The ISU Figure Skating Awards return for their sixth edition, celebrating the season’s most outstanding performances, creativity, and achievements on the ice. The list of candidates for the 2026 Awards has now been revealed, with public voting open from today, Monday, March 9, until March 18 at 12:00 CET via the official ISU website and ISU App. 

The ISU Figure Skating Awards 2026 Ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 29, at the conclusion of the ISU Figure Skating World Championships in Prague (CZE). This special event will celebrate the performances, creativity and achievements that defined a remarkable 2025/26 season, while also recognizing the coaches, choreographers and designers whose work brings the artistry of the sport to life.

How to Vote? 

As from March 9^th, fans are invited to cast their votes for their most deserved skaters from a list of candidates in the Best Costume, Most Entertaining Program, Best Choreographer, and Best Coach categories. 

Vote here on the ISU Figure Skating Awards online voting platform 

Public voting will determine a shortlist of three nominees in each category, with the final winners selected by a distinguished Jury of Figure Skating experts. The winners of these categories, along with the recipients of the Best Newcomer and Skater(s) of the Year awards, will be revealed during the Awards Ceremony. 

Media covering the World Championships in Prague are also invited to save the date, with further information regarding attendance to be communicated in due course.

Discover the 2026 Awards Candidates

A Selection Commission curated a list of 48 candidates in total based on the 2025/26 season’s performances, rankings, creativity and other criteria which will be put to a public vote. The full list of candidates is as follows: 

Best Costume (16 candidates)

Honors the Single Skater or Pair or Ice Dance Couple presenting a costume for the first time in season 2025/26 reflecting creativity, fashion, style and originality. 

• Ilia MALININ (USA) – Men’s Free Skating – Designed by Satomi Ito
• Aleksandr SELEVKO (EST) – Men’s Short Program – Designed by Julia Kuritsyna
• Mikhail SHAIDOROV (KAZ) – Men’s Free Skating – Designed by Saken Zhaksybayev and Akmaral Zharaskyzy
• Adam SIAO HIM FA (FRA) – Men’s Short Program – Designed by astraeecouture
• Amber GLENN (USA) – Women’s Short Program – Designed by Lisa McKinnon
• Anastasiia GUBANOVA (GEO) – Women’s Free Skating – Designed by Svetlana Gachinskaya
• Kaori SAKAMOTO (JPN) – Women’s Short Program – Designed by Sophie Thomas (astraeecouture)
• Haein LEE (KOR) – Women’s Free Skating – Designed by Lisa McKinnon
• Alysa LIU (USA) – Women’s Free Skating – Designed by Lisa McKinnon
• Minerva HASE / Nikita VOLODIN (GER) – Pairs Free Skating - Designed by astraeecouture
• Riku MIURA / Ryuichi KIHARA (JPN) – Pairs Short Program – Designed by Mathieu Caron
• Deanna STELLATO-DUDEK / Maxime DESCHAMPS (CAN) – Pairs Short Program – Designed by Oscar de la Renta
• Piper GILLES/ Paul POIRIER (CAN) – Ice Dance Free Dance – Designed by Bobby and Sally Ackbarali
• Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES (USA) – Ice Dance Free Dance - Designed by Madison Chock, Mathieu Caron
• Emilea ZINGAS / Vadym KOLESNIK (USA) – Ice Dance Free Dance – Designed by astraeecouture
• Holly HARRIS / Jason CHAN (AUS) – Ice Dance Free Dance – Designed by Mathieu Caron & Team

Most Entertaining Program (16 candidates)

Honors the Single Skater or Pair or Ice Dance Couple for the music selection, expression, creativity, contemporary implementation, originality, and overall performance presented for the first time in season 2025/26 

• Ilia MALININ (USA) – Men’s Short Program 
• Kevin AYMOZ (FRA) – Men’s Short Program 
• Aleksandr SELEVKO (EST) – Men’s Short Program 
• Jason BROWN (USA) – Men’s Short Program 
• Yuma KAGIYAMA (JPN) – Men’s Short Program 
• Adam SIAO HIM FA (FRA) – Men’s Short Program
• Amber GLENN (USA) – Women’s Short Program
• Kaori SAKAMOTO (JPN) – Women’s Free Skating
• Riku MIURA / Ryuichi KIHARA (JPN) – Pair’s Free Skating
• Anastasiia METELKINA / Luka BERULAVA (GEO) – Pairs’ Short Program
• Annika HOCKE / Robert KUNKEL (GER) – Pais‘ Free Skating
• Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES (USA) – Ice Dance Free Dance
• Lilah FEAR / Lewis GIBSON (GBR) – Ice Dance Free Dance
• Piper GILLES/ Paul POIRIER (CAN) – Ice Dance Free Dance
• Emilea ZINGAS / Vadym KOLESNIK (USA) – Ice Dance Rhythm Dance
• Allison REED / Saulius AMBRULEVICIUS (LTU) – Ice Dance Free Dance 

Best Choreographer (8 candidates)

Honors the choreographic work of a Choreographer who successfully inspired one or several Single Skaters and/or Pairs and/or ice Dance Couples. The program must have been performed for the first time during season 2025/26.

• Massimo SCALI
• Benoît RICHAUD
• Mark PILLAY
• Adam SOLYA
• Marie-France DUBREUIL 
• Lori NICHOL
• Shae-Lynn BOURNE
• Carolina KOSTNER

Best Coach (8 candidates)

Honors a Coach who delivered professional and efficient work and achieved outstanding results during season 2025/26 with one or several Single Skaters and/or Pairs and/or Ice Dance Couples 

• Dmitri SAVIN
• Mie HAMADA
• Damon ALLEN
• Phillip DIGUGLIELMO
• Masakazu KAGIYAMA
• Svetlana VARNAVSKAJA
• Ice Academy of Montreal - Marie-France DUBREUIL, Romain HAGUENAUER, Patrice LAUZON et al.
• Sonoko NAKANO

The Best Newcomer and Skater(s) of the Year categories will be selected exclusively by the Awards Commission. 

For further information and updates about the ISU Figure Skating Awards, stay tuned on the following channels: 

• Visit the webpage here: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/awards/
• Vote here: https://isu-skating.com/login/

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