2025-26 Grand Prix Assignments predictions?

[Jontor]

I tried working out the top 24 World Standings for each discipline once they're adjusted for the 2025-26 season:

Men

Name	Country
Ilia MALININ	USA
Yuma KAGIYAMA	JPN
Adam SIAO HIM FA	FRA
Mikhail SHAIDOROV	KAZ
Shun SATO	JPN
Lukas BRITSCHGI	SUI
Nika EGADZE	GEO
Kao MIURA	JPN
Kevin AYMOZ	FRA
Matteo RIZZO	ITA
Nikolaj MEMOLA	ITA
Deniss VASILJEVS	LAT
Aleksandr SELEVKO	EST
Adam HAGARA	SVK
Sota YAMAMOTO	JPN
Gabriele FRANGIPANI	ITA
Junhwan CHA	KOR
Daniel GRASSL	ITA
Kazuki TOMONO	JPN
Rio NAKATA	JPN
Jacob SANCHEZ	USA
Jason BROWN	USA
Vladimir LITVINTSEV	AZE
Minkyu SEO	KOR

Women

Name	Country
Kaori SAKAMOTO	JPN
Isabeau LEVITO	USA
Chaeyeon KIM	KOR
Amber GLENN	USA
Mone CHIBA	JPN
Nina PINZARRONE	BEL
Anastasiia GUBANOVA	GEO
Hana YOSHIDA	JPN
Niina PETROKINA	EST
Alysa LIU	USA
Kimmy REPOND	SUI
Elyce LIN-GRACEY	USA
Lara Naki GUTMANN	ITA
Madeline SCHIZAS	CAN
Rinka WATANABE	JPN
Bradie TENNELL	USA
Lorine SCHILD	FRA
Sarah EVERHARDT	USA
Wakaba HIGUCHI	JPN
Mao SHIMADA	JPN
Ekaterina KURAKOVA	POL
Haein LEE	KOR
Anna PEZZETTA	ITA
Rion SUMIYOSHI	JPN

Pairs

Name	Country
Minerva Fabienne HASE / Nikita VOLODIN	GER
Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII	ITA
Deanna STELLATO-DUDEK / Maxime DESCHAMPS	CAN
Anastasiia METELKINA / Luka BERULAVA	GEO
Riku MIURA / Ryuichi KIHARA	JPN
Rebecca GHILARDI / Filippo AMBROSINI	ITA
Maria PAVLOVA / Alexei SVIATCHENKO	HUN
Ellie KAM / Danny O'SHEA	USA
Lia PEREIRA / Trennt MICHAUD	CAN
Annika HOCKE / Robert KUNKEL	GER
Anastasia VAIPAN-LAW / Luke DIGBY	GBR
Ioulia CHTCHETININA / Michal WOZNIAK	POL
Daria DANILOVA / Michel TSIBA	NED
Alisa EFIMOVA / Misha MITROFANOV	USA
Camille KOVALEV / Pavel KOVALEV	FRA
Anastasia GOLUBEVA / Hektor GIOTOPOULOS MOORE	AUS
Kelly Ann LAURIN / Loucas ETHIER	CAN
Olivia FLORES / Luke WANG	USA
Milania VAANANEN / Filippo CLERICI	FIN
Lucrezia BECCARI / Matteo GUARISE	ITA
Romane TELEMAQUE / Lucas COULON	FRA
Ekaterina GEYNISH / Dmitrii CHIGIREV	UZB
Sofiia HOLICHENKO / Artem DARENSKYI	UKR
Yuna NAGAOKA / Sumitada MORIGUCHI	JPN

Ice Dance

Name	Country
Lilah FEAR / Lewis GIBSON	GBR
Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA
Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI	ITA
Evgeniia LOPAREVA / Geoffrey BRISSAUD	FRA
Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER	CAN
Christina CARREIRA / Anthony PONOMARENKO	USA
Allison REED / Saulius AMBRULEVICIUS	LTU
Marjorie LAJOIE / Zachary LAGHA	CAN
Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS	FIN
Emilea ZINGAS / Vadym KOLESNIK	USA
Olivia SMART / Tim DIECK	ESP
Caroline GREEN / Michael PARSONS	USA
Loicia DEMOUGEOT / Theo LE MERCIER	FRA
Natalie TASCHLEROVA / Filip TASCHLER	CZE
Diana DAVIS / Gleb SMOLKIN	GEO
Katerina MRAZKOVA / Daniel MRAZEK	CZE
Yuka ORIHARA / Juho PIRINEN	FIN
Hannah LIM / Ye QUAN	KOR
Leah NESET / Artem MARKELOV	USA
Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC	CAN
Noemi Maria TALI / Noah LAFORNARA	ITA
Celina FRADJI / Jean-Hans FOURNEAUX	FRA
Jennifer JANSE VAN RENSBURG / Benjamin STEFFAN	GER
Darya GRIMM / Michail SAVITSKIY	GER

And my prediction assignments for men:

The SB24 usually gets two:
Malinin, Kagiyama, Shaidorov, Sato, Aymoz, Miura, Siao Him Fa, Britschgi, Grassl, Cha, Brown, Egadze, Yamamoto, Memola, Vasiljevs, Tsuboi, Rizzo, Torgashev, Broussard, Frangipani, Litvintsev, M Selevko, Ma
23 skaters x 2 = 46 spots

The top 12 from Worlds are already listed above. So no extra there.

