Victoria will host some of the world’s top curling talent this fall as the Grand Slam of Curling (GSOC) makes its return to BC.
Organizers announced Tuesday that the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre will host the GSOC Invitational from October 13th to 18th, marking the opening event of the competition’s 2026 season.
The event will feature 16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams from around the world, including Olympic medalists, world champions and some of Canada’s top curling favourites.
Early-bird, full-event and weekend passes went on sale Tuesday, March 10th, with further details on participating teams and the full schedule expected in the coming months.
According to organizers, the tournament comes at a time when interest in the sport is surging following the recent Winter Olympics.
“The Grand Slam of Curling is making its long-overdue return to British Columbia,” said Nic Sulsky, CEO of The Curling Group.
“On the heels of a captivating Winter Olympic Games, global interest in curling has never been higher. This event will give fans throughout the region a rare opportunity to see the sport’s biggest stars from around the world.”
Provincial officials say the tournament is also expected to bring visitors to the region and showcase Victoria as a destination for major sporting events.
“The Province is thrilled to be partnering with Destination Victoria to bring the 2026 Grand Slam of Curling to BC’s beautiful capital city,” said Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Minister Anne Kang.
“We look forward to welcoming fans, athletes, families and friends from around the world to not only enjoy high-level competition, but also to experience BC’s renowned hospitality and vibrant community spirit.”
The event will be supported locally by the Esquimalt Curling Club, which will lead the volunteer committee helping to run the tournament.
Keith Wells, executive director of the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission, said the region has a long history of hosting major curling events.
“Greater Victoria has a strong tradition of hosting major curling events, and having the Grand Slam of Curling in the region is a great opportunity for local fans,” Wells said.
“We are proud to support the event and hope it will lead to more top-tier curling competitions in Victoria in the years ahead.”
The last Grand Slam of Curling event held in BC took place in March 2016 in Colwood.
