Ottawa is right in the middle of one of the biggest international sporting events the city has hosted in years. The 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships kicked off Wednesday, September 9 and run through Saturday, September 19, filling The Arena at TD Place with 336 of the world's top athletes from 28 teams, according to Ottawa Tourism.
Two venues, one big event
The Arena at TD Place is the main hub for the championship, but it isn't working alone. The Arena at TD Place and Carleton University were announced together as the two official venues for the Ottawa 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships, splitting hosting duties across the city.
That pairing puts elite international wheelchair basketball in two of Ottawa's most recognizable sport settings at once, giving fans multiple ways to catch the action depending on where they live or work in the city.
What organizers are saying
Cindy Burwell, Executive Director of the event, said organizers are thrilled to host the championships at two of Ottawa's premier sport venues. Mark Goudie, CEO of OSEG, echoed that enthusiasm, saying the organization is honoured to welcome the world's best women's and men's wheelchair basketball athletes to TD Place, Lansdowne and Ottawa.
Carleton University is just as invested in the moment. Yolana Junco-Pascual, Associate Vice President of Athletics at Carleton, said the university is thrilled to co-host what she called an incredible celebration of sport and spirit. That kind of buy-in from both a major sports and entertainment venue and a university athletics department signals just how significant this tournament is for Ottawa's sporting calendar.
Why it matters for Ottawa
Hosting 336 athletes from 28 teams over 11 days is no small feat, and it puts Ottawa on the map as a destination for major para-sport competition. For residents, it means a rare chance to watch world-class wheelchair basketball without leaving the city, whether that's catching a match at The Arena at TD Place or taking in the action at Carleton University.
With the tournament running for over a week, there's still plenty of time left for Ottawa residents to catch a game before it wraps up this coming Saturday.
Sources: Ottawa Tourism, TD Place / Lansdowne Live, Ottawa 2026 IWBF World Championships (official)
