Bold New Platform with Inaugural ‘Skater of the Year’ Award

Lineup of Legendary Judges

The wait is finally over! The highly anticipated ISU Figure Skating Awards 2025 are set to shine brighter than ever. Riding the wave of an unforgettable ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston, the global figure skating family gathers tonight to honor the best in the sport on and off the ice.

The prestigious Awards ceremony, set to take place tonight at 9:00 PM ET, will recognize the sport’s brightest stars, trailblazers and all of the outstanding achievements of this season. Hosted by Olympic Champion Tara Lipinski (USA) and ISU World medalist Johnny Weir (USA), the evening promises glamour, legendary moments and plenty of entertainment.

Celebrating Excellence in Figure Skating

The ISU Figure Skating Awards acknowledge the incredible talent, dedication, and passion of the sport’s top athletes, as well as the coaches, choreographers and costume designers who help bring the magic of figure skating to life. This year’s nominees represent the brilliance of figure skating across multiple categories, including:

Most Entertaining Program:

• Ilia Malinin (USA)
• Junhwan Cha (KOR) 
• Olivia Smart/Tim Dieck (ESP) 

Best Newcomer:

• Sarah Everhadt (USA)
• Anna Pezzetta (ITA) 
• Ekaterina Geynish/Dmitri Chigirev (UZB) 

Best Costume:

• Ilia Malinin (USA)
• Junhwan Cha (KOR) 
• Olivia Smart/Tim Dieck (ESP) 

Best Coach:

• Mie Hamada
• Michael Huth
• Tatiana Malinina & Roman Skorniakov

Best Choreographer:

• Shae-Lynn Bourne
• Benoît Richaud
• Stéphane Lambiel

Lifetime Achievement Award: Selected exclusively by the Selection Commission.

Rewarding a Season of Success: ISU’s New "Skater of the Year" Award

For the first time, the ISU will honor skaters with the new “Skater of the Year” and “Skaters of the Year” awards, recognizing outstanding performances throughout the season.

Winners are determined based on a points system that rewards skaters who secured podium finishes at major ISU events, including the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, ISU Grand Prix Final, European Championships, Four Continents Championships, and, of course, the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, which will conclude on March 30 with the Exhibition of Champions.

The single skater (man or woman) and the team (Ice Dance or Pair Skating) with the highest total points, representing the most successful competitive season, will be awarded this prestigious new title.

Star-Studded Jury Panel

Following a public and media vote earlier this month, a distinguished international panel of six former international figure skating champions and figure skating experts, plus a very special guest, will determine this year’s winners:

Kurt Browning (CAN): A true figure skating pioneer, four-time World Champion, and the first skater in history to land a quadruple jump in competition, redefining technical excellence in the sport.

Qing Pang (CHN): Olympic medalist and World Champion, renowned for her breathtaking artistry and seamless partnership with Jian Tong, together elevating Chinese Pair Skating to global prominence.

Laura Lepistö (FIN): A trailblazer for Finland, she made history as the country’s first female European Champion and remains one of the nation’s most celebrated skaters.

Philippe Candeloro (FRA): A fan-favorite showman and two-time Olympic bronze medalist, known for his charismatic performances and unforgettable portrayals on the ice.

Miki Ando (JPN): A two-time World Champion and the first female skater to land a quadruple jump in competition, setting new technical standards for women's skating.

Kristi Yamaguchi (USA): Olympic and World Champion turned bestselling author and philanthropist, inspiring generations both on and off the ice.

Vera Wang - Special Guest: An internationally acclaimed fashion icon, known for revolutionizing figure skating costumes and designing for some of the sport’s most legendary athletes.

Watch Live on YouTube

Fans worldwide can tune in live on YouTube for unprecedented access to this spectacular celebration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DelCLAMB01k 

Stay tuned to find out who will take home the honors and be recognized as the brightest stars of the 2024/2025 season! 

For more information, visit the ISU Figure Skating Awards webpage.