The stage is officially set for the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada's premier women's curling championship. Eighteen teams have secured their spots and will compete for the national title from January 23 to February 1 at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.
A Championship Without Its Defending Queen
The field will have a notable absence this year. Defending champion Rachel Homan and her Ontario rink will not be in attendance. The team has chosen to focus its efforts on preparing for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy, where they will represent Canada, foregoing the chance to defend their Scotties crown.
Despite Homan's departure, the competition remains fiercely competitive. Kerri Einarson's Team Canada, based in Manitoba, assumes the top-seeded position. Alberta skip Kayla Skrlik, who earned her berth via the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS), acknowledged the strength of the remaining field.
"There are still good teams there," Skrlik said. "Like Kerri Einarson — she's Team Canada. Einarson was in the slam final. She's a pretty good curler still. Rachel's not in it, so I agree that's one team who's probably one of the strongest contenders who's not at the Scotties. But there are still good teams."
Provincial Champions Crowned Across Canada
The final lineup was locked in over the weekend as provincial and territorial championships concluded from coast to coast. The last seven spots were filled by determined rinks who battled through their respective playdowns.
The newly crowned provincial and territorial champions heading to Mississauga include:
Alberta: Edmonton's Selena Sturmay claimed the title with a 9-5 victory over Serena Gray-Withers in the final of the Alberta Women's Summit of Champions in Okotoks.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Mackenzie Mitchell and her St. John's rink secured their Scotties berth with an 8-7 win over Cailey Locke in a tight final at the RE/MAX Centre.
Northern Ontario: Krista Scharf of Thunder Bay continued her dominance, winning her sixth consecutive provincial title. She completed a perfect 7-0 run, capped by a 10-7 final win over fellow Thunder Bay skip Robyn Despins in North Bay.
Nova Scotia: Halifax's Taylour Stevens also went undefeated, posting an 8-0 record to capture her first provincial championship. She sealed the victory with a 12-5 win over Isabelle Ladouceur in the final at the Halifax Curling Club.
A Star-Studded Field Awaits in Mississauga
They will join the previously qualified teams, including the three CTRS leaders: Alberta's Kayla Skrlik, Nova Scotia's Christina Black, and Manitoba's Kaitlyn Lawes. The complete field promises a week and a half of high-stakes, elite curling as a new Canadian women's champion will be crowned.
With the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga as the host venue, curling fans across the nation can look forward to a tournament filled with both established stars and new challengers, all vying for the coveted Scotties Trophy in Homan's absence.
