The Brad Gushue Effect is bringing the 2026 Brier back to Newfoundland

Brad Gushue’s effect on the curling scene was working full throttle Monday morning in St. John’s.
Not on the ice but with the people of his home-town in announcing a return of the Brier to that proud city.
The 2026 edition of Curling Canada’s men’s national curling championship is set for Feb. 27-March 8 at?the Mary Brown’s Centre in the Newfoundland and Labrador capital.
“We are thrilled to be back here in St. John’s to hopefully experience the passion and the excitement we had in 2017,” said Gushue, fondly recalling the Brier of eight years ago, when the local skip and his rink won the title to set?off wild celebrations all over Newfoundland and Labrador.
The crown was won by skip Gushue, third Mark Nichols, second Brett Gallant, lead Geoff Walker and coach Jules Owchar in thrilling fashion — a last-rock defeat of defending champ Kevin Koe in the gold-medal game.
“I don’t think it’s a secret that winning the 2017 Brier in my hometown was a career highlight,” Gushue said. “And I’m ecstatic that we have another chance in 2026 to host, and hopefully our team can play in it. There is so much pride in our province and our city, and I really do share in the excitement today.
“It’s going to be an amazing event, and I’m already counting down the days.”
Fans have been clamouring for Curling Canada to take the Brier back to St. John’s, especially after supporters again packed the Mary Brown’s Centre in the fall for the Grand Slam of Curling’s Kioti National.
It’s all being delivered because of Gushue’s massive appeal on The Rock. His curling success has Newfoundlanders beaming with pride.
“Curling events have been held in Newfoundland quite a lot lately — and rightfully so,” said curling legend Brent Laing. “Team Gushue’s put Newfoundland curling on the map, and the people come out like crazy when we go there.”
Aside from capturing Olympic gold in 2006 Turin and the world championship in 2017 Edmonton, he’s won the Brier six times, including last year in Regina and that unforgettable one in St. John’s, when 122,592 fans tripped the turnstiles to watch Gushue & Co. make a remarkable run to the title.
“The memory of being in the building and watching Brad win that final and seeing how the city and province embraced the event is something that I’ll always cherish, and it certainly made our decision this year easier,” said Curling Canada CEO Nolan Thiessen. “It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the organizing committee there is ready to put in the work to make the 2026 Montana’s Brier even better than 2017, if that’s possible.”
It will be the third time St. John’s will have hosted the world’s most famous men’s national curling championship.
The 1972 Macdonald Brier was held at Memorial Stadium in St. John’s and won by Manitoba’s Orest Meleschuk.
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