Prague to Host 2026 World Figure Skating Championships
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2026 will be held in Prague's O2 Arena from March 24th to 29th. Two hundred athletes from 50 countries will compete for titles in four disciplines, with the Czech Republic represented in all categories.
Prague Becomes Center of World Figure Skating for the Third Time
Prague's O2 Arena today becomes the venue for the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2026. The six-day championship, which runs from March 24th to 29th, will welcome two hundred of the best figure skaters from fifty countries. Prague is hosting the world championship for the third time — after 1962 and 1993, more than three decades have passed since the last Czech hosting.
Competition takes place in four disciplines: men's and women's singles, pairs skating, and ice dancing. Russian and Belarusian athletes remain excluded due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Stars and Favorites
The main focus is on American Ilia Malinin, who is aiming for his third consecutive world title. Although he disappointed at the Milan Olympics in February, he remains the clear favorite in the men's category in Prague. In ice dancing, the French duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron will defend their Olympic gold from Milan. The women's category will feature, among others, Japan's Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time world champion.
Czech Hope Reshtenko
The Czech Republic is represented in all four categories. The greatest medal hope lies with Georgii Reshtenko, a bronze medalist from the January European Championships, who could surprise in the men's category on home ice. Barbora Vránková represents the women, and the pairs team consists of Anna Valesi and Martin Bidař.
Local fans will be most excited by the double representation in ice dancing — siblings Natálie and Filip Taschler, along with Kateřina and Daniel Mrázek, will compete in front of a sold-out arena.
Championship Program
Tuesday's opening is dedicated to official training. The competition program kicks off on Wednesday, March 25th, with the women's and pairs short programs. Men will follow on Thursday, and the first medals will be awarded in pairs skating. Friday's program will feature the women's free skating and the rhythm dance. Saturday will decide the champions in the men's and ice dancing categories. Sunday, March 29th, belongs to the traditional closing exhibition.
Tickets and Television
Tickets are available through Ticketportal and Ticketmaster, priced from CZK 590 for training blocks to CZK 3,590 for the exhibition. All-event passes range from CZK 7,490 to CZK 18,490. Organizers warn that tickets are selling out quickly.
Complete television coverage is provided by Czech Television on ČT Sport and the ČT Sport Plus platform. Internationally, Eurosport and HBO Max will broadcast the event. The World Figure Skating Championships are watched by over 300 million viewers worldwide each year.
For Prague, the championship represents one of the biggest sporting events of 2026, which will bring not only sporting experiences but also significant tourism to the capital.
