WCH U20 IIIB 2026/27

The IIHF World U20 Championship Division III B occupies the seventh tier of the international ice hockey pyramid, situated below Division III A. Established as part of the Division III structure in 2001, the tournament evolved from the D-Series which began in 1996. Organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the format consists of a single round-robin group stage held over approximately one week. The competition was split into Group A and Group B in 2017 to accommodate the growing number of member nations.

The primary objective for participants is promotion to Division III A, while the last-placed team faces relegation to Division IV, provided that division is held. In the 2026 tournament, Kyrgyzstan won the championship, defeating Luxembourg 5-2 in the final round, and earned promotion to Division III A. Iran finished last and was relegated to Division IV. The participating nations included Kyrgyzstan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Luxembourg, South Africa, and Iran.

Previous winners include Thailand, who won the title in Bangkok in 2025, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who won in Sarajeve in 2024. The competition differs from Division III A in that it serves as the entry point for developing ice hockey nations. Notable history includes the 2021 cancellation due to the pandemic. The tier structure places the Top Division at level one, followed by Div I A/B, Div II A/B, Div III A, Div III B, and Div IV at the eighth level.