B.C. Lions to play two home games in Kelowna in 2026

The B.C. Lions are staying in their home province while the World Cup takes over BC Place next year.

The Lions will play their first two home games in 2026 in Kelowna, B.C., the CFL club announced Friday.

The Apple Bowl in Kelowna will be expanded to a capacity of 17,500 fans for the games.

“The Lions are truly British Columbia’s team. It’s an exciting time for our franchise to bring two games to Kelowna for our great fans in the Okanagan,” Duane Vienneau, president of the Lions, said in a statement.

“The World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime event for Vancouver. Looking at all options, Touchdown Kelowna is the perfect fit. The Okanagan is home to a very passionate segment of the Lions fanbase, which makes us thrilled for the opportunity to bring two games to the region.”

BC Place and Toronto’s BMO Field, home of the Argonauts, are the two Canadian venues being used for the World Cup next June and July. World Cup games also will be held in the U.S. and Mexico.

The Argos previously announced 2026 home games against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders will be played in their opponents’ cities.

It takes around five hours to drive northeast from Vancouver to Kelowna.

The CFL games figure to come weeks after Kelowna hosts the Memorial Cup, May 21-31.

The Lions also announced their home pre-season game will be in Langford, B.C., for the second year in a row, while training camp will be in Kamloops, B.C., for the 16th consecutive season.