2026 Sofia Trophy | Jan 6-11

[gsk8]

2026 Sofia Trophy is set to take place January 6-11, 2026, in Sofia, Bulgaria, at the Winter Sports Palace.

The event will feature the Singles (Novice, Junior and Senior) and Ice Dance (Novice and Junior) disciplines and will be conducted in accordance with the ISU Constitution and General Regulations, the ISU Special Regulations, and relevant ISU Communications.

• Official Site
• ISU Event Page
• Announcement (Interclub)
• Announcement (ISU)
• Schedule (Solo Dance)
• Entries / Results (Interclub)
• Entries / Results (ISU)
• Entries / Results (Solo Dance)
• Streaming Channel €

Time Schedule
(Local Time, UTC +02:00)​

Date​	Time​	Category​	Segment​	Reports​	Livestream​
07.01.2026		Day 1​			Livestream
	08:15:00	CHICKS GIRLS (1.7.2017 AND YOUNGER)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	09:27:00	CHICKS BOYS (1.7.2017 AND YOUNGER)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	10:15:00	CUBS II. GIRLS (1.7.2016 - 30.6.2017)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	12:10:00	CUBS I. GIRLS (1.7.2015 - 30.6.2016)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	14:00:00	CUBS BOYS (1.7.2015 - 30.6.2017)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	14:45:00	INTERMEDIATE NOVICE GIRLS (1.7.2009 AND YOUNGER)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	17:15:00	INTERMEDIATE NOVICE BOYS (1.7.2009 AND YOUNGER)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	17:15:00	BASIC NOVICE I. BOYS (1.7.2011 - 30.06.2013)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	17:55:00	BASIC NOVICE II. BOYS (1.7.2013 - 30.06.2015)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	18:45:00	ADVANCE NOVICE GIRLS (1.7.2009 - 30.6.2015)	Short Program	Time Schedule (pdf)
	21:55:00	ADVANCE NOVICE BOYS (1.7.2009 - 30.6.2015)	Short Program	Time Schedule (pdf)
08.01.2026		Day 2​			Livestream
	07:00:00	BASIC NOVICE III. GIRLS (1.7.2014 - 30.06.2015)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	09:10:00	BASIC NOVICE II. GIRLS (1.7.2013 - 30.06.2014)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	12:00:00	BASIC NOVICE I. GIRLS (1.7.2011 - 30.06.2013)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	15:15:00	Junior Ice Dance	Rhythm Dance	Time Schedule (pdf)
	17:00:00	Ice Dance	Rhythm Dance	Time Schedule (pdf)
	18:40:00	Klas II Solo Ice Dance	Rhythm Dance	Time Schedule (pdf)
	19:15:00	ADVANCE NOVICE GIRLS (1.7.2009 - 30.6.2015)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	22:30:00	ADVANCE NOVICE BOYS (1.7.2009 - 30.6.2015)	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
09.01.2026		Day 3​			Livestream
	08:30:00	Junior Women	Short Program	Time Schedule (pdf)
	13:25:00	Junior Men	Short Program	Time Schedule (pdf)
	15:00:00	Junior Ice Dance	Free Dance	Time Schedule (pdf)
	17:05:00	Ice Dance	Free Dance	Time Schedule (pdf)
	18:35:00	Klas II Solo Ice Dance	Free Dance	Time Schedule (pdf)
	19:15:00	Women	Short Program	Time Schedule (pdf)
	21:35:00	Men	Short Program	Time Schedule (pdf)
10.01.2026		Day 4​			Livestream
	09:15:00	Junior Women	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	13:36:00	Junior Men	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	15:15:00	Women	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)
	18:00:00	Men	Free Skating	Time Schedule (pdf)

 

[Andrea82]

Result page

Sofia Trophy 2026

Event results for Sofia Trophy 2026

sofia-trophy.clubdenkovastaviski.com

 

[saine]

I see Gabriele Frangipani withdrew. He's still listed on the European Criterium list but not the results page.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Result page

Sofia Trophy 2026

Event results for Sofia Trophy 2026

sofia-trophy.clubdenkovastaviski.com

And here is the page for the Interclub part of the event:

https://sofia-trophy.clubdenkovastaviski.com/2026/NonISU/

@Andrea82 - you know about how these things work. So, is this allowed under the rules?

