The Grey Cup game is the one day each year when all nine Canadian Football League (CFL) fan bases watch together. That includes fans whose teams are still chasing the title, fans whose seasons ended weeks ago, and people who only watch one football game a year. Grey Cup 2026 kicks off on Sunday, November 15, when the 113th Grey Cup is played at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta.
3DownNation, Harvard Media's national CFL news site, has been covering the road to Calgary since the start of the year. Here's how that coverage has built up, and how to follow it through kickoff, whichever team you cheer for.
How 3DownNation Builds the Road to the 113th Grey Cup
3DownNation treats the Grey Cup as a story that runs all season. Coverage grows in stages, from predictions at the start of the season to the CFL playoffs in the fall and the final whistle in November.
Months Out: Early Coverage and Predictions
3DownNation's coverage of the road to Grey Cup 2026 started long before the 2026 CFL season kicked off in June. Its first power rankings of the year, published in January, had the defending champion Riders in the top spot. Then, as the season opened in early June, its contributors made their Grey Cup winner and loser predictions, giving fans an early read on which teams had a real shot at Calgary.
Those early calls set up the storylines fans follow all season. By October, readers can look back and see which contenders held up and which teams surprised everyone.
Honouring Grey Cup History
The Grey Cup has more than a century of history, and 3DownNation keeps it in view. In September 2026, it paid tribute to Hall of Fame executive Norm Kimball, who built Edmonton’s CFL team, now known as the Edmonton Elks, that won five straight Grey Cups from 1978 to 1982.
That history shapes this season too. When Montreal hosted Saskatchewan on Thanksgiving, in a rematch of last year’s championship game, 3DownNation covered the Alouettes’ win as Grey Cup revenge on the Riders.
Stories like this give newer fans context for what’s at stake in the Grey Cup each year. They also give longtime fans a reason to remember the teams they grew up watching.
Building Momentum Toward the 2026 Grey Cup
About two months out, their coverage picks up. In early September, 3DownNation covered the Canadian Forces Snowbirds' final flight, scheduled for this year's game. Later that month, it reported that country singer Riley Green will perform the 113th Grey Cup halftime show.
The host city gets its own coverage too. In early October, Stampeders president Jay McNeil told 3DownNation he's determined to sell out the Grey Cup in Calgary.
Following the Playoff Race to Calgary
The regular season ends October 24. Six teams make the playoffs: the top three in each division. The first-place team in each division gets a bye straight to its division final. Here are the key dates in the CFL playoff schedule for 2026:
- Western and Eastern semifinals: Saturday, October 31
- CFL Western Final and CFL Eastern Final: Saturday, November 7
- 113th Grey Cup: Sunday, November 15, at McMahon Stadium in Calgary
The CFL playoff format has one twist casual fans often miss: the CFL crossover. If the fourth-place team in one division finishes with more points than the third-place team in the other, it takes that playoff spot. That means a West team can end up playing for the Eastern title, or the other way around.
3DownNation tracks every step on its CFL schedule and standings pages, along with weekly stories on the playoff picture.
Countdown to the 2026 Grey Cup Kickoff
Between now and kickoff, fans can expect playoff previews and predictions for every round leading up to the 2026 Grey Cup. As the game gets closer, the coverage shifts to Calgary, where the Grey Cup Festival fills the city in the days leading up to kickoff.
The day before kickoff, Justin Dunk, JC Abbott and John Hodge host 3Down Throwdown, a live podcast with Grey Cup picks, on Saturday, November 14, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Greta Calgary.
After the final whistle, expect a full recap, including the Grey Cup MVP. Last year, the 3DownNation Podcast broke down Saskatchewan's win over Montreal in the 112th Grey Cup right after the game.
Always-On Coverage for Every Canadian Football League Team
The Grey Cup build-up works because 3DownNation covers every team all season long. Each of the nine CFL teams has its own section on the site:
- West Division: B.C. Lions, Edmonton Elks, Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- East Division: Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Redblacks, Montreal Alouettes
That depth matters most when the playoff race tightens. In mid-October, 3DownNation covered the Edmonton Elks clinching first place in the West, which earned them a bye and the right to host the Western Final on November 7. A few days earlier, its power rankings had the Winnipeg Blue Bombers rising after a clutch win.
