Wikipedia

2025–26 KHL season

The 2025–26 KHL season was the 18th season of the Kontinental Hockey League. 22 teams competed in 68 regular season games, with 182 playing days, between 5 September 2025 and 20 March 2026.[2]

2025–26 KHL season
LeagueKontinental Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration
  • 5 September 2025 – 20 March 2026
    (regular season)
Games68
Teams22
TV partner(s)KHL TV, KHL Prime

Match TV (Russia)
Qazsport (Kazakhstan)
Belarus 5 (Belarus)
Kinopoisk (streaming partner)
Regional broadcasters (local team games only)


TNV Tatarstan (Ak Bars Kazan)
BST (Salavat Yulaev Ufa)
Channel 12 (Avangard Omsk)
TV-IN (Metallurg Magnitogorsk)
Channel 78 (SKA Saint-Petersburg)
Pervy Yaroslavsky (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl)
NN 24 (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod)
Guberniya (Amur Khabarovsk)
OTV (Traktor Chelyabinsk)
OTV Primorye (Admiral Vladivostok)
OTS (Sibir Novosibirsk) [1]

Regular season
Continental Cup winnerMetallurg Magnitogorsk
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPDaniil Isayev (Yaroslavl)
Finals championsLokomotiv Yaroslavl
  Runners-upAk Bars Kazan
KHL seasons
2026–27 →

Season changes

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For the 2025–26 season, the competition was reduced to 22 teams, following the announcement that inaugural member HC Vityaz were initially withdrawing from the league for the season due to financial constraints, on 24 June 2025.[3][4] After an emergency league meeting with the board of directors, it was announced that Vityaz would not be eligible for a return to the competition until 2030.[5] As a result of Vityaz's exit, and in order for conference balance, Lada Togliatti who played in the Kharlamov Division of the Eastern Conference were moved to the Bobrov Division of the Western Conference.[5]

On 7 August 2025, with Kunlun Red Star undergoing a change of ownership, the club announced they would rebrand as the Shanghai Dragons, and relocate from Beijing to Shanghai, while still being initially based in St. Petersburg, Russia, and would retain their place in the Tarasov Division.[6]

As a result of Vityaz's withdrawal the regular season was reduced to 748 games for 182 gamedays, with each club played 68 regular season engagements. Since the Russian and Belarusian teams will not be participating in the Olympic Games, there will only be a break in February, from February 6th to 9th, for the KHL 2026 Fonbet All-Star Game. The first break in December will be between December 8th and 15th for the Channel One Cup.[7]

The league's salary floor has been raised to 475 million rubles. The salary cap stayed at 900 million rubles, excluding certain bonuses.[8]

In addition, in shootouts teams would now have three attempts instead of five.[9]

The league continued the previous two seasons playoff format for the Gagarin Cup playoffs with a cross playoff system in which teams participate in the Conference Quarterfinals before a cross conference switch and re-seeding take place from the second round.[10][11]

Teams

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The 22 teams were split into four divisions: the Bobrov Division and the Tarasov Division as part of the Western Conference, with the Kharlamov Division and the Chernyshev Division as part of the Eastern Conference.

Western Conference Eastern Conference
Bobrov Division Tarasov Division Kharlamov Division Chernyshev Division
Russia Lada Togliatti Russia CSKA Moscow Russia Ak Bars Kazan Russia Admiral Vladivostok
Russia SKA Saint Petersburg Belarus Dinamo Minsk Russia Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg Russia Amur Khabarovsk
Russia HC Sochi Russia Dynamo Moscow Russia Metallurg Magnitogorsk Russia Avangard Omsk
Russia Spartak Moscow Russia Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Russia Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk Kazakhstan Barys Astana
Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod Russia Severstal Cherepovets Russia Traktor Chelyabinsk Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa
China Shanghai Dragons Russia Sibir Novosibirsk

Each team will feature in 68 games in which every team will play each other once at home. This results in 21 home and 21 away games. In addition, there will be 10 home and 10 away games against teams from the same conference, plus six special games per team.[7] Points were awarded for each game, where two points were awarded for all victories, regardless of whether it was in regulation time, in overtime or after game-winning shots. One point was awarded for losing in overtime or game-winning shots, and zero points for losing in regulation time.[12]

Opening Cup

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The season started on 5 September 2025 with the Opening Cup. The 2025–26 Opening Cup was contested between Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, the 2024–25 Gagarin Cup Champions and Traktor Chelyabinsk, the 2024–25 Gagarin Cup runner-up. Lokomotiv won the game 2-1 in the shootout.

