World’s best curlers set to sweep into London for historic Grand Slam debut

First Gram Slam of Curling 2025 will be held in London next month. CTV’s Reta Ismail has the story.

Some of the world’s top curling teams are getting ready to sweep into London, quite literally.

The Grand Slam of Curling is making its debut in the Forest City this fall, bringing with it Olympic hopefuls, international talent, and a special hometown connection.

From Sept. 23 – 28, the 2025 WFG Masters will take over the Western Fair Sports Centre, launching the 25th season of the Grand Slam series and welcoming 64 of the world’s best curling teams.

Representing 13 countries, the Masters is the season’s first major showdown on the road to the 2026 Winter Olympics.

And for Ontario’s own Team Homan, there’s no better place to kick things off than London.

“I’m just so excited to have it here and to have that kind of sense of home and have family here and be able to share, like where I live with everyone,” said Sarah Wilkes, Team Homan lead and proud Londoner.

Team Homan enters the competition as the top-ranked women’s team, already boasting a record 17 Grand Slam titles, including four previous wins at the Masters.

This year’s event also introduces a Tier 2 division, giving emerging teams the opportunity to earn points and compete alongside the world’s best.

And for the first time ever, the Grand Slam of Curling will host a Wheelchair Curling Invitational, showcasing four elite teams and aiming to grow participation in the sport.

“Our national program calls London home, we were really, really excited to help with the prospects of integrating a wheelchair component into the event,” said Mick Lizmore, head coach of Canada’s national wheelchair curling program.

“If our participation in the Slam can get, you know, one or two new wheelchair users up and playing the sport, then you know that that’s great for everyone involved,” added Paralympic gold medalist Mark Ideson.

Though London has a long curling tradition, this marks the first time the Grand Slam series has come to the city.

“We can normally not get world-class curlers because the World Championships happen when the London Knights are in the playoffs,” said Peter Inch, a long-time curling organizer and the Grand Slam host committee chair. “So this is the only time we can bring those athletes to London and show them what a great job we can do.”

City officials are also celebrating the opportunity to host the Grand Slam and expect a major financial boost from the event.

“It’s a huge benefit for tourism, our city ... and it’s a huge chance to just show people what London’s all about,” said Mayor Josh Morgan.

Tickets are on sale now, with early-bird pricing available online until Monday.

Whether you’re a lifelong curling fan or new to the sport, organizers say the 2025 Masters is shaping up to be a must-see event and a proud moment for the city of London.