A few weekly formats keep fans coming back:
- Game recaps with "& other thoughts" that go past the final score
- CFL power rankings covering all nine teams
- The 3DownNation CFL awards, which pick the best and worst of each week
If your team's season is over, the team pages are also an easy way to size up the teams still playing.
How to Follow Grey Cup 2026 Coverage
The easiest way to keep up is 3DownNation Daily, a newsletter with the day’s CFL news every weekday afternoon. It lands in your inbox, so you won’t miss a playoff result or a Grey Cup week update.
You can also bookmark your team’s page and follow 3DownNation on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. From the semifinals to the final whistle in Calgary, that’s where the road to the 113th Grey Cup gets covered.
3Down Throwdown: 3DownNation’s Pre-Grey Cup Party in Calgary
The day before the 2026 Grey Cup, 3DownNation is taking over Greta Calgary for 3Down Throwdown, presented by SW Roofing. It runs Saturday, November 14, from 1 to 6 p.m. Mountain Time at 213 10 Ave SW.
The afternoon brings football fans from across the country into one room ahead of Sunday’s game. The U Sports conference championship games will be shown live. Justin Dunk, JC Abbott and John Hodge will also record a live podcast on site, sharing their insights and Grey Cup predictions.
Greta is an arcade bar with games, street food and drinks. The event is 18 and over, and photo ID is required. For the full run of show and venue details, visit the 3Down Throwdown event page.
Win a VIP Table at 3Down Throwdown
3DownNation is giving away five reserved tables for four, each with a $100 tab. To enter, fill out the entry form on the 3Down Throwdown event page before entries close on November 6. The contest is open to Canadian residents 18 and older, with one entry per person.
Harvard Media’s X92.9 in Calgary is also giving away five more tables through a separate contest on the X92.9 website.
Grey Cup Talk on the 3DownNation Podcast and Picks
The 3DownNation Podcast is hosted by Justin Dunk, John Hodge and JC Abbott. The three cover news and analysis from across Canadian football. A recent episode covered the Elks clinching first place and the Riders punching their playoff ticket, along with the latest on the playoff race. Fans in Calgary for Grey Cup week can also catch the hosts live at 3Down Throwdown the day before the game.
3DownNation also produces three more CFL podcasts: Green Cast for Saskatchewan Roughriders fans, Turf District for Edmonton Elks fans, and Xs and Argos for Toronto Argonauts fans.
For fans who like to make their own calls, Adam Chernoff publishes weekly CFL Picks and Betting Predictions. 3DownNation's sports betting hub covers Grey Cup futures and game odds for adults in provinces where betting is legal. Please bet responsibly.
Grey Cup 2026 FAQ
When is the 2026 Grey Cup, and where can I watch it?
The 113th Grey Cup is on Sunday, November 15, 2026, with kickoff at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta.
As for where to watch the Grey Cup, it will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada, and streamed on CFL+ around the world. It's the sixth time Calgary has hosted the game, and the first since 2019.
Who is performing at the Grey Cup 2026 halftime show?
Country singer Riley Green is headlining the halftime show. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will also make their final flight at the game.
How do the CFL playoffs work?
Six teams make the playoffs, three from each division. The division winners get a bye, while the second- and third-place teams meet in the semifinals. The winners play in the CFL Western Final and CFL Eastern Final, and those champions meet in the CFL Grey Cup. Under the crossover rule, a fourth-place team can take the other division's third spot if it has more points.
Which team has the most Grey Cup wins?
The Toronto Argonauts have the most Grey Cup wins, with 19. Their most recent came in 2024. The Edmonton Elks have the most wins since the CFL formed in 1958, with 11. The Saskatchewan Roughriders (the Riders) won the 112th Grey Cup in 2025, their fifth title.
.webp)
