Short answer
The 2030 Winter Olympics are scheduled for February 1 to 17, 2030. Ice hockey was first planned for Nice, but in 2026 the ice events were moved to the Lyon area. The venue plan approved on September 16, 2026 puts preliminary hockey games at Halle Tony Garnier in Lyon. The February 2024 NHL agreement covers the 2030 Games.
What is settled
| Item | Status (as of October 29, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Games dates | February 1 to 17, 2030 |
| Host | French Alps region, France; first Olympic Games hosted by a region rather than a city |
| Hockey location | Lyon metropolitan area (moved from Nice in 2026) |
| Preliminary games | Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon, per the venue plan approved September 16, 2026 |
| NHL players | Covered by the February 2024 NHL agreement for 2026 and 2030 |
| Defending champions | United States, men and women (Milano Cortina 2026) |
How the venue moved
- Original plan: Nice as the ice hub, with an arena to be built that drew criticism over a cost of nearly €138 million.
- Spring 2026: the organizers studied temporary rinks at the Allianz Riviera football stadium and other sites. Nice’s mayor opposed converting the stadium.
- May 29, 2026: organizers named Lyon "the best solution" for the ice events.
- June 2026: a draft Lyon plan listed LDLC Arena and Eurexpo for hockey.
- September 16, 2026: the final venue plan was approved, with Halle Tony Garnier hosting preliminary hockey games and figure skating moved to Eurexpo.
We will update this page as the organizers publish the arena list, schedule and qualification system. The 2026 system is a good guide to what to expect: how qualifying works.
Also possible: 3x3 hockey
In November 2024 the IIHF said it was preparing a bid to add 3x3 ice hockey, played at the Youth Olympics since 2020, to the 2030 program. The 2030 Games article we cite does not list it as a confirmed event.
Last time in France
France has hosted Olympic hockey three times: Chamonix 1924, Grenoble 1968 and Albertville 1992, when games were played in Méribel.
Questions people ask
When is the 2030 Olympic hockey tournament?
Within the 2030 Winter Olympics, scheduled for February 1 to 17, 2030. Tournament schedules are published closer to the Games.
Where will 2030 Olympic hockey be played?
In the Lyon metropolitan area. The final venue plan approved on September 16, 2026 lists Halle Tony Garnier for preliminary hockey games. A June 2026 draft plan had named LDLC Arena and Eurexpo for hockey; check the organizers’ updates for the medal round arena.
Why did hockey move from Nice?
After Éric Ciotti was elected mayor of Nice in 2026, he opposed converting the Allianz Riviera stadium into an ice hockey venue. On May 29, 2026 the organizers called Lyon “the best solution” for the ice events.
Will NHL players be at the 2030 Olympics?
The agreement announced in February 2024 covers both 2026 and 2030.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Spotted an error? Results are checked against the linked sources; tell us through the corrections note on the about page.