September 5, 2025Lokomotiv Yaroslavl2–1 SO
(0–0, 1–0, 0–1, 0–0, 1–0)		Traktor ChelyabinskArena 2000, Yaroslavl, Russia
Attendance: 8,115
Game reference
Daniil IsayevGoaliesChris DriedgerReferees:
Viktor Gashilov
Denis Naumov
Linesmen:
Dmitry Shishlo
Dmitry Sivov
Egor Surin – 39:43Goals52:10 – Pierrick Dube (Mikhail Grigorenko, Joshua Leivo)
Alexander Radulov GOAL
Byron Froese MISS
Maxim Beryozkin GOAL		ShootoutMISS Pierrick Dube
GOAL Joshua Leivo
MISS Mikhail Grigorenko
12 minPenalties16 min
35Shots28

Standings

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Western Conference

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Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (O, Q, T, Y) 68 34 12 6 16 185 135 +50 98 Conference winner and Home advantage in Conference Quarterfinals of Gagarin Cup Playoffs
2 Dinamo Minsk (Q) 68 33 6 10 19 247 173 +74 88 Home advantage in Conference Quarterfinals of Gagarin Cup Playoffs
3 Severstal Cherepovets (Q) 68 29 11 6 22 197 185 +12 86
4 CSKA Moscow (Q) 68 33 5 8 22 162 144 +18 84
5 SKA Saint Petersburg (B, Q) 68 28 9 7 24 197 170 +27 81 Advance to Gagarin Cup Playoffs
6 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Q) 68 27 10 7 24 191 191 0 81
7 Dynamo Moscow (Q) 68 26 12 5 25 188 174 +14 81
8 Spartak Moscow (Q) 68 29 6 9 24 204 201 +3 79
9 Shanghai Dragons 68 16 5 12 35 166 238 −72 54
10 Lada Togliatti 68 17 3 7 41 157 240 −83 47
11 HC Sochi 68 16 2 8 42 139 233 −94 44
Source: KHL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) games won in regulation time; 3) games won in overtime; 4) games won in shootouts; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored; 7) drawing of lots.
(B) Won Bobrov Division; (O) Won Opening Cup; (Q) Qualified for Gagarin cup playoffs; (T) Won Tarasov Division; (Y) Won Conference

Eastern Conference

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Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Metallurg Magnitogorsk (K, Q, Y, Z) 68 37 12 7 12 252 184 +68 105 Conference winner and Home advantage in Conference Quarterfinals of Gagarin Cup Playoffs
2 Avangard Omsk (H, Q) 68 36 11 5 16 228 159 +69 99 Home advantage in Conference Quarterfinals of Gagarin Cup Playoffs
3 Ak Bars Kazan (Q) 68 38 5 8 17 212 169 +43 94
4 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (Q) 68 32 8 4 24 206 164 +42 84
5 Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Q) 68 27 9 6 26 180 171 +9 78 Advance to Gagarin Cup Playoffs
6 Traktor Chelyabinsk (Q) 68 28 5 9 26 205 195 +10 75
7 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Q) 68 25 9 3 31 170 188 −18 71
8 Sibir Novosibirsk (Q) 68 15 15 9 29 160 195 −35 69
9 Amur Khabarovsk 68 22 4 8 34 157 192 −35 60
10 Barys Astana 68 16 5 12 35 154 208 −54 54
11 Admiral Vladivostok 68 16 4 12 36 161 209 −48 52
Source: KHL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) games won in regulation time; 3) games won in overtime; 4) games won in shootouts; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals
(H) Won Chernyshev Division; (K) Won Kharlamov Division; (Q) Qualified for Gagarin cup playoffs; (Y) Won Conference; (Z) Won Continental Cup

