2026 Grand Prix Assignments

[Karen-W]

Confirmed by whom??
On May 25, Lacasse announced a new partnership.

Kaydee Kallay on Instagram: "A new chapter begins! We are thrilled to announce our official partnership! Can’t wait to start training together and look forward to see where the future takes us. Huge thank you to everyone who made this possible! Mor

790 likes, 51 comments - kallaykaydee on May 25, 2026: "A new chapter begins! We are thrilled to announce our official partnership! Can’t wait to start training together and look forward to see where the future takes us. Huge thank you to everyone who made this possible! More to come… - Kaydee...

www.instagram.com

Whoops! I missed that! I'll remove them from the list.

 

[Jammers]

Jason is competing this season? Why exactly and the same could be said for Jimmy Ma unless they just love to perform. But Jason is way past his prime now and Jimmy even with a weak US field over the last four years wasn't really a factor and he's nearly as old as Jason.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Kevin finding out where is going next season

ISU Figure Skating ⛸ on Instagram: "Grand Prix assignments are in and the athletes' reaction says it all! 🙌 Who's ready to see Kevin Aymoz 🇫🇷 at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Skate Canada International 2026 🇨🇦 & the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix

8,124 likes, 113 comments - isufigureskating on June 17, 2026: "Grand Prix assignments are in and the athletes' reaction says it all! 🙌 Who's ready to see Kevin Aymoz 🇫🇷 at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Skate Canada International 2026 🇨🇦 & the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix NHK Trophy 2026...

www.instagram.com

 

[Lanie]

Kevin won't be in Texas so he doesn't wanna come to Skate America

 

[Evgeniafan]

Kevin won't be in Texas so he doesn't wanna come to Skate America

I don't know how seeding works, but Sasha S is at Skate America so I don't think Kevin had a choice.

 

[tony]

Kevin won't be in Texas so he doesn't wanna come to Skate America

He won Skate America in Lake Placid. Don’t think he would’ve minded going back to the event

RE: the seeding. It historically has seemed to split 1-3 and 4-6 all into different events, but this year is an exception as Selevko and Siao would've been in the same grouping and they both ended up in France while China got no one (Aymoz being the other). There probably is precedence of host country skaters getting their event and it not affecting other selections, but Siao would've 'chosen first' under said system anyways so who knows.

Maybe the French Fed allowed Selevko so that Aymoz wouldn't be boxed into China and Japan. Skaters not in Asia who have a legitimate chance at the Final would have it rough in China --> Japan --> China.

 

[Evgeniafan]

He won Skate America in Lake Placid. Don’t think he would’ve minded going back to the event

RE: the seeding. It historically has seemed to split 1-3 and 4-6 all into different events, but this year is an exception as Selevko and Siao would've been in the same grouping and they both ended up in France while China got no one (Aymoz being the other). There probably is precedence of host country skaters getting their event and it not affecting other selections, but Siao would've 'chosen first' under said system anyways so who knows.

Maybe the French Fed allowed Selevko so that Aymoz wouldn't be boxed into China and Japan. Skaters not in Asia who have a legitimate chance at the Final would have it rough in China --> Japan --> China.

I never thought of that. I was worried Kevin would get China and Japan. Canada and Japan is much better.

 

[kwanfan1818]

There are at least a handful of skaters/teams that are doing the CHN->JPN double, some with legit shots of GPF. Cha has to travel no matter where he goes, but not all of the rest are skating home in Japan.

 

[Lanie]

@tony I know I know but I had to continue the Allen Texas joke for my own benefit SIGH you should know me by now

 

[Rukia]

@tony I know I know but I had to continue the Allen Texas joke for my own benefit SIGH you should know me by now

allen thanks you for your service

 

[Karen-W]

There are at least a handful of skaters/teams that are doing the CHN->JPN double, some with legit shots of GPF. Cha has to travel no matter where he goes, but not all of the rest are skating home in Japan.

The singles skaters who have the CHN-JPN double are almost entirely Asia-based skaters like Sato, Cha, Chiba, Chaeyeon Kim while the pairs teams (Akopova/Rakhmanin, Desrochers/Thrasher & Nagaoka/Moriguchi) & dance teams (Demougeot/le Mercier) are going to have some arduous trips.

