{"id":16305,"date":"2026-03-26T08:50:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T08:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=16305"},"modified":"2026-03-26T08:50:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T08:50:50","slug":"how-to-watch-the-2026-isu-world-figure-skating-championships-in-prague-are-just-getting-underway-bringing-together-top-skaters-from-across-the-globe-ilia-malinin-enters-the-competition-loo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=16305","title":{"rendered":"HOW TO WATCH \u2013 The 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Prague are just getting underway, bringing together top skaters from across the globe. Ilia Malinin enters the competition looking to close his season on a high note after narrowly missing the Olympic podium. Here\u2019s how you can tune in fast."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Olympic and world medallists will return to the ice for the first major competition since the\u00a0Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026<\/strong>\u00a0when Prague, Czechia, hosts the\u00a02026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Held between 25 and 29 March, the annual event is returning to the Czech Republic\u2019s capital\u00a0for the first time in 33 years, with the O2 Arena playing host.<\/p>\n

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\"In<\/p>\n

An array of Olympic, world, and European medallists are slated to compete, including Milano Cortina 2026 ice dance champions\u00a0Laurence Fournier Beaudry<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Guillaume Cizeron<\/strong>\u00a0of France, and USA\u2019s team event champions\u00a0Ilia Malinin<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Amber Glenn<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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After finishing the Olympic Games off the podium in the men\u2019s singles, Malinin is on a quest to end the season on a high note by winning his third consecutive world title.<\/p>\n

The 2026 Worlds will also be the last international competition for three-time women\u2019s singles world champion and three-time Olympic silver medallist\u00a0Sakamoto\u00a0Kaori<\/strong>, who is retiring at the end of the season.<\/p>\n

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Discover more about the top\u00a0figure skaters to watch, the full event schedule, and how to watch the competition action live in our preview, below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ilia Malinin and Adam Siao Him Fa looking for post-Olympic revanche in men\u2019s singles<\/h2>\n

\"For<\/p>\n

Friday, 13 February \u2013 the night of the men\u2019s free skate at\u00a0Milano Cortina 2026 \u2013 is one that many men\u2019s singles skaters would wish to forget, including two-time world champion\u00a0Ilia Malinin<\/strong>\u00a0and two-time European champion\u00a0Adam Siao Him Fa<\/strong>\u00a0of France.<\/p>\n

Both were in podium contention after the short program, but costly mistakes in the free dropped them out of the Top 5.\u00a0Siao Him Fa finished seventh, while Malinin was eighth despite having a two-year undefeated streak going into his Olympic debut.\u00a0Over a month later, the two skaters are eager to show their best form in both programs on Czech ice.<\/p>\n

Reigning European champion\u00a0Nika Egadze<\/strong>\u00a0of Georgia was another Olympian who had mixed results in Milan, but is a strong podium contender in Prague.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Olympic silver medallist\u00a0Kagiyama Yuma<\/strong>\u00a0and bronze medallist\u00a0Sato Shun<\/strong>, both from Japan, will look to back up their strong results from Milano Cortina 2026. For Kagiyama, it is also a chance to improve on the bronze he took in last year\u2019s edition, behind Malinin and Olympic champion\u00a0Mikhail Shaidorov<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Mikhail<\/p>\n

The surprise breakthrough at\u00a0Milano Cortina 2026\u00a0was Canada\u2019s\u00a0Stephen Gogolev<\/strong>. He finished fifth overall and second in the free skate, improving on his personal best by nearly 15 points, after several seasons marred by injury. He will carry this momentum to Czechia\u2019s capital, hoping to finish his Worlds debut with a medal.<\/p>\n

Two-time Olympian\u00a0Jason Brown<\/strong>\u00a0did not make the cut for USA\u2019s Olympic team this year but brings formidable\u00a0experience \u2013 and his\u00a0iconic \u201cRiverdance\u201d program \u2013 on the quest to win his first world medal at his eighth world championships.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sakamoto Kaori to make final bow in women\u2019s singles<\/h2>\n

The 2026\u00a0ISU World Figure Skating Championships will be the end of the road for\u00a0Sakamoto Kaori<\/strong>\u00a0as an athlete. The Japanese women\u2019s singles\u00a0star\u00a0transitions to a coaching career\u00a0after this season.<\/p>\n

Already with three world titles to her name, Sakamoto will wish to sign off while standing on the top step of the podium \u2013 a place she missed\u00a0by a mere 1.89 points at Milano Cortina 2026 .<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Sakamoto\u2019s teammate and Milano Cortina 2026 bronze medallist\u00a0Nakai Ami<\/strong>\u00a0will be making her senior World debut after a breakout season that saw the 17-year-old\u00a0win the\u00a02025 Grand Prix de France<\/strong>, and finish second at the\u00a02025 Grand Prix Final<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a02026 Four Continents Championships<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