Continental Cup

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Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Metallurg Magnitogorsk (K, Q, Y, Z) 68 37 12 7 12 252 184 +68 105 Continental Cup winner and first overall seed in Gagarin Cup Playoffs
2 Avangard Omsk (H, Q) 68 36 11 5 16 228 159 +69 99
3 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (O, Q, T, Y) 68 34 12 6 16 185 135 +50 98
4 Ak Bars Kazan (Q) 68 38 5 8 17 212 169 +43 94
5 Dinamo Minsk (Q) 68 33 6 10 19 247 173 +74 88
6 Severstal Cherepovets (Q) 68 29 11 6 22 197 185 +12 86
7 CSKA Moscow (Q) 68 33 5 8 22 162 144 +18 84
8 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (Q) 68 32 8 4 24 206 164 +42 84
9 SKA Saint Petersburg (B, Q) 68 28 9 7 24 197 170 +27 81
10 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Q) 68 27 10 7 24 191 191 0 81
11 Dynamo Moscow (Q) 68 26 12 5 25 188 174 +14 81
12 Spartak Moscow (Q) 68 29 6 9 24 204 201 +3 79
13 Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Q) 68 27 9 6 26 180 171 +9 78
14 Traktor Chelyabinsk (Q) 68 28 5 9 26 205 195 +10 75
15 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Q) 68 25 9 3 31 170 188 −18 71
16 Sibir Novosibirsk (Q) 68 15 15 9 29 160 195 −35 69
17 Amur Khabarovsk 68 22 4 8 34 157 192 −35 60
18 Barys Astana 68 16 5 12 35 154 208 −54 54
19 Shanghai Dragons 68 16 5 12 35 166 238 −72 54
20 Admiral Vladivostok 68 16 4 12 36 161 209 −48 52
21 Lada Togliatti 68 17 3 7 41 157 240 −83 47
22 HC Sochi 68 16 2 8 42 139 233 −94 44
Source: KHL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) games won in regulation time; 3) games won in overtime; 4) games won in shootouts; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored; 7) drawing of lots.
(B) Won Bobrov Division; (H) Won Chernyshev Division; (K) Won Kharlamov Division; (O) Won Opening Cup; (Q) Qualified for Gagarin cup playoffs; (T) Won Tarasov Division; (Y) Won Conference; (Z) Won Continental Cup

Gagarin Cup playoffs

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The Gagarin Cup playoffs started on 23 March 2026.

Bracket

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Conference Quarterfinals Round 2 Semifinals Gagarin Cup Finals
            
E1 Russia Metallurg Mg 4
E8 Russia Sibir 1
E1 Russia Metallurg Mg 4
W6 Russia Torpedo 1
E2 Russia Avangard 4
E7 Russia Neftekhimik 1
E1 Russia Metallurg Mg 1
E3 Russia Ak Bars 4
E3 Russia Ak Bars 4
E6 Russia Traktor 1
W2 Belarus Dinamo Mn 0
E3 Russia Ak Bars 4
E4 Russia Avtomobilist 2
E5 Russia Salavat Yulaev 4
E3 Russia Ak Bars 2
W1 Russia Lokomotiv 4
W1 Russia Lokomotiv 4
W8 Russia Spartak 1
W1 Russia Lokomotiv 4
E5 Russia Salavat Yulaev 0
W2 Belarus Dinamo Mn 4
W7 Russia Dynamo Msk 0
W1 Russia Lokomotiv 4
E2 Russia Avangard 3
W3 Russia Severstal 1
W6 Russia Torpedo 4
E2 Russia Avangard 4
W4 Russia CSKA 1
W4 Russia CSKA 4
W5 Russia SKA 1
  • After the Conference Quarterfinals a conference cross-over and re-seeding commenced
  • During the Gagarin Cup Finals the team that finished with higher seed in their conference had home ice (if both teams finished with the same seed the team that earned most points during the regular season had home ice)
  • Source: KHL[13]

