Europe’s best skaters prepare to shine at ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2026 in Sheffield, Great Britain January 13 to 18. For many of the European stars, this is also the last test before the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. 

All four reigning ISU European Champions are back in action: Niina Petrokina (EST), Lukas Britschgi (SUI), Minerva Hase & Nikita Volodin (GER) and Charlène Guignard & Marco Fabbri (ITA). Expect an exciting competition, heated medal battles and spectacular performances at the Utility Arena in Sheffield. 

A total of 163 Skaters/Couples representing 36 ISU Members have been entered for this 117th edition of the European Championships: 31 Men, 38 Women, 17 Pairs and 30 Ice Dance couples. Sheffield hosts the ISU European Figure Skating Championships for the second time after 2012.

The top contenders

Defending champion Lukas Britschgi (SUI) faces stiff competition Photo ©ISU

Reigning European Champion Lukas Britschgi (SUI) to face stiff competition

The Men’s field is incredibly deep and anything can happen. 

• One of the most experienced men in the field, defending champion Lukas Britschgi (SUI/seasons best 249.04 points) became the first Swiss man to win the European title since 1947.
• Daniel Grassl (ITA) has the highest seasons best of the European men with 288.72 points and good memories from Sheffield, where he won his first ISU Grand Prix event. Will the 2022 ISU European silver medalist now step on to the top of the podium and become the first Italian man to win this title since 1954?
• Kevin Aymoz (FRA/seasons best 261.90 points) is on a roll this season and won the ISU Grand Prix Skate America. After coming fourth twice at Europeans, Aymoz finally wants to get on to that podium.
• Other contenders include 2024 ISU European silver medalist Aleksandr Selevko (EST) and Nika Egadze (GEO)
• Multiple ISU European medalist Matteo Rizzo and 2025 ISU European silver medalist Nikolaj Memola will battle it out for the second Olympic spot for the Italian Men.
• Two-time ISU European Champion Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) is sitting out the event.

2025 ISU European Champion Niina Petrokina (EST) is back in action Photo ©ISU

The battle of the European queens

 The three ISU European Champions from 2023, 2024 and 2025 are in Sheffield competing for the gold again.

• 2023 ISU European Champion Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO/seasons best 206.23 points) has shown consistent performances this season and looks ready to challenge for gold again.
• 2024 ISU European Champion Loena Hendrickx (BEL/seasons best 204.96) continues her comeback after her surgery
• 2025 ISU European Champion Niina Petrokina (EST/seasons best 178.61) is on the comeback trail after an injury
• Others to watch include two-time ISU European bronze medalist Nina Pinzarrone (BEL), 2023 ISU European bronze medalist Kimmy Repond (SUI) and Lara Naki Gutmann (ITA)

Minerva Hase & Nikita Volodin (GER) are looking to take their second European title in Sheffield Photo ©ISU

Hot favorites Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin (GER) 

Reigning ISU European Champions and ISU World bronze medalists Minerva Hase & Nikita Volodin (GER) lead the Pairs but have to watch out for their competitors that are hungry for gold.  

• Hase & Volodin (seasons best 221.38 points) claimed bronze at the ISU Grand Prix Final last month and have kept building throughout the season
• Following a silver and a bronze medal at the ISU European Championships, Anastasiia Metelkina & Luka Berulava (GEO/seasons best 225.20) are eager to take that gold medal that they are missing 
• Maria Pavlova & Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN/seasons best 208.33) can become the first Hungarian Pair Skaters to earn a European Championship medal in 69 years after Mariann Nagy & Laszlo Nagy were silver medalists in 1957
• Other top contenders include 2023 ISU European bronze medalists Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel (GER), two-time ISU European medalists Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini (ITA) and Karina Akopova & Nikita Rakhmanin (ARM)
• 2025 ISU European silver medalists Sara Conti & Niccolo Macii (ITA) have withdrawn from the event

 Three-time ISU Euorpean Champions Charlene Guignard & Marco Fabbri (ITA) are happy to return to Sheffield where it all began Photo ©ISU

 Thrilling Ice Dance competition expected

The Ice Dance field is packed with top teams and the fight for the podium will be fierce.  

• Laurence Fournier Beaudry & Guillaume Cizeron (FRA/seasons best 211.02) are competing in their first season together but have emerged as a top team right away, winning their two ISU Grand Prix events and silver at the ISU Grand Prix Final
• Three-time and reigning ISU European Champions Charlène Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA/seasons best 204.18) are returning to Sheffield, where they once competed in their very first ISU European Championship together back in 2012.
• 2025 ISU World bronze medalists Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson (GBR/seasons best 210.24) are going after the top prize on home ice
• More Ice Dance couples are aiming to get on to or as close as possible to the podium: 2024 ISU European bronze medalists Allison Reed/Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU), 2025 ISU European silver medalists Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA), Olivia Smart/Tim Dieck (ESP) and  Diana Davis/Gleb Smolkin (GEO)
• 2023 ISU European bronze medalists Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis (FIN) return to international competition after missing the ISU Grand Prix due to injury

What & When

The schedule of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2026 is as follows:

Wednesday, January 14: Pairs & Women’s Short Programs
Thursday, January 15: Men’s Short Program & Pairs Free Skating
Friday, January 16: Rhythm Dance, Women’s Free Skating
Saturday, January 17: Men’s Free Skating & Free Dance
Sunday, January 18: Exhibition Gala
 

Where to watch

Follow the Where to Watch News here.

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