The World Championships are back in Boston nine years after they were hosted in the same venue, but this time quota places for next year’s Winter Olympics are on the line.

When is it on?

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships begin Wednesday, 26 March with the women’s short programme and conclude Sunday, 30 March with the gala exhibition.

Who is skating?

The men’s event looks set to be dominated by reigning champion Ilia Malinin (USA) who comes into Worlds undefeated this season. His main challenger is likely to be Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) who is the only other skater this season besides the American to break the 300 point barrier. Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) was not at his best when he came third at January’s Europeans and will be aiming for a World podium place again this year. Rising star Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) won last month’s Four Continents and could contend for a medal in Boston.

Three-time defending women’s champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) has had a rocky season and won only two of the five internationals where she has competed. Amber Glenn (USA) finished ahead of Sakamoto at both Lombardia Trophy and the Grand Prix Final. At the latter she became the first American to win that title since 2010. Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) has had a strong start to 2025 winning both the Asian Winter Games and Four Continents. 2024 Four Continents champion Mone Chiba (JPN) and 2025 European champion Niina Petrokina will also be in the hunt for medals.

Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (GER) look to have the edge in the pairs event after winning the Grand Prix Final and Europeans. Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) will be hot on the German pair’s heels and captured their second Four Continents title last month. Current world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps (CAN) have been dealing with injury woes this season, but will undoubtedly put up a fight to maintain their position. 2025 European silver and bronze medallists respectively Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (ITA) and Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO) will also have something to say about who gets on the podium.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) already have two world titles under their belts and should enjoy home advantage in Boston. However, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (USA) upset the Americans at Four Continents so it should be a fascinating duel in the ice dance event between the two North Americans teams. European champions Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA) cannot be written off either and Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR) will be ready to step up if any of the frontrunners falter.

Everything you need to know (and some things you did not) about the skaters, the competition schedule and results can be viewed here.

When is the skating on?

Lunchtime till evening in North America, morning till afternoon in Europe and late night till morning in Asia. The times listed for the World Championships are local and if you want to know what the time difference is between where you are and Boston then this link is your friend.

Where can I watch the pretty skaters?

This season’s ISU World Figure Skating Championships can be viewed on the Skating ISU YouTube channel. Geographic restrictions may apply.

What are the hashtags?

#WorldFigure #FigureSkating