As the excitement towards next month’s Milano Cortina Olympics builds, the best skaters in Europe gather this week in Sheffield for the European Figure Skating Championships.

When is it on?

The ISU European Figure Skating Championships begin Wednesday, 14 January with the pairs short programme and conclude Sunday, 18 January with the exhibition gala.

Who is skating?

The withdrawal of the dominant European male skater of this Olympic cycle two-time European champion Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) paves the way for a number of men to take the title. Daniel Grassl is the highest scoring European this season and just missed out on the podium at last month’s Grand Prix Final. The Italian has a silver medal from the last pre-Olympic Europeans in 2022. Defending champion Lukas Britschgi (SUI) has more often than not shown up to championships and delivered and will not give up his title without a fight. In the absence of Siao Him Fa, hopes of a French medal will rest on the shoulders of Kevin Aymoz (FRA) although Europeans has never been the happiest of hunting grounds for him. Several former European medallists are seeking to reach the podium again this year. Sheffield will be the site of a showdown for the second Italian Olympic spot with three-time European medallist Matteo Rizzo (ITA) and current European silver medallist Nikolaj Memola (ITA) in contention. 2024 European silver medallist Aleksandr Selevko (EST) should also be in the shakeup for the medals.

After sitting out most of last season, Loena Hendrickx (BEL) returns to see if she has can pick up a second European crown. The Belgian picked up a bronze medal at NHK Trophy, but had to withdraw midway through Finlandia Trophy. Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO) finished just ahead of Hendrickx at the final Olympic qualifier in Beijing and will also seek to add a second European title to her collection. Reigning European champion Niina Petrokina (EST) withdrew from both of her Grand Prix assignments this season and does not look to be the same skater she was just 12 months ago. Lara Naki Gutmann (ITA) has the third highest total season best of all the European women in Sheffield.

Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (GER) are the favourites in the pairs event this year due to their victory at last year’s championships and the absence of Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (ITA). If the Germans falter, Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO) have the potential to sneak in and upgrade the silver medal that they won last year in Tallinn. Following their qualification for last month’s Grand Prix Final, Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN) are certainly in the running for a first European medal.

The new team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) have created quite a splash this season with victories in both their Grand Prix events and a silver medal at the Grand Prix Final. If they were to win in Sheffield, it would mark the first time an ice dance team in their European Championship debut won since Doreen Denny and Courtney Jones (GBR) in 1959. The biggest cheers for any competitors at this year’s Europeans will no doubt be reserved for Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR) who have three consecutive podium finishes under the belts at the event and have been in great form this season having taken a bronze medal at the Grand Prix Final. Things have not gone according to plan for three-time European champions Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA) this season with the Italians missing out on advancing to the Grand Prix Final at all. It appears the Italian will face a tall task to overcome both the French and the British for a fourth European title. 2025 European silver medallists Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA) could sneak onto the podium if any of the leading three teams are below par.

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?

Early morning till after in North America, lunchtime till evening in Europe and evening and through the night in Asia. The times listed for the European Championships are local and if you want to know what the time difference is between where you are and Sheffield then this link is your friend.

Where can I watch the pretty skaters?

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

What are the hashtags?

#EuroFigure #FigureSkating