II, Group A tournament.
The Contenders
| Nation | 2025 Finish | Key Outlook |
| Romania | 6th (DI A – Relegated) | The favorite to return to Group A, relying on physical play and tactical discipline. |
| South Korea | 2nd (DI B) | A high-pace, athletic squad that pushed for promotion last year and remains a top threat. |
| Estonia | 3rd (DI B) | A young, transition-heavy team known for speed and disciplined defensive structures. |
| China | 4th (DI B) | The hosts; bolstered by home-ice momentum and strong goaltending from Shifeng (Steven) Chen. |
| Spain | 5th (DI B) | Rising steadily with a core built around technical finesse and creative passing. |
| Netherlands | 1st (DII A – Promoted) | The newcomers, entering with momentum and a reputation for consistent, cohesive team play. |
Key Players to Watch
Shifeng (Steven) Chen (G, China): After a standout 2025 performance ($92.75\%$ SV%), he remains the backbone of the Chinese defense.
Jaime Capillas (F, Spain): A creative force from CH Jaca who led Spain’s transition-heavy attack in recent international play.
Oriol Rubio (F, Spain): Known for his pace and ability to break games open, Rubio is essential to Spain’s hope for an upset.
Full Schedule
Date Time (Local) Matchup April 29 12:30 Spain vs. Estonia 16:00 Netherlands vs. Romania 19:30 China vs. South Korea April 30 12:30 Estonia vs. Netherlands 16:00 South Korea vs. Spain 19:30 Romania vs. China May 2 12:30 Romania vs. Spain 16:00 South Korea vs. Estonia 19:30 Netherlands vs. China May 3 12:30 Estonia vs. Romania 16:00 South Korea vs. Netherlands 19:30 China vs. Spain May 5 12:30 Romania vs. South Korea 16:00 Spain vs. Netherlands 19:30 Estonia vs. China Tournament Narrative
The race for promotion appears to be a three-way collision course between Romania, South Korea, and the host China. Romania’s experience at the higher level makes them the team to beat, but China has shown significant progress through recent professional league involvement and will have the Shenzhen crowd behind them. Spain and Estonia remain “spoilers” capable of taking points off the leaders, ensuring that the “Golden Ticket” to Group A likely won’t be decided until the final day of play on May 5.