The WS24 not included above usually get one.
A Selevko, Hagara, Tomono, Sanchez
4 spots = Total 50 spots

Host spots. This is tricky. I assume US and Japan will use 1 spot each, France 2, China, Canada, Finland all 3.
That's 13 spots = Total 63 spots

The remaining 9 spots will go to the next in line on the SB list.
(25. Tomono), 27. Sadovsky. 28. Dai, 29. Economides, (30. A Selevko), (31. Hagara), 32. Shimada, 33. Samoilov, 34. Circelli, 35. Jin, (36. Sanchez), 38. Nordebäck, 40. Pitot, 41. Vinokur, 43. Pulkinen, 44. Hiwatashi, 45. H Kim, 46. Nakamura, 47. Rakic, 48. Blackwell
These 20 men will fight for the remaining 9 spots - Total 72 spots

 

[4everchan]

At least my Frangi gets GP spots

 

[PaulE]

Is there a limit on the number of spots each country has for the GP based on World's placements?

 

[4everchan]

Is there a limit on the number of spots each country has for the GP based on World's placements?

no. It is not the same as JGP... However, there is a number of maximum spots a country can have and I believe it is 18 spots... but i am not sure... (3 per event)

 

[Jontor]

Is there a limit on the number of spots each country has for the GP based on World's placements?

The top 12 skaters at worlds get two assignments. These assignments are personal and should a skater wd then that spot goes to the next skater in line based on the Season's Best list.

Each country can have max 3 spots per GP event, so the potential maximum is 18 spots.
It looks like Japan will have max in women with 3 skaters at each event. It doesn't look like any other country will achieve this.

 

[Minz]

I believe there was an ISU communication of some sort about the GP locations/dates, but for right now, the schedule looks like this (I made this a little while ago based on that)

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Do some skaters/teams skip GP in Olympic season to prepare on Olympics instead? I try to refresh my mind how it was last time in the Olympic season, but I can´t remember.

 

[FlossieH]

Well done! With that in mind I'll try to assign the women.

The SB Top 24 usually gets two spots:
Sakamoto, Liu, C Kim, Glenn, Chiba, Lin-Gracey, Levito, Petrokina, Higuchi, Nakai, Tennell, Sumiyoshi, Everhardt, Yoshida, Pinzarrone, Matsuike, Gubanova, Gutmann, Watanabe, Repond.
20 skaters x 2 = 40 spots.

We also know that the Top 12 from Worlds get two:
Lee, Schizas
2 skaters x 2 = 4 spots - Total 44 spots

I think Hendrickx will get 2 spots as she is a former World medalist - Total 46 spots.

Skaters not in the SB24 but inside the WS 24 typically only gets one spot.
Pezzetta, Schild, Kurakova - Total 49 spots.

Host spots for Finland, China, France, Canada
Obviously, France and Canada shouldn't name Schild and Schizas here.
12 spots - Total 61 spots.

Host spots for USA, Japan
This one is tricky as both federations has 2 host spots to play with. Hopefully they use them wisely...
Ziegler? Thorngren? Aoki and/or Takagi? (Japan will then be maxed out)
2-4 spots - Total 63-65 spots.

The rest usually gets assigned to skaters further down the SB list just outside top 24. 7-9 spots to fight for.
(25. Aoki), 28. Samodelkina, 29. Shin, 30. Kaiser, (34. Takagi), 35. Yun, (36. Pezzetta), (39. Schild), 41. Medland Spence, 42. Serna, 46. Thorngren, 48. Shiryaeva, 50. Dupuis, 51. Karhunen 52. Mihara, 54. Seniuk, 55. Sauter, 57. S Kim, (58. Kurakova), 61. Mikutina... These 20 skaters will fight for 7-9 spots. Some might get two.
7-9 spots - Total 72 spots.

We'll see how off I am with these predictions later in June...

For both this and your men's calculations you have missed out the JGP final and Junior Worlds medalists who are turning senior. Like the SB24 and WS24, they initially get considered for one spot. For ladies, this brings Jia Shin higher up the priorities.

 

[Jontor]

For both this and your men's calculations you have missed out the JGP final and Junior Worlds medalists who are turning senior. Like the SB24 and WS24, they initially get considered for one spot. For ladies, this brings Jia Shin higher up the priorities.

Yes you're right. Jia Shin is close to the SB 24 so she will probably get two spots anyway. But her Junior Worlds medal for sure guarantees her at least one spot.
Same goes for Hagara and Sanchez, who both will get one due to WS, but they probably will get two.

