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The NHL is returning to Germany for regular-season hockey. The Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks will compete at PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf on Dec. 18 and 20 in the 2026 Global Series. It’s only the second and third NHL regular-season games played in the country since 2011.
A Homecoming and a Showcase
The series is significant for Ottawa. A rare opportunity to play in front of home fans comes for one of the league’s brightest young players, when German-born forward Tim Stützle gets a chance to show off near his home country. Chicago brings two clubs packed with talent and potential, as Connor Bedard rolls a tour across Europe.
The games are part of a longer NHL/NHLPA strategy to further expand its footprint in Germany with grassroots initiatives, fan engagement, and increased regular-season games in the years ahead.
Growing the Game Abroad
The expansion of the NHL’s regular season schedule in Europe continues with the Global Series. Düsseldorf offers a modern venue and a passionate hockey market, which is eager for the league to return. The nights are intended as a way to build the roots of the sport in a country that is already a breeding ground for NHL players and to expose North American teams to new fans.
Two competitive games between the Senators and the Blackhawks will get the spotlight when the puck drops in December. There’s a bigger tale going on around them: the NHL establishing deeper roots in Germany and offering players and fans a platform away from the typical North American schedule.
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