2026-27 Junior Grand Prix Series

[gsk8]

Junior Grand Prix Series 2026/27
Communication No. 2747 Decisions of the Council

The ISU Council approved the allocation of Junior Grand Prix (JGP) Series events for the 2026-27 season, with seven events scheduled across the globe according to the following agenda (with Pairs events spread throughout the Series):

August 19-22, 2026: Xi’An City, CHN (including Pairs)
August 26-29, 2026: Riga, LAT (including Pairs)
September 2-5, 2026: Bangkok, THA
September 16-19, 2026: Ankara, TUR (including Pairs)
September 23-26, 2026: Batumi, GEO
September 30-October 3, 2026: Ljubljana, SLO
October 7-10, 2026: Gdansk, POL (including Pairs)

 

[4everchan]

Sigh... no North America. No Western Europe.

 

[Jeanie19]

No Dubai. I really liked that location. Every skater got a stuffed camel on skates and it seemed so well organized.

 

[Skating91]

Sigh... no North America. No Western Europe.

Lot of visa problems for skaters, especially USA. Skater at the last World's didn't receive the visa until days before the event, and the coach didn't get one. Riga JGP this season a skater got turned back at the Latvian border.

Slovenia and Poland are central Europe with a western European standard of living, safe, low crime. Good choices.

UAE, Thailand, Turkey, Georgia, China for many nationalities, very easy countries to get visas, accommodating people.

 

[noskates]

I actually like the fact that the ISU is spreading these competitions around the world instead of just concentrating on North America and parts of Europe. The more exposure figure skating gets the better it is and it also encourages skaters from these small countries to participate.

 

[Mathematician]

Sigh... no North America. No Western Europe.

Its too bad there isn't at least one stage here in the New World. But if we're flying across the Atlantic, what's really the difference for us if it's in western Europe versus Poland or Slovenia?

 

[4everchan]

Its too bad there isn't at least one stage here in the New World. But if we're flying across the Atlantic, what's really the difference for us if it's in western Europe versus Poland or Slovenia?

Time difference for live-streaming when it's in Eastern Europe, I rarely can watch live the 2-3 hours more make a huge difference

 

[Mathematician]

Time difference for live-streaming when it's in Eastern Europe, I rarely can watch live the 2-3 hours more make a huge difference

Good point, though Poland/Slovenia seem to be the same time-zone as Barcelona/Berlin.

 

[4everchan]

Good point, though Poland/Slovenia seem to be the same time-zone as Barcelona/Berlin.

Latvia, Georgia and Turkey : most of the skating happens when I am sleeping, which is already happening with China and Thailand...

I like that skating is brought in places where it's not necessary traditional. I just wished there were more diversity.

 

[Skating91]

Latvia, Georgia and Turkey : most of the skating happens when I am sleeping, which is already happening with China and Thailand...

I like that skating is brought in places where it's not necessary traditional. I just wished there were more diversity.

There is huge diversity. It's more diverse than ever before. I suspect visa policies are a major reason for not hosting junior events in North America. Also, it's only convenient for skaters in North America, no-one else.

If we want to talk about a lack of diversity look at the senior GP. Same countries every year. Should be shared around the world, taken off countries that have poor attendances.

Compare US visa policies (Canada very similar policies)

Thailand visa policies

Georgia visa policies

 

[4everchan]

It's normal that GP series are where the biggest markets for the sport are. GPs cost a lot of money to the organizing Feds and there is a need to sell TV rights and tickets, which would be very hard to do in tiny skating markets.

There are so many competitions in Europe already with the Challenger series and Series B events. North America doesn't even have a real challenger event right now... it's been split up. Canada hasn't hosted a Challenger for a while. I am not even sure ACI will ever return which is sad, it was a competition I could attend often.

GPs again, are a completely different ball game because they are limited to the top skaters who receive invitations from the hosts.
So, it doesn't really give that much of a chance to most North American skaters.

Also, it's not entirely true that having events in North America is only good for North American athletes considering the number of skaters from all over the world who train in North America.

I am fine if people disagree with me but I would like to see JGPs in North America once in a while...

 

[Mathematician]

It's normal that GP series are where the biggest markets for the sport are. GPs cost a lot of money to the organizing Feds and there is a need to sell TV rights and tickets, which would be very hard to do in tiny skating markets.

There are so many competitions in Europe already with the Challenger series and Series B events. North America doesn't even have a real challenger event right now... it's been split up. Canada hasn't hosted a Challenger for a while. I am not even sure ACI will ever return which is sad, it was a competition I could attend often.

GPs again, are a completely different ball game because they are limited to the top skaters who receive invitations from the hosts.
So, it doesn't really give that much of a chance to most North American skaters.

Also, it's not entirely true that having events in North America is only good for North American athletes considering the number of skaters from all over the world who train in North America.

I am fine if people disagree with my but I would like to see JGPs in North America once in a while...

I mean it surprises me there isn't at least one JGP stage in NA.

I'm sure the organizers know something we don't, monetarily. I imagine the gap in popularity between regions is much bigger with juniors than seniors. The USA juniors' commercial nonexistence must be factored. Meanwhile for seniors consider Liu or Levito, or even Glenn. Oh, and one such as Malinin for the men. Chock & Bates...

Eastern junior presence is comparatively significant.

 

[auser]

I am not even sure ACI will ever return which is sad, it was a competition I could attend often.

This makes me so sad. I loved watching ACI. Agree about wishing for a JGP in NA(although I hope I am not being subconsciously selfish hoping for less sleep deprivation )

 

[lariko]

Next meeting is not till the end of the year... aww.

 

[Kevin Uxbridge]

If the JGPs are held in Eurasia largely for the sake of keeping the competitions financially accessible to the majority of participants, then perhaps the Finals could be held in the Americas with greater frequency? There's a lot fewer skaters (and support staff) that would need to travel for the Finals than the qualifiers.

 

[ladyjane]

I don't live in NA, but still think it's a pity there isn't a JGP there. Indeed, not so much for the skaters as to introduce the public who won't travel too far for a JGP. Now, I acknowledge NA is rather big (if you live in the North of Canada, Miami still is a long way off!) but still, crossing the Atlantic is taking it a step further.

We used (a long time ago) to have a JGP in The Netherlands and it was a good introduction to figure skating. Especially, since it's somewhat less popular than other skating disciplines like short- en long track speed skating!

 

[Viola26]

Meanwhile I'm just happy that we keep having JGP in Riga and that I already have managed to watch Mao Shimada and Rio Nakata right here in my city, before they move up to seniors. I rarely travel far to attend skating events, so feeling lucky to have such an international event here.