MILAN, February 10, 2026 – Figure Skating continues to reign supreme as a television draw at the Winter Olympics, and the 2026 Milan Cortina Games are no exception. The competition, featuring stars like Team USA’s Ilia Malinin, Japan’s Sakamoto Kaori, and American ice dance duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates, is unfolding live on NBC and Peacock.
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will showcase five distinct Figure Skating events, offering a thrilling spectacle for both seasoned fans and newcomers.
- Five Figure Skating events will be contested at the Milan Cortina Games: men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, ice dance, and the team event.
- Scoring combines technical execution of elements with artistic impression, judged by technical panels and judges.
- The Team event comprises eight segments, awarding points for each to determine a combined team score.
- Viewers can catch all the action live on NBC and Peacock, with additional coverage and features.
The allure of Figure Skating lies in its unique combination of physical prowess and artistic expression. Each routine tells a story, enhanced by music and choreography, making it a compelling watch for viewers worldwide.
How Many Figure Skating Events Are at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics?
There are five competitive Figure Skating events at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, and NBC Sports will feature each of them during its coverage. These events include men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, ice dance, and the team event.
Men’s and Women’s Singles events showcase individual skaters performing intricate routines filled with challenging jumps and expressive movements. Pairs events feature duos demonstrating synchronized jumps, spins, and lifts, highlighting both strength and precision. Ice Dance, which debuted at the Olympics in 1976, emphasizes artistry and choreography alongside technical skill, focusing on step sequences and synchronized spins known as “twizzles.”
The Team event is a multifaceted competition consisting of eight segments: Men’s Short program, Men’s Free Skate, Women’s Short program, Women’s Free Skate, Pairs Short program, Pairs Free Skate, Ice Dance Rhythm Dance, and Ice Dance Free Dance. Points are awarded for each segment, culminating in a final team score.
What Are the Rules for Figure Skating at the Olympics?
Olympic Figure Skating is governed by the International Judging System (IJS), a complex set of rules and scoring metrics. Athletes earn points based on the execution of predetermined moves, or “elements,” assessed by a technical panel and a panel of judges.
The technical panel identifies and assigns a difficulty rating to each element, such as spins, jumps, and step sequences. Judges then evaluate the performance of each element, adding or deducting points from its base value to determine the technical element score (TES). The difficulty of an element significantly impacts the overall technical score; for instance, a double toe loop jump has a base value of 1.3 points, while a quad axel jump is worth 12.5 points.
Judges also score “program components,” evaluating the artistic and expressive aspects of each routine. These components, judged across five categories, contribute to the program component score (PCS): Skating Skills, Transitions, Performance, Composition, and Interpretation of the Music.
The final score, known as a “total segment score,” is calculated by adding the TES and PCS (with the PCS multiplied by a factor to ensure equal weighting). Penalties can be incurred for falls, costume violations, time violations, or pauses during a routine, deducting points from the skater’s total segment score.
How to Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics on NBC and Peacock
The full schedule of Figure Skating events at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games can be found here.
Throughout the Winter Olympic Games, NBC and Peacock will present live and curated coverage of Olympic events, alongside special features and field reports from correspondents like Stanley Tucci and Snoop Dogg. Viewers can also enjoy daily highlights and Team USA moments on Primetime in Milan, NBC’s nightly recap show hosted by Mike Tirico.
Missed a live event? Peacock’s Olympics stream allows you to catch up on any Winter Olympics event on demand!
