Canada has a wide range of popular sports, from ice hockey to curling. Lacrosse is one of its most popular sports and traditionally has Native American roots. Other popular games include basketball, baseball, football and ice hockey.

Olympic rings at Whistler

Olympic rings at Whistler, Canada

Lacrosse was declared Canada's national game in 1859. However, in 1994, Canadian Parliament passed Canada's National Sport Act, which made lacrosse the national summer sport, and hockey the national winter sport. Hockey is the quintessential Canadian sport, and players have done quite well in it internationally, including in the NHL and the Olympic Games.

"Canada's ice hockey program has been the gold standard for international competition, producing generations of elite players through a comprehensive grassroots development system. The sport is woven into the national identity in a way few other countries can match with any sport."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports

Canada has been present in all the Winter Olympic Games and almost all the Summer Games since they first participated in 1900, except when they took part in the 1980 Moscow Games US-led boycott.

Canada has also hosted the Olympic Games three times in Montreal (1976, Summer), Calgary (1988, Winter) and Vancouver (2010, Winter). So far, the Canadian athletes with the most Olympic medals are Cindy Klassen and Clara Hughes, both with 6 medals. Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser and Caroline Ouellette, however, had taken home the most gold with four for each.

Pro Tip: For the best Canadian hockey experience, attend an NHL game in hockey-mad cities like Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver. The atmosphere during playoff season is particularly electric and represents a unique Canadian cultural experience.

Canada appeared first at the World Cup in Mexico 1986, but they didn't make it out of the group stage in the competition. The country made a second appearance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but still didn't make it out of Group F. Canada has automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup because they are part of the three host countries of the competition.

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Canada. See also the list of the most popular internet searches for "sports" in Canada.

Popular Sports of Canada

See more about popular sports in Canada.

Regional or Traditional Sports of Canada

  • Five-pin bowling - A Canadian variant of bowling with smaller balls and pins.
  • Snowshoeing - This is a winter sport in Canada, which is played with two teams of four players each. The goal of this sport is to race across the snow-covered terrain.
  • Sledge Hockey - It is another popular winter sport in Canada, which is played on an ice rink with two teams of four players each. The objective of this sport is to race across the water and complete the course in the fastest time.
"Canada's designation of both ice hockey and lacrosse as national sports reflects the country's unique sporting heritage. Lacrosse's Indigenous roots make it one of North America's oldest team sports, representing an important cultural connection that continues to be celebrated today."
— Sports science expert Robert Wood

Canada Sporting Success

  • Canada has dominated ice hockey at the Winter Olympic Games
  • Canada won 18 medals at the London 2012 Olympics (2 gold, 6 silver, and 10 bronze)
  • Canada won 22 medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics (4 gold, 3 silver, and 15 bronze)
  • Canada won 24 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (7 gold, 7 silver, and 10 bronze)
  • Canada won 27 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics (9 gold, 7 silver, and 11 bronze)
  • Canadian men's hockey team won gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Winter Olympics Dominance

Canada has won gold in men's ice hockey at the Winter Olympics multiple times and the Canadian men's team won gold on home ice at the 2010 Vancouver Games in a memorable final against the USA.

Canada Winter Olympics History →
"Canada's consistent performance at Winter Olympics, combined with improving Summer Games results, reflects the nation's strong sports infrastructure and athlete development programs. The 27-medal haul at Paris 2024 shows Canada continues to grow as a summer sport nation."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports

Great Athletes from Canada

  • Donovan Bailey (athletics)
  • Wayne Gretzky (ice hockey)
  • Jacques Villeneuve (F1 driver)
  • Mario Lemieux (hockey)
  • Sidney Crosby (hockey)

Basketball's Canadian Creator

James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada in 1861. He invented the sport in 1891 while working as a physical education instructor in Massachusetts, USA.

More About Basketball →

Canada Sports Trivia

  • James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was from Canada.

Canada at Major Events

Past Sporting Events Hosted in Canada

Pro Tip: Visitors interested in experiencing Canadian winter sports should consider Whistler, which hosted events during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The resort offers world-class skiing and the iconic Olympic rings remain as a popular photo opportunity.

Upcoming Sporting Events in Canada

2026 FIFA World Cup

Canada will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, automatically qualifying them for the tournament and marking a historic moment for Canadian soccer.

Canada World Cup History →

Annual Sporting Events Held in Canada

  • The Canadian Football League - This is an annual football championship, which is held in late November or December.
  • The Canadian Open - This is a professional annual tournament held annually in June.
  • The Canadian Grand Prix - This is an annual Formula One race held in Montreal.
  • The Memorial Cup - It is an annual junior ice hockey tournament held in May or June.
  • The Canada Cup - It is an annual international ice hockey tournament held in September.

Sporting Facilities in Canada

More

Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let me know.