• The NHL is replacing the 2026 All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena with an international event before the 2026 Winter Olympics.
• New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed disappointment over the lack of consultation and the potential loss of economic activity for the region.
• The NHL plans to hold a major hockey event in 2027 at UBS Arena to compensate for the cancelled All-Star Weekend.

The National Hockey League (NHL) has announced plans to hold an international event at UBS Arena in February 2026, instead of the previously scheduled All-Star Weekend. This decision comes as the league re-evaluates its mid-season festivities following the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The event will serve as a kickoff for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. However, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has voiced her displeasure with the change, citing a lack of consultation and the potential economic impact on the region, requesting a replacement event of equal or greater value in 2027.

• What: The NHL is replacing the 2026 All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena with an international hockey event before the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. The event is intended to capitalize on the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off.
• Who: Key individuals include NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Key organizations are the NHL, the New York Islanders, and New York State.
• When: The international event will take place in February 2026, prior to the start of the Winter Olympics. The original All-Star Weekend was also scheduled for February 2026. Hochul requests an event of equal value in 2027.
• Where: The event will be held at UBS Arena, the home of the New York Islanders, located in Belmont Park, New York.

The NHL's decision to replace the All-Star Weekend with an international event reflects a strategic shift towards leveraging the popularity of international hockey tournaments. The 4 Nations Face-Off's success demonstrated the potential for high viewership and fan engagement. However, the lack of consultation with New York State, which invested significantly in UBS Arena, has created a political rift. Governor Hochul's strong reaction underscores the importance of public-private partnerships and the need for transparent communication in such ventures. The promise of a significant hockey event in 2027 aims to mitigate the economic impact and maintain a positive relationship with the state.

We know we've set the bar high, which should be a good thing, not a problem. We're going to make sure we do something. ... We'll have an event at UBS before we go to the Olympics, but then we'll do something that's more focused on a major hockey event for the following year.

bring a hockey event with equal or greater economic activity and cultural value to the region in 2027

With the players going to the Olympics, we started focusing on the fact that maybe whatever we decided to do, they were going to be more focused on getting to Milan. So we said we'll do a different event to kick off the fact that we're going to the Olympics and then we'll bring an 'All-Star event', whatever that is, the following year, back to Long Island. So they're actually going to get two sets of events, not one.

The NHL's decision to replace the 2026 All-Star Weekend with an international event has sparked controversy, particularly with New York Governor Kathy Hochul. While the NHL aims to capitalize on the success of international hockey and prepare players for the Olympics, the lack of communication with the state has led to a strained relationship. The promise of a major hockey event in 2027 at UBS Arena offers a potential resolution, but the situation highlights the importance of collaboration and transparency in large-scale partnerships. The long-term impact on the NHL's relationship with New York State remains to be seen.