Liiga announces plans for transitional 2026/27 season with increase in participants

[p]Mestis regular season winners and former Kontinental Hockey League participants [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/jokerit/fuhTCfLp/"]Jokerit[/a] will be returning to the Liiga next season, while another licence could yet be given to another current second-tier club.[/p][p][b]With no side set to be relegated from this season's Liiga, the number of teams in next season's competition will be either 17 or 18 teams, an increase from 16.[/b][/p][p]Team will still face each other four times over the regular season, meaning the number of games played by each side in the main part of the campaign will increase from 60 to either 64 or 68.[/p][p]As in the current system, the top 12 teams will qualify for the playoffs. [b]However, the teams finishing 13th-16th in 2026/27 will play a relegation series, with two winners remaining in the Liiga and two facing relegation.[/b][/p][p][b]A 17th-placed finish - and 18th, if applicable - will result in automatic relegation to the second tier.[/b][/p][p][b]Therefore, whether the Liiga plays host to 17 or 18 teams in 2026/27, the top flight will be cut back to 14 teams ahead of the 2027/28 season. [/b][/p][p]Such a move will also increase the number of teams in the Mestis, which is currently a 10-team division, providing a better balance between the top two divisions.[/p][embed guid="686f5f7f-4734-4d28-bbd5-d9508ca99f90" url="https://x.com/smliiga/status/2029591131697377464" social-type="twitter" /][p]With a longer regular season and more teams involved in some kind of postseason games, the league is seeking to extend the length of the season and reduce the number of consecutive matchdays, taking into account "the overall workload of the players and the match rhythm of the regular season."[/p][p][b]"In addition to the fairness of the series, the workload of the match calendar was also crucial. We do not want a season where the number of games per week increases or the workload on players increases in general,"[/b] said Liiga sports director, Jussi Markkanen.[/p][p]As for the current campaign, the regular season will conclude over the next couple of weeks, with 15 of the 16 teams still in with a chance of becoming Finnish champions this season.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/hockey/finland/liiga/"]Follow the Liiga on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]