2025-26 Grand Prix Assignments predictions?

[skatewithme]

Since worlds is done.

What are your predictions for Grand Prix next season?

 

[4everchan]

Do we already have the complete schedule? Skate Canada released that SCI will be the "third" stop of the GP series this year. It's usually the second... there is probably reshuffling of things due to Olympic qualifying events etc... but I'd like to see a schedule first

 

[FlossieH]

Do we already have the complete schedule? Skate Canada released that SCI will be the "third" stop of the GP series this year. It's usually the second... there is probably reshuffling of things due to Olympic qualifying events etc... but I'd like to see a schedule first

The schedule is out in terms of when each event is being held (events are all set up in the 2025-26 section of the forum, so it must be online on the ISU site already), but the actual assignments don't normally get released until much later.

I am wondering whether the Olympic qualifier and Cup of China are in the same venue. One is just before the other, which would make sense if the same place is being hired for both. I think China often hire larger venues, rather than using an existing rink.

 

[4everchan]

The schedule is out in terms of when each event is being held (events are all set up in the 2025-26 section of the forum, so it must be online on the ISU site already), but the actual assignments don't normally get released until much later.

I was looking at the ISU website and couldn't find out At the same time, it's probably because, other than SCI, the locations haven't been confirmed... The skaters' assignments are out in June usually after the congress... so that's why people like to speculate after Worlds.

I am wondering whether the Olympic qualifier and Cup of China are in the same venue. One is just before the other, which would make sense if the same place is being hired for both. I think China often hire larger venues, rather than using an existing rink.

That's possible. i have no idea... also, the Challenger series is not out, but Skate Canada didn't mention ACI in their press release at all... so i am a bit nervous about North American events at this point...

 

[reneerose]

Just curious... the Russians are unbanned right for 2026 Olympics? I think I read in an article last night that they will permit "neutral" athletes from each discipline? So that means they will be put in for Grand Prix assignments, right?

 

[saine]

Just curious... the Russians are unbanned right for 2026 Olympics? I think I read in an article last night that they will permit "neutral" athletes from each discipline? So that means they will be put in for Grand Prix assignments, right?

They're allowed to qualify one spot per discipline for the Olympics for a neutral athlete and only for that neutral athlete. They will not be put in for Grand Prix assignments if that continues to be the case.

 

[yuumagical]

Just curious... the Russians are unbanned right for 2026 Olympics? I think I read in an article last night that they will permit "neutral" athletes from each discipline? So that means they will be put in for Grand Prix assignments, right?

I don't believe they will be permitted to attend Grand Prix assignments, as the communication regarding Ukraine is still in place on the ISU website somewhere. From what I understand, one Russian person/team per discipline will be able to attend the Olympic Qualification event in Beijing and they will have to qualify to the Olympics through that event.

 

[4everchan]

I don't believe they will be permitted to attend Grand Prix assignments, as the communication regarding Ukraine is still in place on the ISU website somewhere. From what I understand, one Russian person/team per discipline will be able to attend the Olympic Qualification event in Beijing and they will have to qualify to the Olympics through that event.

That's correct. ROC will be able to send ONE and only ONE athlete per discipline. That athlete will have to be vetted by the ISU/IOC for eligibility. Then, if that athlete qualifies a spot, I believe that this athlete will be THE athlete competing at the games. We will not see them at challengers, GP and most likely not Euros nor Worlds this year. Of course, things can change but that's the current plan.

 

[yuumagical]

I was looking at the ISU website and couldn't find out At the same time, it's probably because, other than SCI, the locations haven't been confirmed... The skaters' assignments are out in June usually after the congress... so that's why people like to speculate after Worlds.

The order of GP events is up on the ISU website; you just have to set the filter to the 2025/2026 season and scroll down. Note that locations aren't listed yet. I know there was a communication that mentioned the order of the events, but I can't find it on the dang website!

 

[almiranara]

I am wondering whether the Olympic qualifier and Cup of China are in the same venue. One is just before the other, which would make sense if the same place is being hired for both. I think China often hire larger venues, rather than using an existing rink.

the Olympic Qualifier is in Beijing, while Cup of China is gonna be in Chongqing

 

[momrk]

The order of GP events is up on the ISU website; you just have to set the filter to the 2025/2026 season and scroll down. Note that locations aren't listed yet. I know there was a communication that mentioned the order of the events, but I can't find it on the dang website

Hmm... I found the list on the website (thanks for the heads up) but I am only seeing 5 GP events, not 6- Finland missing? Dates are there too. I see seven JGP (you can't see them all the JGP events on the screen shot)

 

[FlossieH]

Hmm... I found the list on the website (thanks for the heads up) but I am only seeing 5 GP events, not 6- Finland missing? Dates are there too. I see seven JGP (you can't see them all the JGP events on the screen shot)

It was announced last year the Finland would be alternating between a GP and a challenger. I think it is due to be a challenger in 2025-26.

