What are the World Curling Championships?
The World Curling Championships are the sport's annual world titles — the men's event descending from the 1959 Scotch Cup, the women's since 1979. In 2026, Sweden won the men's title in Ogden, Utah, and Xenia Schwaller's Switzerland beat defending champions Canada for the women's crown in Calgary.[1] [2]
| Season | Pool / Format | Host cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | M: Sweden · W: Switzerland | Ogden, Utah (M) · Calgary (W) — Schwaller beats Canada in the final |
| 2025 | M: Scotland · W: Canada | Moose Jaw (M) · Uijeongbu (W) — Mouat & Homan |
| 2024 | M: Sweden · W: Canada | Schaffhausen (M) · Sydney, NS (W) — Edin's 7th, Homan's return |
| 2023 | M: Scotland · W: Switzerland | Ottawa (M) · Sandviken (W) |
| 2022 | M: Sweden · W: Switzerland | Las Vegas (M) · Prince George (W) |
| 2021 | M: Sweden · W: Switzerland | Calgary bubble — both |
| 2020 | — | Canceled (COVID-19) |
| 2019 | M: Sweden · W: Switzerland | Lethbridge (M) · Silkeborg (W) |
| 2018 | M: Sweden · W: Canada | Las Vegas (M) · North Bay (W) |
| 2017 | M: Canada · W: Canada | Edmonton (M) · Beijing (W) |
Men's and women's world champions of the last ten editions.
How do teams qualify?
Through continental qualification and national championships — each association sends one team, so a Worlds appearance is a national-team credential — with round-robin play into playoffs, and results feeding Olympic qualification points.[3]
Why do they matter?
Between Olympics the Worlds are curling's biggest stage — Sweden's Niklas Edin era (six men's titles) and Switzerland's women's dynasty were built here — and the championships' results shape every nation's Olympic road.[1] [3]
References
- Olympics.com — World Men's Curling Championship 2026: results. Accessed August 2026.
- Olympics.com — World Women's Curling Championship 2026: results. Accessed August 2026.
- World Curling — official site. Accessed August 2026.