With just eight months remaining until the highly anticipated Olympic Winter Games, the competitive landscape for the world’s elite figure skaters is beginning to take shape. The International Skating Union (ISU) has announced the preliminary assignments for the 2025–26 Grand Prix of Figure Skating series on June 6. This season’s lineup features 12 men, 12 women, 8 pairs, and 10 ice dance teams across six exhilarating events.
As the Olympic spotlight intensifies, each athlete or team is eligible to participate in a maximum of two events, excluding the Grand Prix Final. Men’s world champion Ilia Malinin is set to grace the ice at the season-opening Grand Prix of France from October 17-19, followed by the Skate Canada International from October 31 to November 2.
On the women’s front, title defender Alysa Liu, along with ice dance champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates, will make their mark at the Cup of China on October 24-26 and Skate America from November 14-16. Japan’s pair champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi are also looking to shine as they head into the NHK Trophy from November 7-9 in Japan.
The reigning Olympic pair champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, returning after a three-season hiatus, aim to defend their title at the Cup of China and the NHK Trophy.
Amidst thrilling returns, siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani, bronze medalists from PyeongChang 2018, will make their anticipated comeback competing at the NHK Trophy and Finlandia Trophy from November 21-23. Emerging ice dance duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron will debut at the Grand Prix of France and head to the Finlandia Trophy, ready to make a significant impact.
After the Finlandia Trophy, the top contenders in each event will qualify for the renowned Grand Prix Final, set for December 5-8 in Nagoya, Japan. Following rigorous national championships and Olympic team selections in December and January, the push toward Milano Cortina 2026 intensifies.
The 2025–26 ISU Grand Prix season stands to be a pivotal moment in figure skating history, laying the groundwork for unforgettable performances heading into the Olympic spotlight. Remain tuned as the excitement unfolds!