My kid Varvara Abramkina is in the processs of switching from Cyprus to Bulgaria. She last competed for Cyprus in Junior Ladies at the Black Sea Ice Cup on 6th April 2025. So, she is under embargo until 6th April 2026. A couple of weeks ago, she became Bulgarian Junior Ladies Champion. Now that bit is fine, because it was not an international event.

Yet she is entered in Advanced Novices at this event. Surely the embargo would mean she would be ineligible to compete here.

Incidentally, this would be her first time competing in Advanced Novices since the Triglav Trophy in April 2024.

Is dropping down a level to Advanced Novices a valid way of getting around an embargo? If it is, it's a wonder more skaters don't do it!

Personally, this doesn't sit easy with me. I may not like embargoes, and may not agree that skaters should have to sit out a year when they switch countries. But they are part of the rules, and hence should be followed.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Jumping_Bean]

And here is the page for the Interclub part of the event:

https://sofia-trophy.clubdenkovastaviski.com/2026/NonISU/

@Andrea82 - you know about how these things work. So, is this allowed under the rules?

My kid Varvara Abramkina is in the processs of switching from Cyprus to Bulgaria. She last competed for Cyprus in Junior Ladies at the Black Sea Ice Cup on 6th April 2025. So, she is under embargo until 6th April 2026. A couple of weeks ago, she became Bulgarian Junior Ladies Champion. Now that bit is fine, because it was not an international event.

Yet she is entered in Advanced Novices at this event. Surely the embargo would mean she would be ineligible to compete here.

Incidentally, this would be her first time competing in Advanced Novices since the Triglav Trophy in April 2024.

Is dropping down a level to Advanced Novices a valid way of getting around an embargo? If it is, it's a wonder more skaters don't do it!

Personally, this doesn't sit easy with me. I may not like embargoes, and may not agree that skaters should have to sit out a year when they switch countries. But they are part of the rules, and hence should be followed.

CaroLiza_fan

Interclub competitions are not international competitions in the eyes of the ISU. They don't count for minimums (if they include Junior and Senior categories) and often include non-ISU-regulated age categories/program requirements. Just like the name implies, the skaters are not sent to these competitions by federations but by their clubs.

Varavara "dropping down" to Advanced Novices is born from the fact that the organisers of the Sofia Trophy have chosen to hold the Advanced Novice part of the event as an interclub event, which anyone can compete in, while the Junior event is part of the ISU international competition, which she cannot compete in until her year is up.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Interclub competitions are not international competitions in the eyes of the ISU. They don't count for minimums (if they include Junior and Senior categories) and often include non-ISU-regulated age categories/program requirements. Just like the name implies, the skaters are not sent to these competitions by federations but by their clubs.

Varavara "dropping down" to Advanced Novices is born from the fact that the organisers of the Sofia Trophy have chosen to hold the Advanced Novice part of the event as an interclub event, which anyone can compete in, while the Junior event is part of the ISU international competition, which she cannot compete in until her year is up.

Mmmm. I thought that as far as embargoes were concerned, an international event was an international event. Well, if there are distinctions, that would explain it then.

I always find it curious the way that the Advanced Novice level is treated differently from one event to the next. Sometimes the competitions are in the ISU part of the event, sometimes they are in the Interclub part of the event. I do wish some sort of concensus could be reached as to the status of all the Novice levels.

Call me cynical, but when you explained the difference, the thought did cross my mind as to whether the Advanced Novice competitions being in the Interclub part of the Sofia Trophy was a deliberate ruse by the organising Denkova-Staviski club to get their club member of the moment competing on the international circuit. But, I just checked the old Entries / Results pages, and the Advanced Novices haven't been in the ISU part of the Sofia Trophy since the 2022 edition. So, it is just a coincidence that it is working in Varvara's favour this year.

But, the main thing is that she is getting another opportunity to compete while waiting to be given the all clear by the ISU, rather than sitting out getting competition rusty.

Thank you!



