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2025-26 Figure Skating Season Guide: Schedule, Events & How to Watch

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, January 4th 2026 at 17:33 GMT by NBC Sports

Navigating the Ice: A Guide to the 2025-26 Figure Skating Season & How to Watch It

The world of competitive figure skating is gearing up for a fresh season, and NBC Sports has laid out a comprehensive guide to the 2025-26 schedule, detailing the Grand Prix series, World Championships, and ultimately, the road to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. For fans eager to follow their favorite skaters – both established stars and rising talents – understanding this timeline is crucial. This article breaks down the key events, broadcast plans, and how you can tune in.

The Grand Prix Series: The Foundation of the Season

The International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix series serves as a vital proving ground for skaters aiming to qualify for major international competitions like the World Championships and, most importantly, earn points towards Olympic selection. This year's series will consist of six events held across various locations globally. The schedule is as follows:

• October 18-20: Finlandia Trophy (Espoo, Finland)
• October 25-27: Autumn Classic International (Montreal, Canada)
• November 1-3: U.S. International Figure Skating Classic (Salt Lake City, USA)
• November 8-10: NHK Trophy (Sapporo, Japan)
• November 15-17: Cup of China (Shenzhen, China) – Note: Location subject to change.
• November 22-24: Grand Prix de France (Grenoble, France)

Each skater is typically assigned two Grand Prix events. Their scores from these competitions contribute to their overall ranking and determine whether they advance to the prestigious Grand Prix Final. The points system used in the Grand Prix series is complex, factoring in both technical elements (jumps, spins, step sequences) and program component scores (skating skills, transitions, performance/execution, choreography, interpretation). You can find a detailed explanation of ISU scoring here: [ https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/rules/scoring-system ]

The Grand Prix Final: A Showcase of the Elite

Following the six Grand Prix events, the top six skaters in each discipline (men's singles, women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance) qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final. This event is a culmination of the series, featuring the highest-ranked athletes battling it out for the title. The 2025 Grand Prix Final will be held December 13-15 in Beijing, China. NBC Sports plans to broadcast this event live, providing viewers with an opportunity to witness top-tier figure skating action.

World Championships: A Global Stage

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships are the pinnacle of the season for many skaters, excluding Olympic year. In 2026, the championships will be held March 24-30 in Taipei City, Taiwan. This event showcases the best figure skaters from around the world and serves as a crucial indicator of form heading into the Olympics. The competition includes individual events for men, women, pairs, and ice dance, with each discipline featuring both a short program and a free skate.

The Road to Milan-Cortina 2026: Olympic Selection & Qualifying

The 2025-26 season is particularly significant as it serves as the qualifying period for the 2026 Winter Olympics. National federations, like U.S. Figure Skating (USFS) and Skate Canada, establish their own selection criteria based on Grand Prix results, World Championship performance, and other factors. These criteria are often complex and can change from year to year. For example, USFS’s selection process is detailed here: [https://www.usfigure skating.org/current-olympic-selection-criteria](https://www.usfigure skating.org/current-olympic-selection-criteria).

The Olympic qualification period officially begins with the 2025 World Championships and extends through a series of events leading up to the Games in February 2026. The number of spots available for each country at the Olympics is determined by their performance in previous World Championships, adding another layer of complexity to the selection process.

NBC Sports Broadcast Plans & How to Watch

NBC Sports holds the broadcasting rights for ISU figure skating events in the United States. They plan to provide extensive coverage throughout the 2025-26 season, including:

• Grand Prix Series: Select Grand Prix events will be broadcast live on NBC and streamed online via Peacock. The specific events chosen for television coverage will likely be announced closer to the competition dates.
• Grand Prix Final: Live television coverage is planned on NBC. Streaming options will also be available on Peacock.
• World Championships: NBC Sports will provide comprehensive coverage of the World Figure Skating Championships, including live television broadcasts and streaming on Peacock.
• Olympic Qualification Events & 2026 Winter Olympics: Extensive coverage of Olympic qualifying events and the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is expected, with details to be announced closer to the Games.

Peacock will likely become a central hub for live streaming and on-demand content related to ISU figure skating. Check NBC Sports' website ([ https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/figure-skating/ ]) regularly for updated broadcast schedules and streaming information.

Looking Ahead:

The 2025-26 figure skating season promises to be an exciting one, filled with fierce competition and the pursuit of Olympic glory. With a detailed schedule laid out by NBC Sports, fans can now plan their viewing and follow the journey of their favorite skaters as they strive for excellence on the ice. The evolving landscape of Olympic selection criteria and the increasing importance of streaming platforms like Peacock will undoubtedly shape how we experience this season's events.