Glenn Howard and the Ferbey Four Headline 2026 World Curling Hall of Fame Inductees

To enter the World Curling Hall of Fame, an athlete's impact must fundamentally alter the sport's record books or its tactical blueprint—a condition definitively met by the 2026 induction class. World Curling announced on Thursday that Canadian legends Glenn Howard and the Ferbey Four, alongside Hungarian pioneer György Nagy, will receive the organization's highest non-playing honor.[1][2]

The 2026 class highlights two distinct eras of Canadian dominance on the ice and one crucial chapter of European expansion behind the scenes. Howard and the Ferbey Four enter in the "Curler" category, reserved for athletes demonstrating extraordinary competitive distinction, while Nagy enters as a "Builder" for his structural contributions to the international game.[1][3]

Howard's induction cements a legacy defined by unprecedented longevity at the sport's absolute pinnacle. The 64-year-old Ontario native competed in four World Men's Curling Championships during his career and walked away with gold in all four appearances.[2][3]

His first world title came in 1987 while playing third for his older brother, Russ Howard, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015. Glenn Howard then skipped his own team to a long-awaited third world championship in 2007, before capturing a final world crown in 2012.[1][2]

That 25-year span between his first and final world titles remains the longest gap between victories in the history of the event. It stands as a testament to his ability to adapt his release and strategy to the sport's evolving physical demands over three decades.[1][3]

Joining Howard are the remaining members of the Edmonton-based Ferbey Four. Skip Randy Ferbey was inducted individually in 2014, and the 2026 class officially adds vice-skip David Nedohin, second Scott Pfeifer, and lead Marcel Rocque to the Hall, making them only the sixth complete team to be inducted.[1][3]

Formed in 1999, the foursome became a relentless force in the early 2000s, capturing four Canadian Brier championships in five years and securing three world titles during a dominant six-year run.[1][2]

Beyond their heavy medal count, the Ferbey Four are credited with dismantling the traditional, rigid hierarchy of a curling team. Prior to their run, teams were heavily defined and directed by their skips, with front-end players acting primarily as a silent supporting cast.[1]

The Ferbey Four operated with a collaborative decision-making process where all four players had a vocal role in reading the ice and calling shots. According to World Curling, this tactical shift "sent a power message to the curling world that all four players on the ice are crucial to the success of a curling team."[1]

On the development side, György Nagy's induction recognizes his foundational role in establishing a competitive curling footprint in Hungary. Nagy skipped the first Hungarian National Men's Champions and represented his country in nearly 200 international matches across 24 different World Curling events.[1][4]

His off-ice contributions proved even more vital for the sport's European growth. In 2005, Nagy established Budapest's first and only dedicated curling facility, personally supporting its operation to ensure the sport had a permanent physical foothold in the region.[1][4]

Nagy also served as a key figure in the global rise of Mixed Doubles curling, organizing the first international Mixed Doubles Cup in Budapest and serving on the committee that successfully lobbied for the discipline's inclusion in the Winter Olympics. The Hungarian Curling Federation celebrated his induction, stating he "has done a lot for the development of Hungarian and international curling as an organizer, track founder and sports diplomat."[1][4][5]