 

[Nmsis]

I'm delighted that Bordet/Chardin are doing GP France (I wished they were last season).

That said, I just hope they don't owe this promotion to the center where they seem to be training this new season
I hope they'll do wonders

Spoiler

and that he won't end up dumping her and skating for the Republic of Moldova (apologies to the Republic of Moldova) at some point

 

[Allskate]

Does anyone think that this new USFS promo for Skate America is a real indication of which American skaters are actually going to be there?

U.S. Figure Skating on Instagram: "IMPORTANT @saatva SKATE AMERICA ANNOUNCEMENT ‼️🗣️ Link in bio to secure your seats."

41K likes, 147 comments - usfigureskating on July 16, 2026: "IMPORTANT @saatva SKATE AMERICA ANNOUNCEMENT ‼️🗣️ Link in bio to secure your seats.".

www.instagram.com

 

[Karen-W]

Does anyone think that this new USFS promo for Skate America is a real indication of which American skaters are actually going to be there?

U.S. Figure Skating on Instagram: "IMPORTANT @saatva SKATE AMERICA ANNOUNCEMENT ‼️🗣️ Link in bio to secure your seats."

41K likes, 147 comments - usfigureskating on July 16, 2026: "IMPORTANT @saatva SKATE AMERICA ANNOUNCEMENT ‼️🗣️ Link in bio to secure your seats.".

www.instagram.com

Alysa just did an interview with NBC Bay Area confirming she will be competing next season. Ilia's alluded to competing next season in recent Twitch livestreams. Compared to where their headspace, especially Ilia, was as SOI wore on and even when the GP assignments first dropped, I feel pretty confident that they'll both be at SkAm.

 

[Allskate]

I haven't seen any indication elsewhere that USFS has alread filled some of the TBDs for Skate America. Have any of you?

 

[Karen-W]

I haven't seen any indication elsewhere that USFS has alread filled some of the TBDs for Skate America. Have any of you?

No, however, with regard to the dance TBDs, the chances of NesMark picking up a 2nd GP are non-existent and the chances of WolfTsar picking up a 2nd GP are pretty slim. They're 3rd on the Alternates list and CoC and NHK are the only GPs with just 2 US teams. So, it seems pretty likely they'll get those TBD spots, even if it hasn't been officially announced.

 

[YukiNieve]

Is it true that Aug 15 is the deadline that skaters may withdraw from GPS without reasons such as injury?

 

[tony]

Is it true that Aug 15 is the deadline that skaters may withdraw from GPS without reasons such as injury?

Where is that coming from? And skaters can (and always have been able to) conveniently get 'injured' if they don't want to compete.

 

[Karen-W]

Is it true that Aug 15 is the deadline that skaters may withdraw from GPS without reasons such as injury?

The only deadline listed in the new 2026-27 Grand Prix selection procedure document is that host fed TBAs must be named by Sept 15, 2026.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I, too, thought there was an earlier, August deadline for confirming the initial GP Assignments. Of course, that wouldn't have meant that skaters couldn't withdraw after confirmation.

 

[YukiNieve]

Thanks! That's an internet rumor that's been around for a while, and I wanted to check if there's any truth to it.

 

[Andrea82]

The 15h August date used to be present in past Announcements of Grand Prix season for the "Confirmation of Participation".
However, it is not present in the released Documents for this season.

 

[Karen-W]

Schaller/Mayr have decided to retire. Their spot at Finlandia should go to Holichenko/Darenskyi unless there is a lengthy delay until after the first few Challengers in early September to select the replacement.