CaroLiza_fan

 

[Andrea82]

Mmmm. I thought that as far as embargoes were concerned, an international event was an international event. Well, if there are distinctions, that would explain it then.

I always find it curious the way that the Advanced Novice level is treated differently from one event to the next. Sometimes the competitions are in the ISU part of the event, sometimes they are in the Interclub part of the event. I do wish some sort of concensus could be reached as to the status of all the Novice levels.

Call me cynical, but when you explained the difference, the thought did cross my mind as to whether the Advanced Novice competitions being in the Interclub part of the Sofia Trophy was a deliberate ruse by the organising Denkova-Staviski club to get their club member of the moment competing on the international circuit. But, I just checked the old Entries / Results pages, and the Advanced Novices haven't been in the ISU part of the Sofia Trophy since the 2022 edition. So, it is just a coincidence that it is working in Varvara's favour this year.


But, the main thing is that she is getting another opportunity to compete while waiting to be given the all clear by the ISU, rather than sitting out getting competition rusty.

Thank you!



CaroLiza_fan

Rule 109 (the one mentioning the waiting period) refers to competitions under Rule 107 from paragraphs 1 to 13. Paragraph 11 covers International Novice Competitions.
Rule 109 has a paragraph (5) about exceptions: If special circumstances so warrant the Council may waive the citizenship/residency or the permit requirement and/or the waiting periods according to paragraphs 2.a) and c) above"

However, checking the Sophia Trophy announcement document, the Novices events are listed as "INTERCLUB FIGURE SKATING COMPETITION".
Interclub competitions are covered by Paragraph 15 of Rule 107. So the whole rule 109 may not apply to them.

Or the organizers forgot/did not notice about it. A few years ago, Lev Vinokur competed for Israel at the JGP in Riga, and not even the ISU realised that less than 12 months earlier he had competed for Russia in an advanced international competition for advanced novices ( Alpen Trophy).
After the competition, they cancelled his JGP result.

Edit: I started to write the response in the morning...and then I had to go out...and finished off much later in the day and in the meantime the situation was already sorted by other replies.

 

[Silevril Ilumire]

In Junior Ice Dance, I am most looking forward to the new partnership of Atl Ongay Perez (formerly UK) with Mia Lee Mayer for Germany, as well as my wonderful Ukrainians Iryna Pidgaina and Artem Koval.

In Junior Women, I am most looking forward to Germany's Anna Gerke. There are some other interesting performers from the JGP as well, and the surprise JGP silver medalist Alicia Lengyelova who is competing against her sister, Olivia. I wonder if Italy's Miriam Stefania Tali is a sister of Italian ice dancer Noemi Tali?

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

In Junior Ice Dance, I am most looking forward to the new partnership of Atl Ongay Perez (formerly UK) with Mia Lee Mayer for Germany, as well as my wonderful Ukrainians Iryna Pidgaina and Artem Koval.

Mia and Atl have been going rightly so far. Including two Silver medals. Three of the partnerships here have been up against them before. Of these partnerships, only Arianna SOLDATI / Nicholas TAGLIABUE (ITA) has finished ahead of them. At Mia and Atl's debut at the Mezzaluna Cup, they were 7th and Soldati / Tagliabue were 3rd. Then at Mia and Atl's most recent outing at the Bosphorus Cup, they were 2nd and Soldati / Tagliabue were 1st.

The other two partnerships were also at the Bosphorus Cup. Diane SZNAJDER / Jachym NOVAK (CZE) were in 4th, while Elena DIMITROVA / Aleksei RIABTSEV (BUL) were in 8th,

In Junior Women, I am most looking forward to Germany's Anna Gerke. There are some other interesting performers from the JGP as well, and the surprise JGP silver medalist Alicia Lengyelova who is competing against her sister, Olivia. I wonder if Italy's Miriam Stefania Tali is a sister of Italian ice dancer Noemi Tali?

This will be the second head-to-head of the season between my Slovak kids. In the first, the Budapest Trophy, Alica won the title with Olivia in 3rd position, 27.01 points behind her little sister. It was actually a 1-2 in the Free Skate, and was so close to being a 1-2 overall, as Olivia was only 1.08 points behind the girl that finished in second position (who is not entered here).

