GSOC National

• November 17, 2026
  Event date:
• November 22, 2026
  Event end:

A Grand Slam on Cape Breton Island

The GSOC National is one of the five events on the 2026–27 Grand Slam of Curling tour and one of the series’ long-standing majors. It is the third stop of the season, running from 17 to 22 November 2026. The tournament began in 2002 as a men’s invitational in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, won by Glenn Howard, and added a women’s division in 2015. Rachel Homan holds the women’s record with four titles as skip, while Howard, Kevin Martin and Brad Gushue have four apiece on the men’s side.

Format and field

Both divisions feature 16 teams. Twelve qualify through the World Curling Team Rankings, two arrive as winners of the new GSOC Satellite Events, and two receive GSOC or sponsor invitations. The ranking cut-off is 20 October 2026, with the rest of the field announced after that date.

The first confirmed entry carries a local story. Halifax-based skip Christina Black, who grew up in Sydney, received a sponsor’s exemption and will play in front of a hometown crowd with Jill Brothers, Marlee Powers, Lindsey Burgess and alternate Karlee Everist. Black won bronze at the 2025 Scotties and reached the final of the Canadian Olympic Trials in Halifax.

The defending champions are Bruce Mouat of Scotland, who beat Matt Dunstone in a draw-to-the-button shootout, and Rachel Homan, both winners at last season’s edition, played in Tahoe as the GSOC Tahoe.

Host city and venue

Games are played at Centre 200 in downtown Sydney, Nova Scotia. Opened in 1987, the arena holds around 5,000 spectators and is home to Cape Breton’s QMJHL junior hockey team. It staged the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, so local fans are used to filling the building for elite curling. Sydney is the main city on Cape Breton Island, with a waterfront, historic sites and a strong Celtic music tradition for visitors to enjoy between draws.

Tickets

Full-event, weekend and day passes are on sale through Ticketmaster and the Centre 200 box office. Single-draw tickets go on sale on 6 October 2026.

Regions

• Nova Scotia

Location