WINNIPEG — Heritage Classic ticket holders will have a full pregame run before the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens take the ice outdoors on Oct. 25, with the 2026 Scotiabank NHL PreGame fan festival set for the University of Manitoba’s U Lot.
Heritage Classic day schedule
- The fan festival opens at noon CDT on Sunday, Oct. 25, and runs until 5:30 p.m. CDT at the University of Manitoba, U Lot, in Winnipeg.
- Ticketed fans can move through hockey activities, alumni appearances, giveaways, photo stations and partner displays before heading toward Princess Auto Stadium.
- The Jets and Canadiens are scheduled to drop the puck at 6 p.m. CDT at Princess Auto Stadium. Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TBS and Max will carry the game.
The Stanley Cup will be part of the pregame setup, giving fans an opportunity to see and photograph hockey’s championship trophy. Flatland Famous, a Winnipeg event band, will perform on the festival music stage.
Outdoor history on the line
Winnipeg will be playing its third outdoor game. The Jets met the Edmonton Oilers at Princess Auto Stadium in the 2016 Heritage Classic, then faced the Calgary Flames in the 2019 edition at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
Montreal is headed into its fifth outdoor regular-season appearance and its first since 2017. The Canadiens carry a 2-2-0 record from their previous four outdoor games.
What fans will find at the festival
The U Lot programming includes more than 20 NHL partner and licensee activations, with a heavy dose of shooting challenges, hockey-themed photo opportunities, merchandise and family activities.
- Canadian Tire’s Pond will offer goalie testing, custom hockey ornaments, a frozen-lake photo setting and giveaways.
- CAT plans giveaways, a hockey-legend appearance and technology displays.
- DoorDash will provide customizable swag patches and a tiny-net shooting game using an oversized stick and puck.
- Esso’s Washing Machine Challenge, Expedia’s Bullseye Battle, the KitKat Accuracy Challenge and Sport Chek’s Hardest Shot will put fans behind the puck.
- Hyundai will display the 2027 Palisade, offer AI-avatar car fresheners, run its Shoot To Win contest and host NHL Alumni appearances.
- Rogers will feature augmented and mixed-reality hockey experiences, including a virtual mascot shooting game, a walkout onto NHL ice, championship-photo opportunities and selected alumni autograph sessions.
- Upper Deck will create personalized Heritage Classic trading cards for attendees and offer a free digital event card set.
- Fanatics will carry Heritage Classic clothing, headwear and event souvenirs.
- Scotiabank will run a Plinko-style prize activity. Scotia clients will receive priority entry, complimentary popcorn and other festival upgrades.
- Tim Hortons will serve free hot coffee or hot chocolate from its beverage truck and offer Hockey Challenge selections for a chance to win a Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.
- Kruger will collect nominations for its Big Assist initiative, which supports opportunities for Canadian children to get on the ice.
- QuickBooks will provide an interactive AI photo experience, while Gillette will operate a game-day look photo booth and Tide & Downy will stage a locker-room challenge.
Food and drink options include street-food selections through Classic Fare Catering, including Montreal smoked meat and perogies, along with local vendors. Athletic Brewing will sample non-alcoholic beer for fans of legal drinking age, while Budweiser Zero and CELSIUS samples will also be available for eligible adults.
Safeway’s 53-foot Mobile Food Experience trailer will operate as a separate pregame stop at Princess Auto Stadium, with food samples, games, giveaways and photo opportunities for fans of all ages.
Entry notes
Every festival attendee will pass through metal detectors. Princess Auto Stadium’s bag policy applies: coolers and bags are not permitted, except for one small clutch per person measuring no more than 10.16 cm by 15.24 cm by 3.81 cm, or 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches. Approved clutches remain subject to inspection.
Admission to the 2026 Scotiabank NHL PreGame is for 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic ticket holders. Game tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
