The Winter Classic is headed to Florida for the first time in NHL history.

The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers are set to face off in the 2026 event at the Miami Marlins' LoanDepot Park.

The NHL has previously played outdoor games in locations including Los Angeles, Dallas and Nashville, but the upcoming Winter Classic will mark the southernmost outdoor game in league history.

The contest will also mark the first time the Panthers have played in an outdoor game.

The Utah Hockey Club (formerly the Arizona Coyotes) is set to be the only NHL club without an outdoor game on its record. The Columbus Blue Jackets are slated to compete outdoors for the first time in March during a Stadium Series matchup with the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Rangers will be playing in the franchise's sixth outdoor contest, tying the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers for the second-most in NHL history.

The Rangers most recently competed outside in February 2024, when the Blueshirts claimed a 6-5 overtime win over the New York Islanders at MetLife Stadium.

The Chicago Blackhawks, who played the St. Louis Blues during the 2025 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, hold the all-time NHL lead with seven outdoor games.

The NHL will now hope to hold a game between two playoff competitors when the Panthers and Rangers take the ice next season.

The Rangers have struggled early in the 2024-25 campaign but are looking to bounce back behind star goaltender Igor Shesterkin and 2021 Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox alongside scorers like Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad.

The Panthers, who landed their first outdoor game after defeating Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup, are set to bring back key members of their championship team including Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov and Sergei Bobrovsky next season.

The first Winter Classic took place in 2008 between the Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. The Panthers and Rangers will be playing in the 17th edition of the event.