 

[momrk]

It was announced last year the Finland would be alternating between a GP and a challenger. I think it is due to be a challenger in 2025-26.

Ah, I forgot about that. So, what is the status of a 6th GP event? Seems like it would need to go before U.S. or after France.

 

[saine]

Finlandia Trophy is a GP event next season, November 21-23 2025.

Finlandia Trophy

www.finlandiatrophy.com

 

[FlossieH]

So they have decided against alternating it? They had definitely said that they were going to alternate because it was too expensive for the Fed to do every year. Perhaps they have changed their minds!

 

[FlossieH]

That's correct. ROC will be able to send ONE and only ONE athlete per discipline. That athlete will have to be vetted by the ISU/IOC for eligibility. Then, if that athlete qualifies a spot, I believe that this athlete will be THE athlete competing at the games. We will not see them at challengers, GP and most likely not Euros nor Worlds this year. Of course, things can change but that's the current plan.

I think I read somewhere that ROC was being asked to send two skaters for each event, for the ISU to then decide which one skated. But I can't remember where I saw it, and couldn't find it again a couple of weeks ago when I wanted it, so I'm not sure if it was reliable. It was a translated item, and things do sometimes get a bit confused in translations from Russia to English.

 

[saine]

I think I read somewhere that ROC was being asked to send two skaters for each event, for the ISU to then decide which one skated. But I can't remember where I saw it, and couldn't find it again a couple of weeks ago when I wanted it, so I'm not sure if it was reliable. It was a translated item, and things do sometimes get a bit confused in translations from Russia to English.

Here's the information from the ISU on their participation - https://www.isu.org/news/isu-decisi...qualification-events-under-strict-conditions/

Only one neutral athlete (including one pair in Pair Skating and one couple in Ice Dance) from the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and only one neutral athlete (including one pair for Pair Skating and one couple for Ice Dance) from the Skating Union of Belarus may be eligible to participate per event in designated OQS competitions, with no relay or team participation.

The participation is limited to the following provisionally allotted competitions:

Figure Skating:

• ISU Figure Skating Olympic Qualifying Competition – September 17-21, 2025 – Beijing, China

 

[skatewithme]

Since worlds is done.

What are your predictions for Grand Prix next season?

Someone have done a list of who do you expect getting 2 and 1 Grand Prix in each discipline?
Thanks

 

[saine]

Here is who is guaranteed two GP assignments based on Worlds placements:

	Men	Women	Pairs	Ice Dance
Seeded (1-3)	Ilia Malinin (USA) Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) Yuma Kagiyama (JPN)	Alysa Liu (USA) Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) Mone Chiba (JPN)	Miura/Kihara (JPN) Hase/Volodin (GER) Conti/Macii (ITA)	Chock/Bates (USA) Gilles/Poirier (CAN) Fear/Gibson (GBR)
Seeded (4-6)	Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) Kevin Aymoz (FRA) Shun Sato (JPN)	Isabeau Levito (USA) Amber Glenn (USA) Wakaba Higuchi (JPN)	Metelkina/Berulava (GEO) Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps (CAN) Efimova/Mitrofanov (USA)	Guignard/Fabbri (ITA) Carreira/Ponomarenko (USA) Smart/Dieck (ESP)
Invited	Junhwan Cha (KOR) Jason Brown (USA) Nika Egadze (GEO) Nikolaj Memola (ITA) Deniss Vasiljevs (LAT) Lukas Britschgi (SUI)	Nina Pinzarrone (BEL) Niina Petrokina (EST) Haein Lee (KOR) Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) Madeline Schizas (CAN) Kimmy Repond (SUI)	Kam/O'Shea (USA) Pavlova/Sviatchenko (HUN) Golubeva/Giotopoulos-Moore (AUS) Geynish/Chigirev (UZB)	Lajoie/Lagha (CAN) Lopareva/Brissaud (FRA) Green/Parsons (USA) Davis/Smolkin (GEO)

Seeded 1-3 cannot be assigned to the same GP. Seeded 4-6 cannot be assigned to the same GP as well. Invited is 7-12 for Singles, 7-10 for Pairs and Ice Dance.

Top 24 on the SB lists (can be found here on the ISU website) are guaranteed an assignment as long as they are age eligible. Top 24 on the World Standings once the 2022-23 points are removed and 2023-24 standings are reduced to 70% are guaranteed an assignment as long as they are age eligible. A team or skater will need to be in the top 75 SBs to be eligible for a non-host assignment. The last chance for a higher SB will be World Team Trophy.

 

[moonvine]

Just curious... the Russians are unbanned right for 2026 Olympics? I think I read in an article last night that they will permit "neutral" athletes from each discipline? So that means they will be put in for Grand Prix assignments, right?

As far as I know Olympics and Olympics only.