World’s top-ranked team, other household names confirmed for Penticton curling event

The best of the best in curling are coming to southern B.C.

Like Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy playing at your local golf club, Penticton is set to host today’s top curlers on its own ice.

Twenty-four teams, including the No. 1-ranked men’s club in the world, will compete at the 2026 Nufloors Penticton Curling Classic from Oct. 8 to 11.

With a prize purse of $100,000, the independent event marks a key stop for teams vying for points in the world rankings. The event winner will take home $25,000.

“Next to the grand slams, this is the biggest tour event,” said Kent Bird, manager and ice technician at the Penticton Curling Club.

“It’s not every day you get to see the best curlers in the world curling live at your own club, right?” It’s a pretty neat experience.”

All action will take place at the local club (505 Vees Dr. in Penticton).

“We’re going to watch them perform at our club, on our ice, with our rocks and our spectators,” Bird said.

Of the 24 teams confirmed to compete, 12 are international (Switzerland, Sweden, Japan, South Korea) and 10 are ranked in the top 25 in the world.

“The strength of the field is second only to our national championship (the Brier), and might even be stronger than our national championship, to be honest,” Bird said.

Headlining the field is Switzerland’s Yannick Schwaller, a bronze medalist at the 2026 Olympics who is currently ranked No. 1 worldwide.

Schwaller will be joined by other top-ranking worldwide skips, including Swedish Olympian Oskar Eriksson, Alberta’s Brendan Bottcher, a former Brier and world champion, Kevin Keo, a two-time world champion and gold medalist for Canada at the 2018 Olympics, and Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi of Japan, another 2026 Olympian.

“It’s not just an average event. This is an elite event,” Bird asserted.

Local representation at the men’s tournament includes Penticton’s Brad Wood, the third for team Jim Cotter of Vernon. Matt Tolley of Penticton will also be leading a team into the event.

Racking up wins at the Nufloors Penticton Curling Classic could go a long way for teams vying for positioning in the WCT standings, Bird said.

Points earned toward the world standings are tied to the strength of competition. And with a strong field coming to Penticton next month, top teams are incentivized to make the trip.

Specifically, in Canada, doing well at the Nufloors tournament could help teams make their case for the 2027 Brier.

“As the teams gain points throughout the season, now they don’t have to qualify through their province,” Bird explained. “In order to get to the Brier, you’ve got to win your province or be ranked high enough in the world to gain entry.”

Tickets for the Nufloors Penticton Curling Classic can be purchased per game ($10), per day ($25), or for the entire four-day event ($100). Order your tickets online at curlpenticton.com, at the door during the event, by phone at 250-492-5647, or by email [email protected].

Teams are expected to start getting into Penticton on Oct. 5, with the aforementioned Eriksson of Sweden hosting a clinic at the club on Oct. 6.

Eriksson, ranked No. 7 in the world, was the first curler in history to win four Olympic medals.