2026 World Figure Skating Championships

2026 World Figure Skating Championships
Type:ISU Championship
Date:24 – 29 March
Season:2025–26
Location:Prague, Czech Republic
Host:Czech Figure Skating Association
Venue:O2 Arena
Previous:
2025 World Championships
Next:
2027 World Championships

The 2026 World Figure Skating Championships will be held from 24 to 29 March at the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic. Medals will be awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance.

Background

The World Figure Skating Championships are considered the most prestigious event in figure skating.[1] The 2026 World Championships will be held from 24 to 29 March at the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic.[2]

Qualification

The number of entries from each nation for the 2026 World Championships is based on the results of the 2025 World Championships. Skaters from Russia and Belarus were banned from participating "until further notice" due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3]

The following nations were eligible to enter more than one skater or team in the indicated disciplines.[4]

Number of entries per discipline[4]
Spots Men Women Pairs Ice dance
3  France
 Japan
 Kazakhstan
 United States 		 Japan
 United States 		 United States  Canada
 United States
2  Georgia
 Italy
 Latvia
 South Korea 		 Belgium
 Estonia
 South Korea
 Switzerland 		 Australia
 Canada
 Georgia
 Germany
 Hungary
 Italy
 Japan
 Uzbekistan 		 Czech Republic
 Finland
 France
 Georgia
 Great Britain
 Italy
 Spain

Schedule

All times are listed in local time (UTC+01:00 through March 28 and UTC+02:00 for the exhibition gala).[2]

Schedule
Date Disc. Time Segment
Wednesday, 25 March Women 11:00 Short program
Pairs 18:15
Thursday, 26 March Men 10:45
Pairs 18:15 Free skating
Friday, 27 March Ice dance 11:00 Rhythm dance
Women 18:00 Free skating
Saturday, 28 March Men 12:30
Ice dance 18:30 Free dance
Sunday, 29 March N/a 14:30 Exhibition gala

Entries

Member nations began announcing their selections in December 2025.[5] The full list of entries was posted on February 25, 2026.[6]

Entries
Country Men[7] Women[8] Pairs[9] Ice dance[10]
 Armenia
N/a N/a
 Australia[11] N/a
 Austria N/a
 Azerbaijan N/a
  • Samantha Ritter
  • Daniel Brykalov
 Belgium N/a N/a
 Bulgaria N/a N/a
 Canada[12] Stephen Gogolev Madeline Schizas
N/a
N/a
 China
 Chinese Taipei N/a
 Cyprus N/a N/a
 Czech Republic
  • Barbora Vrankova
N/a
 Estonia
  • Nataly Langerbaur
N/a
N/a
 Finland N/a N/a
N/a
 France
N/a
N/a
 Georgia
 Germany[13] Genrikh Gartung N/a
N/a N/a
 Great Britain
N/a
 Hungary N/a
 Israel N/a
 Italy
N/a
  • Giulia Isabella Paolino
  • Andrea Tuba
 Japan[14] Yuma Kagiyama Mone Chiba
Kao Miura Ami Nakai N/a
Shun Sato Kaori Sakamoto
 Kazakhstan N/a
 Latvia N/a
 Lithuania N/a N/a
 Mexico N/a
 Moldova N/a
  • Anastasia Gracheva
N/a
 Netherlands N/a N/a
 Norway N/a N/a
 Poland N/a
 Romania N/a N/a
 Slovakia N/a
 Slovenia N/a
  • Julija Lovrenčič
N/a
 South Korea[15] Cha Young-hyun Lee Hae-in N/a
Kim Hyun-gyeom Shin Ji-a N/a
 Spain N/a
 Sweden N/a
 Switzerland[16] Lukas Britschgi Livia Kaiser
 Turkey
  • Alp Eren Özkan
N/a
 Ukraine[17] Kyrylo Marsak N/a
 United States[18] Jason Brown Sarah Everhardt
Ilia Malinin Amber Glenn
Andrew Torgashev Isabeau Levito

Changes to preliminary assignments

Date Discipline Withdrew Added Notes Ref.
26 February Women Injury [19]
27 February Pairs N/a Short turnaround time from the Olympics. [20]
Ice dance N/a
  • Giulia Isabella Paolino
  • Andrea Tuba
 The Italian Ice Sports Federation had entered only one ice dance couple despite qualifying two spots. [21]
6 March Pairs N/a The Italian Ice Sports Federation did not have any other pairs team to substitute in to fill the second spot. [22]
7 March Women Insufficient time post-Olympics to prepare. First alternate Bradie Tennell declined the invitation to compete. [23] [24]
9 March Ice dance Decided to end season with their Olympic performance [25]
10 March Men N/a [26]
13 March Women N/a Injury [27]
Ice dance N/a Kazimov had surgery [28]
16 March Pairs Injury [29]
18 March Men N/a [30]
Women N/a [31]