 

[moonvine]

Finland will for sure keep all host spots in women and there is even national competition about those. Maybe Iida Karhunen who is 39th and at highest place of local skaters in women in rankings will get one host spot - she also has highest TES of all Finns, including local senior men. She is age eligible next season and I suppose she is not interested in JGP any more as she has been there so many times. In pairs they will keep one and two are open to others and in ID at least two will kept of own, but there is third senior pair - the male is not a Finn, so no option to make it to Olympics - and if they develop enough, they may get one. Men is total question mark. There would be enough men, but not at very high level - question mark is also if Dr V still continues. But let's see, they are developing. So what for sure Finland gives away from host spots is two pairs, in women no spots to others, one ID spot and all men's spot maybe TBDs when entries will be published. They may also use men's host spot inviting some of our neighbours who do not get one a two spot in other ways.

Edit: correceted a few things

I hope Dr V continues!

 

[4everchan]

Do some skaters/teams skip GP in Olympic season to prepare on Olympics instead? I try to refresh my mind how it was last time in the Olympic season, but I can´t remember.

I don't quite remember unless some were injured and wanted to start their season, slower, healthier and later.

Do not forget that world standing has a role in skating orders and that's crucial...

 

[Arriba627]

As much as the assignments, I want to know WHERE the events are being held. Wonder how long we'll have to wait.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

For France it will be Angers I guess, they seem to have a long-term agreement.

 

[NanaPat]

As much as the assignments, I want to know WHERE the events are being held. Wonder how long we'll have to wait.

Each host announces their location separately, and at different times. As you can see, Skate Canada and Finlandia have already been announced. This is early for Canada. Usually USA is "early announcers".

 

[Arriba627]

Each host announces their location separately, and at different times. As you can see, Skate Canada and Finlandia have already been announced. This is early for Canada. Usually USA is "early announcers".

Thx! Didn't realize Canada had already announced Saskatoon. I was hoping for a close, easy to get to place.

 

[4everchan]

Thx! Didn't realize Canada had already announced Saskatoon. I was hoping for a close, easy to get to place.

Saskatoon is a nice place though.. not too far for you I recommend it

 

[denise3lz]

I think Hendrickx will get 2 spots as she is a former World medalist

Can You Young also get 2 spots by her past WC result (5th in 2022) ?

 

[saine]

Can You Young also get 2 spots by her past WC result (5th in 2022) ?

Here's the rule:

c) “Come-Back” Skaters/Couples: Skaters/Couples who were previously seeded (placed 1 to 6 within the past 10 years at a ISU World Figure Skating Championships) and subsequently did not participate in one or more competitive seasons will be given priority consideration to re-enter the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating for selection of up to 2 assignments if they commit in writing to participating in two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events and if such return is announced and confirmed by the date of the annual Selection Meeting. Such so called “Come Back Skaters/Couples” will not substitute any of the Seeded Skaters/Couples, mentioned under a). “Come Back Skaters/Couples” must not fulfil the requirements of the minimum Grand Prix score and would be considered for selection as an Organizing ISU Member Choice. A come back under this clause is allowed only once in their competitive career for any Skater/Couple.

It would apply to her. It wouldn't apply to Loena Hendrickx since she competed at Shanghai Trophy this season.

 

[TontoK]

I'd normally say that the top seeds will opt for the first events, if they were Skate America and Skate Canada.

But, if as @4everchan reports, Skate Canada is the third event, that might shake things up. I can see both Ilia and Alysa doing US and Canada, foregoing the travel to China (did we decide they'd be second?). I think Maddie and Evan might go to China to give Canada to Piper and Paul. Of course, Skate America will absolutely call dibs on their newly minted WCs, and that works out to all their advantages.

Honestly, for all the top competitors, the GP might be something of an afterthought this season. Get them "over with" right off the bat and then go into heavy training mode.

Did we ever decide how the top 3 seeds divided up the GPs? I always sort of assumed that #1 takes his picks, then #2, and #3 gets what's left over... but giving space for national heroes to get their home GPs...

 

[Ziotic]

I'd normally say that the top seeds will opt for the first events, if they were Skate America and Skate Canada.

But, if as @4everchan reports, Skate Canada is the third event, that might shake things up. I can see both Ilia and Alysa doing US and Canada, foregoing the travel to China (did we decide they'd be second?). I think Maddie and Evan might go to China to give Canada to Piper and Paul. Of course, Skate America will absolutely call dibs on their newly minted WCs, and that works out to all their advantages.

Honestly, for all the top competitors, the GP might be something of an afterthought this season. Get them "over with" right off the bat and then go into heavy training mode.

Did we ever decide how the top 3 seeds divided up the GPs? I always sort of assumed that #1 takes his picks, then #2, and #3 gets what's left over... but giving space for national heroes to get their home GPs...

Host picks take priority to their preferences.

P/P will get skate Canada regardless of what C/B wants for example