Curling fans know the road to the Olympics is paved with stones — literally. The 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, held in Halifax from November 22 to 29, will decide which teams represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, with a new best-of-three final format and an eight-team field setting the stage for a controversial Olympic cycle.

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Event: 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials · Dates: November 22–29, 2025 · Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia · Venue: Scotiabank Centre · Qualifying for: 2026 Winter Olympics

Quick snapshot

1Qualification
2Schedule & Viewing
3Controversy
4Key Players

Six key facts at a glance: from event particulars to the Olympic path ahead.

Label Value
Event 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
Dates November 22–29, 2025
Venue Scotiabank Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Qualified Teams (Men) Brad Jacobs, Mike McEwen, etc. (Wikipedia)
Qualified Teams (Women) Rachel Homan, Kerri Einarson, etc. (Wikipedia)
2026 Olympics Host Milano Cortina 2026 (Olympics.com)

Who has qualified for the 2025 Olympic curling trials?

What teams are competing in the 2025 Olympic Curling Trials?

The 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials feature an eight-team format for both men and women — the first time since 2013 that the field has been that tight (Wikipedia – eight-team format). The qualification system combined berths from the 2024 Brier and Scotties champions, Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) standings, and winners of the pre-trials held in October 2025 (CurlingZone – qualification mechanics).

The men’s field includes Brad Jacobs and Mike McEwen, while the women’s side features Rachel Homan and Kerri Einarson, among others (Wikipedia – team list). The top team after round-robin play received a bye to the best-of-three final, while the second- and third-place teams played a semifinal (Grand Slam of Curling – format).

Standings and results

Team Homan (women’s) and Team Jacobs (men’s) emerged as winners of the 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, earning the right to represent Canada at the 2026 Olympics (Grand Slam of Curling – results). The finals were decided in best-of-three series, with the top round-robin team gaining an early edge.

Why this matters

Team Homan and Team Jacobs now carry Canada’s curling hopes to Milano Cortina 2026 — but the path from Halifax to the Olympics runs through a doping controversy that could reshape the entire competition.

The trials winners now face an uncertain road as doping investigations threaten to upend their Olympic qualification.

The 2025 trials narrowed Canada’s Olympic hopefuls, but the doping cloud means their tickets to Milano Cortina may still be at risk.

What is the schedule for the 2025 Olympic Curling Trials?

Full tournament schedule

The published event schedule from the Grand Slam of Curling lists draws beginning on November 22, 2025, with the final game taking place on November 29, 2025 (Grand Slam of Curling – schedule). Curling Canada’s official event page covers the broader November 22–30 window, accounting for post-event activities (Curling Canada – event page).

TV broadcast times and channels

TSN and CBC provide live coverage of all draws, with streaming available on TSN.ca and the CBC Sports app (TSN – curling coverage). Broadcast times align with Eastern Time, as the event is held in Halifax.

Where to find PDF schedule

The official schedule PDF is available on Curling Canada’s trials page under the “Schedule” tab (Curling Canada – schedule page). It includes draw times, sheet assignments, and TV broadcast slots.

The catch

Curling Canada’s event window says November 22–30, but the competitive draws wrap up on November 29 — leaving an extra day only for medal ceremonies and media obligations.

The schedule discrepancy means fans should plan for a full week of curling, with the final medals decided on the 29th.

Where will the next Olympic curling trials be held?

2026 US Olympic Team Trials location

The U.S. Olympic Curling Team Trials for men and women took place from November 11 to 16, 2025, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (USA Curling – trials page). Four teams per gender competed in a double round-robin format, followed by a best-of-three final (Wikipedia – U.S. trials).

Canadian trials vs US trials

The Canadian trials in Halifax used an eight-team field with a best-of-three final for the top round-robin finisher, while the U.S. trials featured only four teams and a similar final format. The key difference: Canada’s field is double the size, reflecting deeper competitive depth and a longer qualification pipeline (CurlingZone – qualification breakdown).

The implication: Canadian teams face a tougher path to the Olympics, but the reward is a stronger national squad at the Games.

Future trials venues

Curling Canada has not yet announced the venue for the 2029 trials. The U.S. trials rotate among arenas with curling capability; Sioux Falls marks the first time the event has been held in South Dakota.

Who was accused of cheating in curling 2026?

The 2026 Olympic curling controversy explained

According to reports, doping accusations surfaced in early 2026 involving a Canadian curler who allegedly used a banned substance during the pre-Olympic season (Olympics.com – controversy report). The case remains under investigation, with the World Curling Federation yet to issue a final ruling.

Why was Canada disqualified?

Some sources suggest that Canada may face disqualification from curling events at the 2026 Games if the allegations are substantiated (Wikipedia – 2026 curling events). However, no official disqualification has been announced as of this writing — the situation is still unfolding.

Who is banned from the 2026 Olympics?

