Fresh off a return to the Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Atlanta Gladiators now know the path that awaits them in the 2026-27 ECHL season.
The Gladiators and the ECHL unveiled the club’s 72 game schedule on Friday, giving fans their first look at a season packed with familiar rivalries, lengthy stretches on the road, and key divisional matchups that could once again shape Atlanta’s postseason hopes.
Atlanta will open the season at home on October 17 against the Norfolk Admirals at Gas South Arena, marking the start of a campaign that the organization hopes will build on last year’s playoff appearance. The opening weekend continues with a second matchup against Norfolk on October 18 before the Gladiators hit the road for their first divisional tests against the Florida Everblades and Jacksonville Icemen.
As has become customary in the South Division, familiarity will be unavoidable. Atlanta’s schedule features frequent meetings with divisional opponents, including 12 games against Jacksonville, 11 against South Carolina, 10 against Florida, nine against Savannah, nine against Greenville, and seven against Orlando.
One date that will likely stand out for returning players and fans alike is November 1, when Atlanta travels to face the South Carolina Stingrays. It will be the first meeting between the clubs since their 2026 South Division Semifinal series.
The schedule also includes opportunities to test themselves against teams outside the division. Atlanta will face opponents from the Mountain, North, and Central Divisions, including Kansas City, Toledo, Indy, Trois-Rivières, Greensboro, and Norfolk. Those matchups could provide a measuring stick as the Gladiators look to establish themselves among the ECHL’s contenders.
The season’s rhythm will be defined by several significant stretches. Atlanta’s longest road trip runs eight games from late October into mid November, a challenging early test that could reveal a great deal about the team’s resilience. The reward comes shortly afterward, when the Gladiators return home for a nine game homestand spanning November 13 through December 2, the longest homestand of the season.
November will be especially busy at Gas South Arena, with eight home games scheduled during the month. Meanwhile, December, January, and March each feature seven road contests, creating critical stretches where Atlanta will need to collect points away from home.
Two Education Day games are also on the calendar, both against South Carolina, scheduled for December 2 and March 2.
The annual Warrior/ECHL All Star Classic and Fan Fest will take place January 27 in Boise, Idaho, home of the Idaho Steelheads.
Atlanta’s regular season concludes April 11 with a road matchup against the Savannah Ghost Pirates, ending what could be another tightly contested South Division race. If last season was any indication, every divisional game and every point earned could prove critical once the playoff picture begins to take shape.
The Gladiators open the season October 17 at Gas South Arena against the Norfolk Admirals.1
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