KHL World Games in China: Shanghai Dragons to face Sibir and Barys
In the 2025/26 season, two neutral-site games of the Fonbet KHL Championship will take place in Shanghai, where the Shanghai Dragons will host Sibir and Barys.
The matches Shanghai Dragons vs. Sibir (March 5) and Shanghai Dragons vs. Barys (March 7) will be played at the Oriental Sports Center. The 18,000-seat arena has previously hosted the World Figure Skating Championships (2015), the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships (2012), as well as world-class events in aquatic sports and esports.
The KHL World Games project was launched in the 2018/19 season, with the first neutral-site games held in Vienna and Zurich. In 2020, the games were hosted by Davos and Tallinn, followed by Dubai in 2021 and Tashkent in 2024. China will become the second Asian country, after Uzbekistan, to host KHL World Games.
From 2016 to 2020, prior to the introduction of pandemic-related restrictions, the Shanghai Dragons played home games in China, including in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.
The special guest of the Shanghai stage of the KHL World Games will be figure skater Kamila Valieva—World Junior Champion, multiple-time medalist of the Russian National Championships, winner of the Russian Cup, and a participant in the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. Valieva will perform in the pre-game show.
Sergey Belykh, General Director of the Shanghai Dragons:
“We have repeatedly stated our intention to play in Shanghai and present our brand to Chinese fans. It is important for us to test the city’s interest in hockey and understand the direction of further development. We would like to thank the League and our Chinese partners, thanks to whom hosting two games in Shanghai has become possible. We will be glad to see all fans at the games—both local supporters and hockey fans from Russia and Kazakhstan.”
Alexei Morozov, KHL President:
“Hosting KHL World Games matches in Shanghai is a significant step in the League’s return to China. Neutral-site games serve as a tool for promoting the KHL abroad, showcasing the high level of Russian hockey and fostering dialogue and cultural exchange through sport. There is no doubt that the matches in Shanghai will be organized to a high standard and will become a bright event for Chinese spectators. We look forward to seeing everyone in the stands!”
