Disney+ and the National Hockey League (NHL) have agreed a five-year broadcasting partnership covering Sweden and Finland, with live NHL coverage set to move onto the streaming platform from the 2026-27 season.
The agreement will deliver 160 regular-season games to subscribers across the two Nordic markets, including 50 fixtures scheduled in prime viewing windows. The package will also include 20 playoff games, as well as shared rights to the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final.
The coverage will be delivered through ESPN on Disney+, combining the streaming platform’s distribution with ESPN’s production, analysis and storytelling capabilities.
“In Sweden and Finland, hockey isn’t just watched, it’s a passion shared across generations,” said Karl Holmes, GM of Disney+ EMEA.
The deal adds another major live sports property to Disney+ as the company continues to expand its streaming sports offering. The NHL also sees the partnership as an opportunity to strengthen its international reach in two markets with deep connections to the sport.
NHL Chief Media Officer and Senior Executive Vice President David Proper said the league’s relationship with Nordic audiences had continued to grow, supported by the success of Swedish and Finnish players in the NHL.
“Disney+ and ESPN are important in expanding our global reach and serving our international fans,” Proper said.
ESPN brings NHL expertise to Disney+
The agreement will also extend ESPN’s long-standing relationship with the NHL into the Swedish and Finnish streaming markets.
Diego Londono, SVP and GM of Networks and Sports at The Walt Disney Company EMEA, said ESPN’s experience in NHL coverage would be incorporated into the new offering through expert analysis, production and local-language commentary.
The approach reflects Disney’s broader strategy of using ESPN as a key component of its live sports proposition on Disney+, bringing established sports media expertise into the streaming environment.
For subscribers, the NHL package will combine live game coverage with ESPN-led analysis and storytelling throughout the season.
Nordic stars add local appeal
The presence of prominent Swedish and Finnish players is expected to play a central role in the appeal of the package.
Swedish stars including William Nylander, Filip Forsberg and Rasmus Dahlin, alongside Finnish players such as Aleksander Barkov, Mikko Rantanen and Sebastian Aho, will feature prominently across the NHL season.
The agreement gives the league and Disney+ an established pool of local sporting personalities around which to build audience engagement in the two markets.
The partnership comes after ESPN recorded a record US viewership season for the NHL in 2025-26, adding further momentum to the league’s international media strategy.
With the new deal, Disney+ strengthens its position in the Nordic sports streaming market while the NHL gains another digital distribution channel for its international audience.