Regulations
Date: 4 April 2026
Time: 17.00-21.30
Venue: Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg
Schedule
Date of arrival: 2 April 2026
Draw: 3 April 2026
Rehearsals: 3 April 2026
Dress rehearsal: 10.00-14.00, 4 April 2026
Eligibility rules
- Born in 2009 (any month) or older;
- Competing in any discipline (singles, pairs, ice dance);
- Current athletes or last took part in an official competition no later than 2015/16;
- Showing skills that are expected from elite athletes.
Applications from athletes competing in single skating and wishing to compete in a pair or as a team of several participants may be considered by the organisers. At the same time, athletes must prove that the proposed pair or team program will maintain the level of skill expected from elite athletes and will be brighter than the participation of each of them individually.
The organisers reserve the right to make changes to the list because of violating participation rules or medical reasons.
Participant programs requirements
Each of the participants will have to perform an original exhibiton created especially for this competition and not performed/announced in any way earlier:
1. Duration of the exhibition: from 2,5 to 3 minutes (additional time is to be agreed with the organisers);
2. Obligatory technical elements: none
3. Musical restrictions: none;
4. Restrictions for the use of props/costumes: none;
5. Artistic light will be provided by the organiser;
6. Special effects / projections etc.: in agreement with the organisers.
The exhibition must contribute to create a festive atmosphere, evoke positive emotions in the audience, surprise with skill and cheer up. There are no creative, technical or musical limitations. The only criterion is to bring joy to viewers.
Draw
The draw is held within each discipline.
Judging
The title of the champion of the Russian Challenge 2026 will be awarded to the participant who got the most points according to the following formula:
1. 1/3 of the score is based on the average score of judges from the field of performing arts.
2. 1/3 of the score is based on the average score of figure skating related specialists.
3. 1/3 of the score is based on the average score of audience (1 ticket = 1 vote).
Each jury member or a viewer gives points for two figure skating components* according to the figure skating rules for the current season on a ten-point scale using 0.25 steps according to the following scale:
| 10 | Outstanding |
| 9.00-9.75 | Excellent |
| 8.00-8.75 | Very good |
| 7.00-7.75 | Good |
| 6.00-6.75 | Above average |
| 5.00-5.75 | Average |
| 4.00-4.75 | Fair |
| 3.00-3.75 | Weak |
| 2.00-2.75 | Poor |
| 1.00-1.75 | Very poor |
| 0.00-0.75 | Extremely poor |
* Components that the organisers considered to reflect the objectives of the competition and the requirements for participants as much as possible:
Composition
: the intentional, developed and/or original arrangement of the repertoire of all types of movements into a meaningful whole according to the principles of proportion, unity, space, pattern, and musical structure. In evaluating the Composition, the following must be considered:
- Unity;
- Connections between and within elements;
- Pattern and ice coverage;
- Multidimensional movements and use of space;
- Choreography reflecting musical phrase and form.
Presentation
: the demonstration of engagement, commitment and involvement based on an understanding of the music and composition. In evaluating the Presentation, the following must be considered:
- Expressiveness and projection;
- Variety and contrast of energy and of movements;
- Musical sensitivity and timing;
- Unison, oneness and awareness of space (Pair Skating, Ice Dance).
Special Prizes:
- Audience Award - awarded to a participants with the most points from the audience.
- 1st place Pairs - awarded to a pair with the highest total score.
- 1st place Ice Dance - awarded to an ice dance team with the highest total score.
- 1st place Women - awarded to a woman with the highest total score.
- 1st place Men - awarded to a man with the highest total score.
- Jury Special Prize - awarded to a participant by the decision of one of the jury members. The jury member, justifying their choice, will be able to award a special prize to a participant who demonstrated the best qualities related to their professional activity on the ice, such as choreography, acting skills, musical composition, original costume, or technical difficulty.
Prize pool
Champion of the event
1 - 5 000 000 RUB
2 - 2 500 000 RUB
3 - 1 000 000 RUB
Special prizes (every)
1 000 000 RUB
Other
Each invited participant will be paid a fee which can be used for choreographing, costumes and/or props, as well as covering other expenses related to participation in the event.
Accommodation (if necessary), meals and transportation from the place of residence to the venue of the competition (if necessary) are provided by the organisers.