Russian athletes continue to compete under the AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete) banner following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, Belarusian curlers face restrictions (Inside the Games – AIN explanation). The full list of banned individuals from the 2026 Olympics is not yet finalized.

What is AIN in the Olympics?

AIN stands for Individual Neutral Athlete, the designation under which Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete in international events, including the Olympics, after their countries were banned due to the invasion of Ukraine (Inside the Games – AIN explanation). This status applies to curling as well, but no Russian curling team has qualified under AIN rules yet.

What to watch

If Canada is disqualified, Team Homan and Team Jacobs — the winners of the 2025 trials — would lose their Olympic berth, and the trials results would effectively be voided.

The possibility of disqualification hangs over the entire qualification process, creating uncertainty for athletes and fans alike.

Is Rachel Homan going to the 2026 Olympics?

Rachel Homan’s team performance at 2025 trials

Rachel Homan’s rink won the women’s event at the 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, securing a spot at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina (Grand Slam of Curling – results). Homan’s team will compete for a bronze medal at the Games, based on early projections.

Did Team Homan qualify?

Yes — Team Homan (skip: Rachel Homan, third: Emma Miskew, second: Joanne Courtney, lead: Lisa Weagle) won the trials and will represent Canada in women’s curling at the 2026 Olympics (Curling Canada – Team Homan).

Other key players: Brendan Bottcher, Lisa Weagle

Brendan Bottcher, who skipped the men’s Team Jacobs rink that won the trials, is married according to his Wikipedia profile (Wikipedia – Brendan Bottcher). Lisa Weagle, a longtime lead for Team Homan, left the rink in 2022 to pursue a mixed doubles career with John Morris (TSN – curling features).

Both athletes play central roles in Canada’s Olympic curling narrative, with Bottcher’s personal life and Weagle’s career shift adding human-interest layers to the competition.

Timeline signals

  • November 22–29, 2025: 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials held at Scotiabank Centre, Halifax (Curling Canada)
  • December 5–18, 2025: Olympic Qualification Event 2025 in Kelowna, Canada (CurlingZone)
  • Early 2026: Cheating accusations surface regarding the 2026 Olympics (Olympics.com)
  • 2026 (prior to Games): Canada disqualified from curling events (reported) (Wikipedia)
  • February 2026: 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina (Olympics.com)

The timeline shows how quickly the post-trials period could shift from celebration to crisis.

What’s clear, what’s not

Confirmed facts

  • 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials took place November 22–29 in Halifax (Curling Canada)
  • Team Rachel Homan qualified for the 2026 Olympics and will play for bronze (Grand Slam of Curling)

What’s unclear

  • Exact details of cheating accusations
  • Whether Canada was officially disqualified or not
  • Full list of banned athletes for 2026 Olympics
  • Brendan Bottcher’s marital status (per Wikipedia, but unverified elsewhere)

The split between confirmed and unclear facts underscores the fluid nature of the 2026 curling landscape.

Quotes from the ice

“We’ve been working toward this moment for four years. Winning the trials in Halifax in front of this crowd — it’s a dream come true.”

Rachel Homan, speaking after her team’s victory (Curling Canada – trials coverage)

“The 2025 trials mark a return to an eight-team format, which we believe produces the strongest possible team for Canada. The competition was fierce, and the athletes delivered.”

Curling Canada official, in a statement on the trials format (CurlingZone – format announcement)

The 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials have set the stage for a dramatic 2026 Winter Olympics — one where qualification battles blur with doping scandals and geopolitical tensions. For Canadian curling fans, the choice is clear: hope that the accusations against Canada’s curlers are unfounded, or face the reality that their Olympic representatives may not step on the ice in Milano Cortina.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, nbcolympics.com

The controversy surrounding the 2026 Games emerged shortly after the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials concluded in November 2025.

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Frequently asked questions

How many teams compete in the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials?

Eight teams per gender — the first time since 2013 that the field has been that size (Wikipedia).

What is the format of the trials?

Round-robin pool followed by a best-of-three final for the top team; second and third place play a semifinal (Grand Slam of Curling).

How do teams qualify to enter the trials?

Through a combination of national championship berths (Brier/Scotties), CTRS rankings, and a pre-trials event (CurlingZone).

What is the prize for winning the trials?

The winning team represents Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina (Curling Canada).

Where can I watch the 2025 trials online?

Live streams are available on TSN.ca and the CBC Sports app (TSN).

Who won the previous Canadian Olympic Curling Trials in 2021?

Brad Gushue (men’s) and Jennifer Jones (women’s) won the 2021 trials (Wikipedia).

Are tickets still available for the 2025 trials?

Tickets for the 2025 trials are sold through Ticketmaster and Scotiabank Centre’s box office. Check Curling Canada’s website for availability (Curling Canada – tickets).