The 2025/2026 season draws to a close this week as the World Figure Skating Championships return to Prague, Czech Republic for the first time in 33 years.

When is it on?

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships begin Wednesday, 25 March with the women’s short programme and conclude Saturday, 29 March with the exhibition of champions.

Who is skating?

After disaster last month at the Olympics, Ilia Malinin (USA) will be seeking redemption in Prague and a third consecutive World title. Unlike the American, Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) did come away from Italy with an Olympic medal, but he will also be looking to put down a better performance than the one which brought him to the podium in Milan. Shun Sato (JPN) was third at both the Grand Prix Final and the Olympics and could very well repeat those results if he skates again like he has all season. Other contenders include Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA), Nika Egadze (GEO) and Stephen Gogolev (CAN).

Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) barely missed out on Olympic gold and this Worlds will be her final competition with a chance to bag a fourth title. As Ami Nakai (JPN) and Mone Chiba (JPN) finished right behind Sakamoto in Milan, there is the possibility of a Japanese podium sweep. The person most likely to spoil the party will be Amber Glenn (USA). If the American can hit her technical content, there is every chance that she could be rewarded with a first World medal.

The absence of Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) means that a first time pairs champion will be crowned. The battle for gold looks set to be between Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (GER) and Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO). The Georgians finished ahead of the Germans at both the Olympics and January’s European Championships. Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN) placed fourth at the Olympics and if they skate like they did in Milan the Hungarians could be rewarded with the first World pairs medal for their country in 71 years.

Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) will be the sole Olympic champions from Milan competing in Prague. If the French win, it would be the first time since 1959 that a previous World champion took a World title with a different partner. Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (CAN) had the skate of their lives at the Olympics and if they can replicate their performances should be back on the rostrum after missing out last year. Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR) had a disappointing Olympics and will be aiming to end their season on a high with a second consecutive World medal. Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik (USA) take on the mantle of American number ones in the absence of three-time World champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA).

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, lunchtime till evenings in Europe and late night till early 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 Prague then this link is your friend.

Where can I watch the pretty skaters?

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

What are the hashtags?

#WorldFigure #FigureSkating