Required performance elements

Single skating

Women competing in single skating will first perform their short programs on Wednesday, 25 March, while men will perform theirs on Thursday, 26 March.[2] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 50 seconds[32], the short program has to include the following elements:

For men: one double or triple Axel; one triple or quadruple jump; one jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump, two triple jumps, or a quadruple jump and a double jump or triple jump; one flying spin; one camel spin or sit spin with a change of foot; one spin combination with a change of foot; and a step sequence using the full ice surface.[33]

For women: one double or triple Axel; one triple jump; one jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump, or two triple jumps; one flying spin; one layback spin, sideways leaning spin, camel spin, or sit spin without a change of foot; one spin combination with a change of foot; and one step sequence using the full ice surface.[33]

Women will perform their free skates on Friday, 27 March, while men will perform theirs on Saturday, 28 March.[2] The free skate performance for both men and women can last no more than 4 minutes,[32] and has to include the following: seven jump elements, of which one had to be an Axel-type jump; three spins, of which one had to be a spin combination, one had to be a flying spin, and one had to be a spin with only one position; a step sequence; and a choreographic sequence.[34]

Pairs

Couples competing in pair skating first perform their short programs on Wednesday, 25 March.[2] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 40 seconds,[32] the short program has to include the following elements: one pair lift, one double or triple twist lift, one double or triple throw jump, one double or triple solo jump, one solo spin combination with a change of foot, one death spiral, and a step sequence using the full ice surface.[35]

Couples will perform their free skates on Thursday, 25 March.[2] The free skate performance can last no more than 4 minutes,[32] and has to include the following: three pair lifts, of which one has to be a twist lift; two different throw jumps; one solo jump; one jump combination or sequence; one pair spin combination; one death spiral; and a choreographic sequence.[36]

Ice dance

See also: Competition elements in ice dance

Couples competing in ice dance will perform their rhythm dances on Friday, 27 March.[2] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 50 seconds,[32] the theme of the rhythm dance this season is "music, dance styles, and feeling of the 1990s".[37] Examples of applicable dance styles and music include, but are not limited to: pop, Latin, house, techno, hip-hop, and grunge. The rhythm dance has to include the following elements: one pattern dance step sequence, one choreographic rhythm sequence, one dance lift, one set of sequential twizzles, and one step sequence.[37]

Couples will then perform their free dances on Saturday, 28 March.[2] The free dance performance can last no longer than 4 minutes,[32] and has to include the following: three dance lifts, one dance spin, one set of synchronized twizzles, one step sequence in hold, one step sequence while on one skate and not touching, and three choreographic elements.[37]

Judging

See also: ISU Judging System

All of the technical elements in any figure skating performance – such as jumps and spins – are assigned a predetermined base point value and then scored by a panel of nine judges on a scale from −5 to 5 based on their quality of execution.[38] The judging panel's Grade of Execution (GOE) is determined by calculating the trimmed mean (the average after discarding the highest and lowest scores), and this GOE is added to the base value to come up with the final score for each element. The panel's scores for all elements are added together to generate a total elements score.[39] At the same time, judges evaluate each performance based on three program components – skating skills, presentation, and composition – and assign a score from 0.25 to 10 in 0.25 point increments.[40] The judging panel's final score for each program component is also determined by calculating the trimmed mean. Those scores are then multiplied by the factor shown on the following chart; the results are added together to generate a total program component score.[41]

Program component factoring[42]
Discipline Short program
or rhythm dance 		Free skate
or free dance
Men 1.67 3.33
Women 1.33 2.67
Pairs 1.33 2.67
Ice dance 1.33 2.00

Deductions are applied for certain violations like time infractions, stops and restarts, or falls.[43] The total elements score and total program component score are added together, minus any deductions, to generate a final performance score for each skater or team.[44]

Medal summary

Medalists

Medals are awarded to the skaters or teams who achieved the highest overall placements in each discipline.

Medal recipients
Discipline Gold Silver Bronze
Men
Women
Pairs
Ice dance

Small medals are awarded to the skaters or teams who achieved the highest short program or rhythm dance placements in each discipline.

Small medal recipients for highest short program or rhythm dance
Discipline Gold Silver Bronze
Men
Women
Pairs
Ice dance

Small medals are awarded to the skaters or teams who achieved the highest free skate or free dance placements in each discipline.