Sophia Schaller and Livio Mayr (AUT) have announced their respective retirements.
Sophia:

Sophia Schaller on Instagram: "For the last 18 years, I have lived and breathed figure skating, but now it’s time to say goodbye. This was definitely a very hard decision to make, because I don’t remember a time when skating wasn’t my priority. Howe

157 likes, 8 comments - sophia_schaller_00 on July 31, 2026: "For the last 18 years, I have lived and breathed figure skating, but now it’s time to say goodbye. This was definitely a very hard decision to make, because I don’t remember a time when skating wasn’t my priority. However, over the...

www.instagram.com

Livio:

Livio Mayr on Instagram: "After a lot of reflection, Sophia and I have decided to retire from competitive figure skating. This wasn’t an easy decision, but after everything we’ve been through together, we know it’s the right one. Our journey has com

160 likes, 19 comments - livio_ivo on July 30, 2026: "After a lot of reflection, Sophia and I have decided to retire from competitive figure skating. This wasn’t an easy decision, but after everything we’ve been through together, we know it’s the right one. Our journey has come with its share...

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

Danilova/Tsiba (NED) announced today that they are taking the season off so their spots at Skate America & NHK Trophy have opened up:

Daria Danilova on Instagram: "Last season we achieved our lifelong dream: competing at the Olympic Games. For us, this was always the main goal and ultimate dream. It was the reason for the hunt 🦁 We have been training and discussing our plans with

172 likes, 27 comments - da.ryad on July 31, 2026: "Last season we achieved our lifelong dream: competing at the Olympic Games. For us, this was always the main goal and ultimate dream. It was the reason for the hunt 🦁 We have been training and discussing our plans with our team and federation...

www.instagram.com

 

[haribobo]

Unofficial Pairs Alternate List
Holichenko/Darenskyi 33- 1 spot (likely filling Schaller/Mayr spot)
Liu/Bedard 34- 1 spot (likely filling D/T spot 1- NHK)
Caldara/Maglio 35- 1 spot (likely filling D/T spot 2- SkAm)
Williams/Lewer 41- 1 spot
Wessenberg/Strekalin 45- 1 spot
Ehrhard/Pellegris 50- 1 spot

Figured L/B would logically get NHK because there would already be 3 other US pairs at SkAm

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Liuuuu & Bedarddddd

 

[Karen-W]

Presumably the GP Coordination Group will fill these open spots with the next teams on the Alternates List, however they may very well hold off until after Kinoshita & John Nicks seeing how utterly decimated the Alternates List now is with 6 teams, 3 if the top 3 on the list are assigned this month.

 

[kwanfan1818]

While there's a occasional feast amidst the famine that is international Pairs skating, the Alternates List this year is looking really sad. I hope that teams without assignments at Challengers score-wise, even if they don't win because established teams are getting their feet wet/feedback at early CS events, but still win the thing. There aren't that many surprises like Scimeca/Knierim edging out Stolbova/Klimov at 2012 Coupe de Nice to get on the AL and an NHK assignment.

 

[ChillSkate]

Has USFS relinquished one of its host spots for Pairs at Skate America? I've seen multiple communications, including the recent Skate America single session tickets email, where they refer to the US competitors at Skate Americs as Efimova & Mitrofanov plus ONE TBD. They had Zingas & Kolesnik plus TWO TBDs listed for Ice Dance, so clearly they know how to indicate when there are 2 TBD teams.

Normally, I would think this was just a misktake but USFS inexplicably relinquished a host spot at Skate America last year in the Men's discipline (and I don't think we ever really found out why except for some speculation around horse trading related to Ilia when the Grand Prix schedule changed). So, I'm wondering if there will inexplicably be only 2 US Pairs teams at Skate America this year.

 

[Karen-W]

Has USFS relinquished one of its host spots for Pairs at Skate America? I've seen multiple communications, including the recent Skate America single session tickets email, where they refer to the US competitors at Skate Americs as Efimova & Mitrofanov plus ONE TBD. They had Zingas & Kolesnik plus TWO TBDs listed for Ice Dance, so clearly they know how to indicate when there are 2 TBD teams.

Normally, I would think this was just a misktake but USFS inexplicably relinquished a host spot at Skate America last year in the Men's discipline (and I don't think we ever really found out why except for some speculation around horse trading related to Ilia when the Grand Prix schedule changed). So, I'm wondering if there will inexplicably be only 2 US Pairs teams at Skate America this year.

The USFS Int'l Assignments page also shows just 1 TBD in pairs; but the initial GP Assignments list has 2 TBDs. Who knows what the USFS is doing, though I agree, they'd be foolish to give up one of the TBD spots seeing how many new teams we have.