If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. After a dominant Winter Olympic Games , which saw Team USA take home the gold medal , the world’s best hockey nations are once again facing off on the ice for the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship. This year’s event takes place from May 15 to 31 in Switzerland, with 16 countries competing, including the U.S. men’s team, who are the defending champions. How to Watch the 2026 IIHF World Hockey Championship Online Free Want to watch the World Hockey Championship? This year’s tournament airs in the U.S. on the NHL Network, which you’ll find in select specialty cable packages. Don’t have cable? There are also a few ways to livestream the IIHF World Championship online. 1. DIRECTV DIRECTV is a streaming service that offers dozens of live television channels that you can watch online without needing a cable subscription.…