With less than a month to go until the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, Europe’s elite figure skaters are set to compete for continental supremacy at the ISU Figure Skating European Championships 2026. Taking place this week in Sheffield, England, the event promises thrilling performances and fierce competition.
The championships kick off on Wednesday, January 14, and extend over four action-packed days at the Utilita Arena Sheffield. A total of 163 athletes from 35 nations will showcase their skills across men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance, seeking to secure a coveted medal and boost their momentum heading into the Olympic Games.
Lukas Britschgi, representing Switzerland, aims to defend his title after making history by becoming the first Swiss man to clinch gold since 1947. However, he will be challenged by French skater Adam Siao Him Fa, the reigning European champion and world No. 3.
In the women’s singles, Estonian star Niina Petrõkina will seek to replicate her home-ice victory while contending with Georgian skater Anastasiia Gubanova, the 2023 world champion. Additional competitors like Belgian Nina Pinzarrone and Loena Hendrickx are expected to add depth to this high-stakes event.
The competition heats up in pairs with the German duo Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin looking to defend their European title in the absence of Italian silver medalists Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii. They’ll also face talent from the rising Georgian stars Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava.
Meanwhile, in ice dance, the legendary team of Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri are eyeing their fourth straight title. The competition is fierce with the likes of Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud hoping to upset their stranglehold.
For fans wanting to catch the action, the championships will be streamed live on the Skating ISU YouTube channel, with additional broadcasts available to various regions, including coverage on BBC in the UK and Peacock in the U.S.
This week’s event will undoubtedly provide a glimpse into the performances we can expect at the upcoming Olympic Games, as the top skaters in Europe vie for glory on the ice.
