Top stars and newcomers get ready to rumble at the ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2026 in Beijing, China from January 21 to 25. For the stars, this is the last test before they are headed to the Olympic Winter Games in Milan. 2022 Olympic Champions Wenjing Sui/Con Han (CHN), ISU World silver medallist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) and 2024 ISU Four Continents Champion Mone Chiba (JPN) headline the field of 100 competitors from 17 nations. With high-stakes rivalries, redemption stories, and the next generation eager to make their mark, the pre-Olympic Four Continents promises spectacular performances.

The top contenders

World medalists Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) and Junhwan Cha (KOR) to face off

The 2025 and 2023 ISU World silver medalists Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan and Junhwan Cha of Korea lead the 26 Men in the competition and face off one more time before heading to the Olympic Games. 

2025 ISU Four Continents Champion Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) leads the Men's field in Beijing Photo ©ISU

• Reigning ISU Four Continents Champion Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ/seasons best 282.22 points) is eager to defend his title and prove that he is ready for Milan
• 2025 ISU Four Continents silver medalist Junhwan Cha (KOR/season best 253.31 points) had to overcome equipment problems earlier this season and is looking for a strong outing
• 2023 ISU Four Continents Champion Kao Miura (JPN/seasons best 253.69 points) is ready to challenge for the top of the podium again
• Two-time ISU World bronze medalist Boyang Jin (CHN), Kazuki Tomono (JPN), Sota Yamamoto (JPN), Hyungyeom Kim (KOR) and Tomoki Hiwatashi (USA) want to challenge for a medal as well
• 2024 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champion Jacob Sanchez (USA) aims for a successful debut at an ISU senior-level championship

Mone Chiba (JPN) looking for redemption 

2024 ISU Four Continents Champion Mone Chiba of Japan is back but will face strong challengers in the medal hunt. 

2024 ISU Four Continents Champion Mone Chiba (JPN) is aiming at the top of the podium again in Beijing Photo ©ISU

• Following a strong ISU Grand Prix season, Mone Chiba (JPN/seasons best 217.23 points) is eager to regain the title she lost a year ago
• Newcomer Ami Nakai (JPN/seasons best 227.08 points) is aiming at continuing her break-through season in Beijing 
• Reigning ISU Four Continents silver and bronze medalist Bradie Tennell (USA) and Sarah Everhardt (USA) have set their eyes on the podium
• Other contenders include 2023 ISU Four Continents Champion Haein Lee (KOR), 2025 World University Games bronze medalist Sofia Samodelkina (KAZ) and Starr Andrews (USA) 
• 2017 ISU World bronze medalist Gabrielle Daleman (CAN) has started an interesting comeback this season
• Multiple ISU World Junior silver medalist Jia Shin (KOR) debuts at the ISU Four Continents 

Last test for Olympic Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) 

2022 Olympic Champions Wenjing Sui & Cong Han of China headline an exciting Pairs competition with many medal hopefuls.

2022 Olympic Champions Wenjing Sui & Cong Han  (CHN)  continue their spectacular comeback in  Beijing Photo ©ISU

• Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN/seasons best 203.79 points) continue their spectacular comeback and are looking to prove they are in top shape for Milan
• U.S. Champions Alisa Efimova & Misha Mitrofanov (seasons best 205.49 points) are eager to challenge for the top of the podium
• Will Yuna Nagaoka & Sumitada Moriguchi (JPN/seasons best 202.11) continue their rise this season?
• Others to watch include 2024 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champions Jiaxuan Zhang & Yihang Huang (CHN), two-time ISU World Junior silver medalists Anastasia Golubeva & Hektor Giotopoulos Moore (AUS) and Audrey Shin & Balazs Nagy (USA)
• Reigning ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Ava Kemp & Yohnatan Elizarov (CAN) will compete in their first senior-level ISU championship

New Ice Dance Champions to be crowned 

It is time for the next generation to step up to the challenge in the Ice Dance competition as none of the medalists from 2025 are competing this time.

ISU Grand Prix Finalists Emilea Zingas & Vadim Kolesnik (USA) have set their eyes on to the podium in Beijing Photo ©ISU

• ISU Grand Prix Finalists Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik (USA/seasons best 202.27 points) have been on a roll this season. Will they take their first ISU Championship title?
• Competition should come from 2022 ISU Four Continents Champions Caroline Green & Michael Parsons (USA/seasons best 189.27 points) and Shiyue Wang & Xinyu Liu (CHN/seasons best 196.75 points)
• Hanna Lim & Ye Quan (KOR/seasons best 190.26) can become the first Korean Ice Dancers to win a medal at the ISU Four Continents Championships
• Other contenders include 2025 Asian Winter Games Champions Utana Yoshida & Masaya Morita (JPN), Holly Harris & Jason Chan (AUS), Alicia Fabbri & Paul Ayer (CAN) and Oona Brown & Gage Brown (USA)

What & When

A total of 100 Skaters/Couples representing 17 ISU Members have been entered for this 27th edition of the ISU Four Continents Championships: 26 Men, 22 Women, 11 Pairs and 15 Ice Dance couples. Beijing hosts the event for the second time after 2003. The schedule of the ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2026 is as follows:

• Thursday, January 22: Women’s Short Program, Rhythm Dance, Pairs Short Program
• Friday, January 23: Free Dance & Women’s Short Program 
• Saturday, January 24: Men’s Short Program & Pairs Free Skating
• Sunday, January 25: Men’s Free Skating & Exhibition Gala

For more information, full entry lists and results, visit the ISU event page of the ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2026. Find comments of the skaters and the press conference highlights on the ISU event website in the “For Media” section. For more information also see the Facts & Figures.

Follow the discussion on social media using #4ContsFigure and #FigureSkating. 

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