Italy plays host to the Winter Olympic Games for the first time in 20 years as the best figure skaters in the world strive for glory in Milan.

When is it on?

The figure skating events at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games begin Friday, 6 February with the team event rhythm dance and conclude Thursday, 19 February with the women’s free skating.

Who is skating?

It is hard to see past Ilia Malinin (USA) for gold in the men’s competition as he is so far ahead of the rest of the field technically. However, this will be his first Olympic experience and sometimes the pressure can get to even the hottest of favourites. Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) looks destined to add yet another silver medal to his previous two from the last Olympics and three from Worlds. The bronze medal appears to be up for grabs with Shun Sato (JPN) appearing to be the frontrunner based on his bronze medal at the Grand Prix Final in December. 2025 World silver medallist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) does not seem to be in the same form he was last season when he finished runner-up to Malinin in Boston. Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) has had injury woes which forced him to sit out last month’s European Championships. Daniel Grassl (ITA) could possibly sneak in for a medal if he finds inspiration from the home support.

The women’s event is shaping up to being a battle between Japan and the United States of America. Three-time World champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) has been the dominant female skater since she took Olympic bronze back in 2022. Last year she was usurped by the returning Alysa Liu (USA) who triumphed at home. In their only head-to-head this season the American emerged on top at the Grand Prix Final with Sakamoto down in third. Ami Nakai (JPN) sensationally won her Grand Prix debut in France and her season best is just a smidgeon shy of Sakamoto’s top score in 2025/2026. 2025 World silver medallist Mone Chiba (JPN) was the only woman to achieve two Grand Prix victories this season, but then slumped to fifth at the Grand Prix Final and was only the third best Japanese woman at last month’s Four Continents. Amber Glenn (USA) has the potential to be in the mix for medals with her triple Axel and Niina Petrokina (EST) will be the strongest European challenger in Milan.

The race for medals in the pairs category might be the most unpredictable of all the disciplines. Two-time World champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) are perhaps frontrunners following their win at the Grand Prix Final and holding the highest season best out of all the contenders. At the end of last season Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (GER) were in prime position to give the Japanese a run for the title. However, the Germans could only place third at the Grand Prix Final and second at last month’s European Championships. Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO) triumphed in Sheffield and are certainly a threat for a medal. Injury forced Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (ITA) to miss Europeans, but they have otherwise had a good season so far and should benefit from the home support. Defending Olympic champions Wenjing Sui and Cong Han (CHN) won neither of their Grand Prix assignments nor last month’s Four Continents and it looks like it would take an extraordinary set of circumstances for them to claim a consecutive title.

Ice dance will be the first individual event decided and the battle for gold is shaping up to be between three-time World champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) and the new team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron (FRA). The Americans emerged on top at the Grand Prix Final courtesy of an untimely fall for the French in the free dance. The French do have the superior season best from their recent win at the European Championships. The bronze medal appears to be a three-way race with Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR), Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (CAN) and Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri set to tussle it out for that third place.

The first medals awarded will be in the Team Event with 2022 gold medallists the United States of America and 2022 silver medallists Japan once more going head-to-head. Georgia and Italy are both in with a good shot of one of them being on the podium for the first time in the event.

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?

Morning till afternoon in North America, evenings in Europe and late night till early morning in Asia. The times listed for the Olympics are local and if you want to know what the time difference is between where you are and Milan then this link is your friend.

Where can I watch the pretty skaters?

Check out which broadcaster is showing the Winter Olympics in your country here.

What are the hashtags?

#MilanoCortina2026 #FigureSkating