Your Guide to Figure Skating at the Olympics

Written By: Brennen | January 25, 2026

The 2026 Winter Olympics are here. Along with it comes a new wave of anticipation, storylines, and unforgettable performances. Every four years, the world comes together to watch athletes push the boundaries of athleticism and artistry. Milano Cortina 2026 promises to be one of the most exciting seasons yet.

Figure Skating Competitions Held at the Olympics

With every Olympics, rising stars and returning medalists continue to shape defining moments for the sport. This guide will help the casual spectator get to know each figure skating event, and the details make them magical.

Olympics Figure Skating Events at a Glance

Below is a quick look at the events you’ll see in the 2026 figure skating Olympics. Each discipline has its own required elements, scoring focus, and style. And they all contribute to the excitement of the Winter Games.

*Event*	*Who Competes*	*What You’ll See*	*Why It Matters*
*Ladies’ Singles*	Women skating individually	Jumps, spins, step sequences	Displays technical difficulty and artistic performance
*Men’s Singles*	Men skating individually	High-powered jumps, fast spins	Often, the greatest technical difficulty of all events
*Pairs*	One woman and one man	Lifts, throw jumps, synchronized elements	Exhibits precision, power, and teamwork
*Ice Dance*	One woman and one man	Rhythm, musical interpretation, intricate footwork	Less about jumps, more about timing, creativity, and quality
*Team Event*	A mix of skaters from one country	All four disciplines combined	Highlights national depth across skating categories

Ladies’ and Men’s Singles

Single skating is a discipline of figure skating in which men and women perform individually in separate disciplines. Each competition consists of two parts: the short program and the free skate, skated in that order.

Singles Scoring

In singles, a skater’s form, technique, and style become critical to achieving the highest score possible in competition. This is especially the case at the Olympics. Single skating programs consist of several jumps, spins, and choreographed sequences.

ISU Requirements for Singles

During their performance, a skater in these programs must execute the required elements set by the International Skating Union (ISU). They also have a required time frame they must adhere to.

Skaters may choose their own music and program themes. They also create choreography highlighting their skill level and artistic ability. Points are given to skaters for technical elements and program components, which together create the total judges’ score.

Pair Skating

The second event most people imagine in figure skating is the pairs event. Pairs skating is very similar to singles.

However, skaters must skate in unison with a partner while performing specific pair skating elements such as lifts and throw jumps. Pairs skating requires you to be in perfect sync with your partner and to communicate effectively throughout the routine.

Just like singles, competitions require certain elements to be included in the program, as well as a certain time limit. Additionally, elements like mirroring and shadowing are often included, displaying skaters’ strength, skill level, and teamwork.

Ice Dance

Ice dancing is done with a partner, much like pairs. In competition, ice dancers are required to emphasize rhythm, musical interpretation, and precise steps. Contrary to pair skating, there is more focus on intricate footwork in close dance holds and keeping in time with the music.

Additionally, ice dance lifts are not allowed to go above the shoulder and may not include throws or jumps. Because of these rules, this form of skating requires more creativity and innovation on the ice. Ice dancing consists of a short dance and a free dance, each with its own elements.

Team Event

The figure skating team event was introduced at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. This is a competition in which ten qualified countries may compete as teams, each consisting of skaters from each discipline. That includes ladies’ singles, men’s singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The team event is usually held prior to the individual events.

First, all skaters compete in their short programs in all four disciplines. After the short programs have been completed and scored, the five top countries will proceed to the free skate events.

Skaters earn points according to their placements in their discipline event. Those points from short programs and free skates will be counted in each country’s total score.

How Scoring Works in the Olympics Figure Skating Events

Every performance is scored using the ISU Judging System. The ISU combines two major components: the Technical Elements Score (TES) and the Program Component Score (PCS).

TES: reflects how difficult and well-executed the moves are. This includes jumps, spins, lifts, and steps.
PCS: evaluates overall performance quality, which includes artistry, skills, transitions, and music interpretation.

Judges will also apply what’s called Grades of Execution (GOE) to each element. That will determine the final placement score.

FAQs

How do figure skaters qualify for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games?

Countries earn quota spots through results at the World Championships and other ISU events. Federations select skaters to fill those spots.

Why do some skaters win even if they fall?
A fall reduces the score. However, a skater with higher base difficulty or stronger overall components can still finish ahead.

What’s the difference between pairs and ice dance?
Pairs perform big lifts, throws, and side-by-side jumps. Ice dance, on the other hand, focuses on rhythm, timing, musical interpretation, and holds.

Do skaters have to perform the same program at every event?
Yes. During the Olympic season, skaters use one short program and one free skate.

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