Small medal recipients for highest free skate or free dance
Discipline Gold Silver Bronze
Men
Women
Pairs
Ice dance

Broadcasting

In the United States, the event will be aired on USA Network and NBC Sports.[45]

References

  1. ^ Murphy, Margot (31 March 2025). "Victors made in the City of Champions: ISU World Figure Skating Championship returns to Boston". The Huntington News. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "ISU Figure Skating World Championships – 2026 Prague – Announcement" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  3. ^ Burke, Patrick (7 June 2022). "ISU extends ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, but motion on changing suspension rules fails". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Communication No. 2732" (PDF). International Skating Union. 18 July 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  5. ^ "2026 Olympics and ISU Championships figure skating assignments". Rocker Skating. 21 December 2025. Archived from the original on 14 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  6. ^ "ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2026". International Skating Union. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  7. ^ "ISU World Championships 2026: Men". International Skating Union. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  8. ^ "ISU World Championships 2026: Women". International Skating Union. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  9. ^ "ISU World Championships 2026: Pairs". International Skating Union. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  10. ^ "ISU World Championships 2026: Ice Dance". International Skating Union. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  11. ^ "2025-2026 International Assignments". Ice Skating Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Canadian Figure Skating Team Announced for 2026 ISU Figure Skating World Championships". Skate Canada. 23 February 2026.
  13. ^ "DEU-Team für Eiskunstlauf-WM 2026 in Prag nominiert" [German team nominated for the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague] (Press release) (in German). German Ice Skating Union. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  14. ^ "ISU 世界フィギュアスケート選⼿権⼤会 2026" [ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2026] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan Skating Federation. 21 December 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  15. ^ Jackie Wong [@rockerskating] (4 January 2026). "Team KOR for #WorldFigure 2026" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  16. ^ "In accordance with the current selection concept" (PDF). Swiss Ice Skating. 26 January 2026.
  17. ^ "На ЧС-2026 виступлять п'ятеро українських фігуристів" [Five Ukrainian skaters will perform at the 2026 World Championships]. Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation (in Ukrainian). 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "U.S. Figure Skating Announces World Championships, World Junior Championships and Four Continents Teams". U.S. Figure Skating. 11 January 2026.
  19. ^ Anything GOEs [@AnythingGOE] (26 February 2026). "🇧🇪 Loena Hendrickx is withdrawing from #WorldFigure" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  20. ^ Smirnova, Lena (27 February 2026). "Olympic champions Miura Riku/Kihara Ryuichi withdraw from 2026 World Figure Skating Championships". International Olympic Committee.
  21. ^ Anything GOEs [@AnythingGOE] (27 February 2026). "🇮🇹 Giulia Isabella Paolino / Andrea Tuba have now been added to the #WorldFigure entries" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  22. ^ Anything GOEs [@AnythingGOE] (6 March 2026). "🇮🇹 Sara Conti/Niccolò Macii have withdrawn from #WorldFigure" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 March 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  23. ^ Skretta, Dave (7 March 2026). "Olympic champion Alysa Liu withdraws from world figure skating championships". Associated Press.
  24. ^ Erzberger, Tyler (12 March 2026). "Alysa Liu Opens Up About Why She Really Dropped From World Championships". Newsweek.
  25. ^ Zaccardi, Nick (9 March 2026). "Madison Chock, Evan Bates withdraw from figure skating worlds: 'We left it all on the ice in Milan'". NBC Sports.
  26. ^ "🇮🇹 Matteo Rizzo has withdrawn from #WorldFigure, he is replaced by Gabriele Frangipani". X. Anything GOEs. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  27. ^ "Kimmy Repond has withdrawn from #WorldFigure to continue her recovery from her foot injury". X. Anything GOEs. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  28. ^ Real Federación Española de Deportes de Hielo (13 March 2026). "COMUNICADO MÉDICO – Asaf Kazimov". Instagram (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  29. ^ Daniel O'Shea, Ellie Kam (16 March 2026). "We've made a tough decision to withdraw from World Championships next week". Instagram. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  30. ^ "#JunHwanCha (KOR) has withdrawn from #WorldFigure. #YounghyunCha will be sent in his stead". X. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  31. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  32. ^ a b c d e f S&P/ID 2024, p. 82.
  33. ^ a b S&P/ID 2024, p. 106.
  34. ^ S&P/ID 2024, pp. 110–111.
  35. ^ S&P/ID 2024, p. 119.
  36. ^ S&P/ID 2024, p. 122.
  37. ^ a b c "Communication No. 2704: Ice Dance Requirements for Technical Rules, Season 2025/26" (PDF). International Skating Union. 8 August 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  38. ^ S&P/ID 2024, pp. 83–84.
  39. ^ S&P/ID 2024, pp. 15–16.
  40. ^ S&P/ID 2024, pp. 84–85.
  41. ^ S&P/ID 2024, pp. 16–17.
  42. ^ S&P/ID 2024, p. 17.
  43. ^ S&P/ID 2024, pp. 18–19.
  44. ^ S&P/ID 2024, p. 20.
  45. ^ "2025-26 Figure Skating Television Schedule". US Figure Skating. Retrieved 17 March 2026.

Works cited

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