Final standings

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All-Star Game

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The 2026 Kontinental Hockey League All-Star Game was hosted at the UMMC Arena in Yekaterinburg on February 7-8, 2026. It used a brand new format with 4 teams: the Ural Stars (players from Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Traktor Chelyabinsk), the World Stars (non-Russian players), the U23 Stars (young players) and the RUS Stars (other selected players).[14]

The RUS Stars won the All-Star Game, defeating the U23 Stars 9-2 in the final. Danil Aimurzin scored five goals in the final and was named the most valuable player.[15]

Individual achievements

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Scoring records

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Sam Anas from HC Dinamo Minsk matched the single-season scoring record with 89 (32+57) points in 67 regular season games, matching the total of Nikita Gusev in the 2022-23 KHL season.[16]

Damir Sharipzyanov from Avangard Omsk beat the single-season defenceman scoring record with 67 (23+44) points across 66 regular season games.[17]

Mitchell Miller from Ak Bars Kazan beat the Gagarin Cup Playoffs defenceman scoring record with 23 (7+16) points in 20 games, and was the first defenceman ever to become the top scorer of the KHL playoffs.[18]

Vadim Shipachyov from HC Dinamo Minsk became the first player to score 1000 points in his KHL career with an assist in a January 10 game against Admiral Vladivostok.[19]

Golden Helmet Award (All-Star Team)

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Alexei Cherepanov Award (Rookie of the Year)

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Goaltender of the Year

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Coach of the Year

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "КХЛ: где и как смотреть трансляции матчей" (in Russian). Sport-Express. 1 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "2025-2026 KHL season's calendar". Kontinental Hockey League. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Vityaz will not participate in the 2025-26 season" (in Russian). HC Vityaz. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "HC Vityaz Will Not Participate in the 2025-2026 Season" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Vityaz drops out" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  6. ↑ "KHL welcomes Shanghai Dragons for 2025-26 season" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Vityaz is out and coaching carousel turns" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "Совет директоров утвердил изменения в систему пола и потолка зарплат" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 9 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "КХЛ сократила число бросков в послематчевой серии буллитов в регулярном чемпионате с пяти до трех" (in Russian). Match TV. 29 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Season 2023/2024: 68 regular season games, cross playoffs" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  11. ↑ ""Most of the clubs voted for a cross playoff" - Alexei Morozov" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Kontinental Hockey League Championship – Russian Men's Ice Hockey Championship 2024/2025. Stage 2 Guidelines" (PDF). KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 4 September 2021. In each Conference teams are seeded first to eighth depending on points scored and regardless of Division placing.
  13. ↑ "Regular KHL 2025/2026 - KHL Standings | Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)". en.khl.ru. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Фонбет Матч Звезд КХЛ 2026: билеты, составы, расписание" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 21 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "Пента-трик Данила Аймурзина помог KHL RUS Stars разгромить KHL U23 Stars в финале Фонбет Матча Звезд КХЛ 2026" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 8 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Энас повторил рекорд Гусева по очкам за один регулярный чемпионат КХЛ" (in Russian). Sport-Express. 20 March 2026.
  17. ↑ "Дамир Шарипзянов: «Никогда не чурался черновой работы, а рекорд — больше для истории»" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 23 March 2026.
  18. ↑ "Чемпионство «Локомотива», триумф ярославской вертикали, красивое завершение карьеры Хартли" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 25 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "1000-е очко Вадима Шипачёва в КХЛ принесло минскому «Динамо» победу над «Адмиралом»". khl.ru (in Russian). 12 January 2026.
  20. ↑ "Александр Жаровский – обладатель приза Алексея Черепанова лучшему новичку сезона 2025/2026" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 28 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "Жаровский, Поляков и Фёдоров – номинанты на приз имени Алексея Черепанова" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 20 May 2026.
  22. ↑ "Никита Серебряков – лучший вратарь КХЛ в сезоне 2025/2026" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 28 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "Вязовой, Исаев и Серебряков — номинанты на приз «Лучшему вратарю»" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 14 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "Анвар Гатиятулин стал лучшим тренером КХЛ сезона 2025/2026" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 28 May 2026.
  25. ↑ "Гатиятулин, Козлов и Разин — номинанты на приз «Лучшему тренеру»" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 18 May 2026.
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