The EIHL pre-season 2026/27 is already taking shape, and clubs across the Elite League are wasting absolutely no time getting back onto the ice. Fixture dates are dropping thick and fast, so here’s everything you need to know before the puck drops in anger this autumn.
EIHL Pre-Season 2026/27 Fixtures: August Action Kicks Off the Party
August is absolutely stacked. Cardiff Devils get the ball rolling first, hosting Danish outfit Odense Bulldogs across back-to-back home dates on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th. The Devils then welcome French side Ducs D’Angers on Saturday 22nd, before Nottingham Panthers take on the same opposition the following day, Sunday 23rd.
Furthermore, the final weekend of August brings a mouth-watering British derby as Bristol Pitbulls face Guildford Flames — home and away across Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th. Cardiff Devils also lock horns with Sheffield Steelers on Saturday 29th, which is the kind of fixture that gets pulses racing even in pre-season. Meanwhile, Nottingham Panthers battle Gothiques d’Amiens on the 29th, with Coventry Blaze picking up that same French opposition on Sunday 30th. There’s genuinely something for every fan across that final August weekend. Check the full Elite League website for the latest ticketing updates as they land.
September Showdowns Include the Warrior Cup and Blockbuster British Clashes
September then cranks the dial up even further. Belfast Giants open their pre-season campaign in style, taking part in the Warrior Cup on Saturday 5th against Swiss side HC Ambri-Piotta, with a second Warrior Cup match against a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent lined up for Sunday 6th. Big occasion energy from the Giants already.
Elsewhere on that opening September weekend, Guildford Flames host Coventry Blaze on Saturday 5th before the sides flip venues for Sunday 6th — a tasty double-header rivalry to get supporters fired up. Most compellingly of all, Nottingham Panthers take on Cardiff Devils on Saturday 5th, with the reverse fixture at Cardiff on Sunday 6th completing one of the most anticipated pre-season matchups of the entire schedule. These two sides always bring intensity, regardless of the occasion.
In short, the 2026/27 EIHL pre-season is shaping up to be one of the most action-packed in recent memory. Get your dates locked in now.
