The ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2026 are set to showcase some of the best athletes from Africa, Asia, North America, and Oceania as they take the ice in Beijing. This prestigious event marks the last major international figure skating competition prior to the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026.
Competing from January 22 to January 25, athletes from 17 non-European countries will vie for medals across multiple disciplines, including men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance. Top countries, such as Canada, Japan, and the U.S., are sending adjusted teams as they gear up for the Olympic showdown.
An important story to watch is Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov, world silver medallist, looking to defend his men’s singles title after his victory in Seoul last year. He will encounter fierce competition from South Korea’s Cha Junhwan, the 2025 silver medallist.
Kim Chaeyeon of South Korea emerges as a key contender in women’s singles, striving to secure the title she earned in 2025. The U.S. will be represented by Bradie Tennell and Sarah Everhardt, stepping in for the absent world champion Alysa Liu.
In pairs, the competition is highly unpredictable with last year’s champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi not participating. America’s top-ranked duo, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, will be looking for a compelling performance against strong contenders from Canada.
Regarding ice dance, the U.S. will rely on Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, as reigning champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates are absent. Hannah Lim and Ye Quan from Korea will also look to make an impact.
The full schedule includes:
**January 22:** Women’s Short Program, Ice Dance Rhythm Dance, Pairs Short Program.
**January 23:** Ice Dance Free Dance, Women’s Free Skating.
**January 24:** Men’s Short Program, Pairs Free Skating.
**January 25:** Men’s Free Skating.
Viewers can catch the live action via the ISU Skating YouTube channel and watch on various networks including SBS in Australia, CBC in Canada, CCTV in China, and NBC in the U.S.. Don’t miss out on this exciting lead-up to the Olympic Games!
