The Montreal Canadiens have given fans their first fresh look at the Bell Centre for 2026-27, and the biggest change sits right at center ice.
The team posted a photo yesterday that showed off the new design, and it’s a clear departure from last season’s setup. The solid red background is gone.
In its place, the logo now stands out on white ice with a more dimensional look, as if the H is rising right out of the surface. The bright red logo, the shading around it, and the blue outline on the lettering give the whole thing a cleaner finish.
That’s a sharp turn from last year’s center-ice look, which drew plenty of criticism. The red backdrop made the logo harder to pick out, and some fans also complained that it was difficult to track the puck when it moved through that area. This time, the Canadiens have gone in the opposite direction.
And unlike recent seasons, when the Bell Centre got bigger-ticket changes like a new Jumbotron in 2024 and the addition of a new premium seating section, le parterre, this looks like the main update for this season.
The new ice comes as the Canadiens get ready to ramp up for another year. Rookie camp is scheduled to begin on September 9, followed by the annual golf tournament on September 14 and main training camp on September 16, according to the plans the team shared with members of the media earlier this week. Those dates are expected to be confirmed soon in official releases, along with the list of players invited to rookie camp.
Preseason action starts at home on September 19, when Montreal hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs in a split-squad game, with half the roster in Montreal and the other half in Toronto. The Canadiens will also play another split-squad game at home on September 26 against the Ottawa Senators.
Before that, the Sens will visit Trois-Rivières on September 21 for a preseason game at the Colisée Vidéotron, home of the team’s ECHL affiliate, the Trois-Rivières Lions, as part of the Kraft Hockeyville celebration.
The first regular-season game at the Bell Centre comes on October 6, when the Canadiens open at home against the Carolina Hurricanes, the team that knocked them out before going on to win the Stanley Cup.
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