World bronze medallist\u00a0Chiba Mone<\/strong>\u00a0has had a season of near misses, finishing fourth at Milano Cortina 2026 and dropping from a leader\u2019s position at the Grand Prix Final in the short to fifth after the free. The 2026 Worlds will be a chance for her to end the season strong.<\/p>\n

A costly mistake in the short put\u00a0Amber Glenn<\/strong>\u00a0out of medals at Milano Cortina 2026 and while she managed climb up eight spots in the free, a first world medal will be an even sweeter reward for the three-time US national champion.<\/p>\n

Glenn\u2019s teammate\u00a0Isabeau Levito<\/strong>, a silver medallist at the 2024 Worlds, and two-time European champion\u00a0Niina Petrokina<\/strong>\u00a0of Estonia are also top medal contenders in Prague.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Olympic silver medallist Sakamoto Kaori will be taking her final spin at the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, while Olympic bronze medallist Nakai Ami will be making her Worlds debut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Olympic ice\u00a0dance champions Fournier Beaudry\/Cizeron on hunt for last title missing<\/h2>\n

When\u00a0Laurence\u00a0Fournier Beaudry<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Guillaume Cizeron<\/strong>\u00a0announced that they were\u00a0teaming up in ice dance in March 2025, few could imagine that 12 months later, the duo would become Olympic champions.<\/p>\n

Ice dance is typically a discipline that requires athletes to hone their connection for years before they reach top results, but Fournier Beaudry\/Cizeron\u2019s partnership is a glittering exception to the rule.\u00a0With a European title to their name as well, a gold at the Worlds is now\u00a0the only major medal still missing in their collection.<\/p>\n

\"Laurence<\/p>\n

Olympic bronze medallists and world silver medallists\u00a0Piper Gilles<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Paul Poirier<\/strong>\u00a0will also be in Prague, hoping for a strong finish to their 15th season of skating together.<\/p>\n

For\u00a0Lilah Fear<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Lewis Gibson<\/strong>, who won Great Britain\u2019s first world medal in 41 years at the last Worlds edition, the competition in Prague will be a chance to erase the memories of a painful mistake in the free dance at Milano Cortina 2026 that saw them drop from fourth to eighth place in the standings.<\/p>\n

While three-time world champions\u00a0Madison Chock<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Evan Bates<\/strong>\u00a0will not be in Prague to defend their title, the USA will have solid ice dance representation in\u00a0Emilea Zingas<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Vadym Kolesnik<\/strong>. The duo are making their Worlds debut after an outstanding Olympic Games that saw them finish fifth as the\u00a0youngest competitors\u00a0among the top 10 teams.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Canada\u2019s Piper Giller and Paul Poirier celebrated winning an Olympic bronze following their enchanting \u201cVincent\u201d free dance.<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2026: Schedule<\/h2>\n

All times are local to Prague, Central European Time (UTC+1)<\/em><\/p>\n

Wednesday, 25 March<\/h3>\n
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  • 11:30-16:23 \u2013 Women singles, short program<\/li>\n
  • 18:45-22:15 \u2013 Pairs, short program<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Thursday, 26 March<\/h3>\n
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    • 11:30-16:27 \u2013 Men singles, short program<\/li>\n
    • 18:15-21:56 \u2013 Pairs, free skating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Friday, 27 March<\/h3>\n
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      • 11:30-16:24 \u2013 Ice dance, rhythm dance<\/li>\n
      • 18:00-21:52 \u2013 Women singles, free skating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Saturday, 28 March<\/h3>\n
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        • 12:30-16:22 \u2013 Men singles, free skating<\/li>\n
        • 18:30-21:50 \u2013 Ice dance, free dance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Sunday, 29 March<\/h3>\n
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          • 14:30 \u2013 Exhibition Gala<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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            Picture by Gregory Shamus\/Getty Images<\/span>Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron are only missing one title after their stellar debut season: A world championships gold. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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            ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2026: How to watch live<\/h2>\n

            \"WhyThe International Skating Union (ISU) has TV partnerships across the globe for all major figure skating competitions, including the world championships. You can find a\u00a0full list of TV broadcast providers and streamers\u00a0by country here.<\/p>\n

            Some key territories are listed below:<\/em><\/p>\n

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            • Australia \u2013 SBS Australia<\/li>\n
            • Canada \u2013 CBC<\/li>\n
            • People\u2019s Republic of China \u2013 CCTV<\/li>\n
            • France \u2013 France TV<\/li>\n
            • Great Britain \u2013 BBC<\/li>\n
            • Japan \u2013 TV Asahi<\/li>\n
            • Republic of Korea \u2013 SBS Korea<\/li>\n
            • United States \u2013 NBC & Peacock<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Olympic and world medallists will return to the ice for the first major competition since the\u00a0Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026\u00a0when Prague, Czechia, hosts the\u00a02026 ISU World… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16306,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16305"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16307,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16305\/revisions\/16307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}