Better places in the 2026 Olympic ice rink

[FaustinaF]

Hello!
I was looking for some informations regarding tickets for 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics! I'm planning to be there (I hope many of you will be there too!), but I recently find out you have to be enrolled in a list to get the better tickets, hoping I still have time to get them... Anway, I wanted to ask you, what is the better place in the ice rink to see a pro performance? Should it be a central place, near the judges, or at one of the curves? I've never been to an important event like this one. Thanks in advance for your answers and advices!

 

[4everchan]

Hello!
I was looking for some informations regarding tickets for 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics! I'm planning to be there (I hope many of you will be there too!), but I recently find out you have to be enrolled in a list to get the better tickets, hoping I still have time to get them... Anway, I wanted to ask you, what is the better place in the ice rink to see a pro performance? Should it be a central place, near the judges, or at one of the curves? I've never been to an important event like this one. Thanks in advance for your answers and advices!

Good luck getting tickets. I tried in vain for 2010... they had a lottery system and I didn't win...

Regarding where I prefer sitting : for ice dance, center line. A lot of things happen right in the middle in ice dance.

For singles and pairs, I prefer sitting mid-way between the center and the corner, even a bit closer to the corner. I feel like sitting in the middle, one doesn't get to see many jumps up close as they don't often happen in the middle but more on the corners.

 

[FaustinaF]

I'm sorry you didn't get them... I checked again the rules and yep, there seems to be the same system you had, since now there is always a lottery I guess it's like a wild battle to get in the list, sort of an event if you get tickets...
Thanks so much for your advices, now I got things more clear! I'd prefer too the place closer to the corner, I'd love to see those amazing jumps in person, I just imagine what an impression it is.
Have a nice week!

 

[FaustinaF]

Hello!
It has passed a while since I wrote this post but I just wanted to reopen this conversation because I'd like to ask a question about it.
I'm registered now on the lottery selection for the tickets, but I'd like to know few things. Based on previous Olympics, like the 2022 one, does the ticket provide the enter for only one event (ex. men free program, single competitions) or the same one ticket allows you to see more than a single event? In simple words, is it valid for two events or more, or should I buy single tickets regarding each single events?
And if I can ask, what is the usual price of a ticket for a good view (like the one we talked earlier, that is center-next to the corner)? Also, should a very good view be the view from the judges' view or the opposite view, in front of the judges?
Thanks a lot in advance!!

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

No idea about the view, but I think one ticket is only valid for one event.

 

[icetug]

And if I can ask, what is the usual price of a ticket for a good view (like the one we talked earlier, that is center-next to the corner)?

There are three categories of tickets provided for Milan 2026: A, B, C. I suppose that that with a good view will be of A (or in some cases B) category. Maybe those who attended Worlds in 2018 can tell more. Prices are known, please look at the list.

 

[streams4dreams]

There are three categories of tickets provided for Milan 2026: A, B, C. I suppose that that with a good view will be of A (or in some cases B) category. Maybe those who attended Worlds in 2018 can tell more. Prices are known, please look at the list.

Wow, this is super helpful. I wasn't planning to attend but got curious about the prices. Excepting the opening and closing ceremonies, hockey finals is the most expensive event at 1,400 EUR, followed closely by figure skating gala at 1,200 EUR (category A tickets for both)! I had no idea those were so much in demand!

 

[FaustinaF]

Thanks so much for the answers !!
Wow..... I didn't know it was already published a price list... man, figure skating is one of the few most expensive! ...But I understand it for the meaning of the event itself. Being an Olympic event, even one of the most expected, the price could have been even much more, considering you could normally spend 1,200 euros to see a tennis final with Sinner.
Thank you all again for your help!

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Thanks so much for the answers !!
Wow..... I didn't know it was already published a price list... man, figure skating is one of the few most expensive! ...But I understand it for the meaning of the event itself. Being an Olympic event, even one of the most expected, the price could have been even much more, considering you could normally spend 1,200 euros to see a tennis final with Sinner.
Thank you all again for your help!

Are you planning to go to a certain event? I have my eyes on both Pairs events and Women FS. But if I go for that, I'll only be able to afford category C for every event

 

[FaustinaF]

I'd like so much to go for men FS... I don't know if I can afford that much, and yes surely if I go I will took tickets for C category, too!
Maybe it could be an occasion to meet some of us in person! That would be very nice

 

[FaustinaF]

Tickets for minor events like Worlds, or even events like Lombardia trophy, I hope are less expensive than Olympics?
Even show events like Bol on ice ecc, do some of you know how much does a ticket cost? (I must confess I've never been yet to a competition or a show)

 

[skylark]

Also, should a very good view be the view from the judges' view or the opposite view, in front of the judges?

I was reading this thread and noticed that no one has answered this question yet. It's all a matter of personal preference of course. But I've found that I love the view from the opposite side of the arena from the judges. For one thing, I like being around fans rather than the seats for the media. But also I've found that the skaters do in fact do what they're supposed to -- they play to all sides of the arena. I like the section between center ice and the end. I see jumps and lifts close up, and other qualities this way.