What an achievement it would be for them to get the 1-2 here!

However, I'm really torn because I have another kid in Juniors here, Chiara HRISTOVA (BUL), and she really needs a good result to boost her confidence. Chiara moved up to Seniors at the start of the season, and really struggled. So, she then dropped back to Juniors, and has continued to struggle. And because she belongs to the host club, there will be a lot of expectation on her from the audience. How she copes with it could be crucial for the rest of her season.

Yes, Miriam Stefania Tali is Noemi's little sister. Miriam's own ISU Bio is currently just a stub, but it says it on Noemi & Noah's ISU Bio.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[TT_Fin]

7 skaters from 4 countries in men. Is it enough to get WC minimums, if somebody gets? Was the minimum requirements 8 skaters/2 countries or do I remember wrong?

 

[Andrea82]

7 skaters from 4 countries in men. Is it enough to get WC minimums, if somebody gets? Was the minimum requirements 8 skaters/2 countries or do I remember wrong?

for minimums it is enough 2 skaters from 2 countries.
It is World Standing points that need 8 skaters from 4 countries.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Rule 109 (the one mentioning the waiting period) refers to competitions under Rule 107 from paragraphs 1 to 13. Paragraph 11 covers International Novice Competitions.
Rule 109 has a paragraph (5) about exceptions: If special circumstances so warrant the Council may waive the citizenship/residency or the permit requirement and/or the waiting periods according to paragraphs 2.a) and c) above"

However, checking the Sophia Trophy announcement document, the Novices events are listed as "INTERCLUB FIGURE SKATING COMPETITION".
Interclub competitions are covered by Paragraph 15 of Rule 107. So the whole rule 109 may not apply to them.

Or the organizers forgot/did not notice about it. A few years ago, Lev Vinokur competed for Israel at the JGP in Riga, and not even the ISU realised that less than 12 months earlier he had competed for Russia in an advanced international competition for advanced novices ( Alpen Trophy).
After the competition, they cancelled his JGP result.

Edit: I started to write the response in the morning...and then I had to go out...and finished off much later in the day and in the meantime the situation was already sorted by other replies.

Actually, it looks like your theory about it being a Lev Vinokur situation was correct. The Time Schedule PDF has been amended, and Varvara is now down as a withdrawal.

Oh, I hope it wasn't because somebody saw this conversation! I would feel so guilty if me pointing out this discrepency led to her being pulled. Because I want her to be out there keeping competition fit, not sat twiddling her thumbs.

I don't know what is going on in Bulgaria, but the number of domestic competitions has really dropped off in the past couple of years. The BSF Awards (which was always held in February) and the Priz Victoria (which was always held in March) have both disappeared. If they were still on the calendar, they would really have helped tide Varvara over until her embargo was over.

But, the good news is that it is now less than 3 months until she is eligible to compete internationally again! So, hopefully she will be able to take in some late season events. (Unfortunately, this year's Black Sea Ice Cup comes a few days too early).

Oh, by the way, I didn't spot until there now that the Bulgarian Solo Dance Championships are being held as part of this event. Just three girls, all competing at Junior level. Here is their Entries / Results page:

https://bsf.bg/figure-skating/national-championships/08-09.01.2026/index.htm

I'll add the details to the OP in a moment.

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

This will be the second head-to-head of the season between my Slovak kids. In the first, the Budapest Trophy, Alica won the title with Olivia in 3rd position, 27.01 points behind her little sister. It was actually a 1-2 in the Free Skate, and was so close to being a 1-2 overall, as Olivia was only 1.08 points behind the girl that finished in second position (who is not entered here).

What an achievement it would be for them to get the 1-2 here!

THEY DID IT!!!

Alica won the Short Programme, with Olivia 3.88 points behind in 3rd position. Then Olivia won the Free Skate, with Alica 8.42 points behind in 2nd position. Which meant that Olivia won overall by 4.54 points over Alica in 2nd!!!

And it is not long until we are due to get a re-match, because they are both entered in the Merano Trophy in a fortnight's time.

WELL DONE OLIVIA AND ALICA!!!

CaroLiza_fan