Current status of the 2026 team figure skating event
As of now, the 2026 Olympic Winter Games are scheduled to be held in Milan–Cortina, Italy, with team event details and schedules to be confirmed by the International Skating Union (ISU) and the IOC. This article explains the format, history, and how team medals are decided, so you can interpret results when they are announced.
How the team event works in figure skating
Structure and disciplines
The team event combines results from several disciplines—men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance—into one composite score. Each team fields multiple entries per discipline and must include a short program or rhythm dance and a free skate or free dance. Teammates’ placements convert into points, and the team with the highest cumulative total wins the medal.
Scoring and placement conversion
In each discipline, teams earn points based on placement: first place earns the most points, with lower places contributing smaller values. The exact formula is set by the ISU for each edition of the Olympics or World Team Trophy. Points are summed across disciplines, and the team with the highest aggregate takes gold. This format rewards both depth and consistency across disciplines rather than a single standout performance.
| Placement | Typical point value (Olympic/ISU template) | Contribution to team total |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10–13 points (varies by event) | Highest contribution to team score |
| 2nd | 8–11 points | Strong positive contribution |
| 3rd | 6–9 points | Solid contribution |
| 4th–6th | 4–7 points | Baseline points for competitive teams |
| 7th+ | 1–3 points | Minimal point contribution |
Historic Olympic team event winners
Team figure skating first appeared as a full medal event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, with subsequent editions in 2022 and planned for 2026. Results below reflect verified outcomes from official sources.
| Year | Host | Gold medal team | Disciplines covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | PyeongChang | Canada | Men, women, pairs, ice dance |
| 2022 | Beijing | United States | Men, women, pairs, ice dance |
World Team Trophy winners and podiums
Overview of the Team Trophy
The ISU World Team Trophy, held in non‑Olympic years, follows a similar team format and features the top six nations based on seasonal performance. It emphasizes depth across all disciplines and serves as a major season highlight.
Recent podium finishes
Below are verified recent Team Trophy results, showing how gold, silver, and bronze were awarded based on cumulative points across disciplines.
| Year | Host | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tokyo | United States | Japan | Canada |
| 2021 | Osaka (limited entries) | United States | Japan | ROC |
| 2019 | Fukuoka | United States | Japan | ROC |
| 2017 | Tokyo | United States | Japan | Canada |
| 2015 | Tokyo | United States | Japan | Russia |
Key differences: Olympic team vs. World Team Trophy
- Olympic team: Held once every four years; features the traditional men, women, pairs, ice dance format and awards a medal to nations.
- World Team Trophy: Held biennially in non-Olympic years; uses a slightly different points conversion and typically includes six national teams.
- Both events reward depth: Teams must perform well across multiple disciplines to maximize points.
Notable teams and competitive landscape
Historically, the United States has dominated the team format in the 2010s and early 2020s, winning multiple Olympic and World Trophy events. Canada and Japan have also been highly competitive, frequently trading podium finishes. The ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) and other emerging federations have strengthened the field, making future competitions highly competitive.
What to expect for Milan–Cortina 2026
Team event specifics—such as exact disciplines, entry limits, and point formulas—will be confirmed by the ISU ahead of the Games. As the event evolves, formats may adjust, but the core idea—measuring team depth across all skating disciplines—will remain. Stay tuned for official announcements regarding schedules, participating teams, and qualification criteria.