When my friend and I were at US nationals in Detroit, 2019, we were nearish center ice, row 4. As an example, when Karina Manta and Joe Johnson skated their standing-ovation FD to Sweet Dreams, we totally "got" every fabulous, funny, fun nuance of the dance even including the highlight where they faced the judges all the way across the width of the rink. After the standing-O, I looked in the program and "oh, yes, of course", the choreographer was Christopher Dean. Days later, at home, I watched the video, and I marveled that we got every nuance, because when you look at the video, it seems like the judges' view would have been so much better. Not so, thankfully! here it is in all its glory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCugp67NNmU

Just for fun and chills, here are Ashley Cain & Timothy LeDuc with their winning FS there. one of the best ever, and a wonderful K&C reaction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPy2gCIWC6E

 

[FaustinaF]

Hello @skylark !!
Thank you so much for anwering my question!! It is very helpful what you told me and very interesting too!! Thank you also for the videos, I watched the performances as well and they were gorgeous, they have character! I can only imagine how nice and exiting the real view was when you watched Karina and Joe!!!
Yes, I'm beginning to believe fans zone is nicer, I imagine you can feel all the right "atmoshpere" there! I got things clearer now, I will opt for that kind of seats. To participate at the Olympics has become my obsession........ I hope to participate also at the other events since I'm always more in love with figure skating!!

 

[skylark]

Faustina, I was actually going to suggest that if finances permit, you might enjoy going to one of the earlier competitions, like Lombardia or another European comp not too far from your home. I really like the smaller competitions, and going to one would give you ideas about how best to enjoy the Olympics if you're fortunate to get a ticket.

By the way, if you stop Karina & Joe's video at the minute of 2:56, you can see me (4th row) in a light blue sweater, with long, silvery hair. ... and a weird mouth. My mouth never looks like that!

 

[FaustinaF]

You're absolutely right!! This is a good advice, thank you, I might see to catch a seat for these kind of events to better understand the experience in advance!! I must check the dates for Lombardia trophy 25, and if Malinin will participate again, it's a double must! These weeks I've been searching price tickets for example for the University Games in Turin and I was literally out of my mind in seeing how low they were, so I guess other events like this one will be more or less the same, anyway I will check.
Also, I was bitterly surprised to see that not so many people participated at the University Games FS events, in some competitions they were really few compared to the importance of the event. I hope Italy will be more and more intrested in figure skating.
I found you!! Those seats were perfect I think!!

 

[skylark]

oh good. our seats were perfect. I experienced first hand how Ashley and Timothy FLEW across the ice and the magic of their beautiful free skate. Watching them again just now reminded me of how much I miss watching them. And also how much I wish more pairs skaters would make it a priority to skate and move with beautiful, matching lines. It really was their trademark.

I hope you get to go to one of the earlier events. I envy all you Europeans for being geographically so much closer to many events than we are in the states. But I've really enjoyed the events I've been able to go to. I'm sure you will too! I'll be looking forward to you sharing your experiences.

 

[pesto]

We looked at the Olympic ticket prices, and sadly decided it's too expensive. We could do it, but would have to cut back severely on other holidays. Nah.

Ticket prices for most other FS events are pretty manageable, even the more important ones - This year's Euros are very good value, and the Grand Prix Final was affordable, too. Even Worlds doesn't look unreasonable.

 

[FaustinaF]

To see your favorite skater or pairs skaters flow in the ice, I truly believe it's something unforgettable, and I'm convinced that TV or videos never do them justice in any way. I must discover this "real reality" by myself as soon as possible!! Yes, I believe too that pairs skaters should adopt this kind of beauty on the ice more and more often! I think it's something stunning to see jumps, liftings, spins they do together!!
Well, I guess you're right about Europeans, but I also think that the States is the only country that organizes so many skating events and shows! I'm happy that USA are having more and more top athletes who give lot of inspiration to the youngest!!
Thank you so much for your encouragment, I really do hope the same!! If I should go to some earlier competition, I'd be very glad and happy to share my experiences and impressions with you all!!

 

[FaustinaF]

We looked at the Olympic ticket prices, and sadly decided it's too expensive. We could do it, but would have to cut back severely on other holidays. Nah.

Ticket prices for most other FS events are pretty manageable, even the more important ones - This year's Euros are very good value, and the Grand Prix Final was affordable, too. Even Worlds doesn't look unreasonable.

From now on I really hope to participate at these ones, at least the nearest events from me!! Thank you for these informations
I always thought these events were unreachable in matter of price, but now I have better hopes!!

 

[pesto]

From now on I really hope to participate at these ones, at least the nearest events from me!! Thank you for these informations
I always thought these events were unreachable in matter of price, but now I have better hopes!!

For Euros this year, short program tickets are €16.10 - 31.10 and free programme tickets €26.10 - 51.10. It's good value, I think!

Session tickets for Grenoble Grand Prix final were €20 - 70, depending on session and seating position. Each session had three to five events, mixing juniors and seniors. Obviously, just six skaters per event.

I'd love to go to the Olympics, but I'd be seeing a similar level of skating to that we see at GPF or Euros, and basically splashing my holiday budget on a short trip.