Junior Grand Prix 2025/26

[Andrea82]

The ISU Council approved the calendar of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series Season 2025/26 as follows:

August 20 – 23, 2025 Riga / LAT (including Pair Skating)
August 27 – 30, 2025 Ankara / TUR (including Pair Skating)
September 3 – 6, 2025 Varese / ITA
September 9 – 13, 2025 Bangkok / THA (including Pair Skating)
September 24 – 27, 2025 Baku / AZE
October 1 – 4, 2025 Gdansk / POL (including Pair Skating)
October 8 – 11, 2025 Abu Dhabi / UAE

https://www.isu.org/inside-isu/isu-communications/communications/34439-isu-communication-2671/file

 

[her grace]

Nothing in the Americas again.

 

[Sylvia]

First time in Abu Dhabi and Baku! And Varese in Italy, too.

 

[Evgeniafan]

Nothing in the Americas again.

Or Japan

 

[Stephanie]

Nothing in the Americas again.

It’s definitely disappointing. The US has gotten fewer spots in recent years - only 6 total for men this season - in singles. One way to remedy this would be to host and thus get 3 entries per discipline.

I understand it costs money and maybe no city is volunteering to host, but previous places like Lake Placid and Colorado Springs where athletes can (I think) stay at the OTC would seem a bit more economical.

 

[Cutting the Ice]

I agree, it is weird that there are no events in the Americas - again. Last time a JGP event was held in Canada was 2018 and before that 2005! Rest of North America not better - last in Mexico 2013 and USA 2019. So, it's time!

 

[kwanfan1818]

The last time in Canada was a subsitution in Richmond (Vancouver area) with Ted Barton's help, because China cancelled. It wasn't originally going to be in Canada.

 

[RoseRed]

The last time in Canada was a subsitution in Richmond (Vancouver area) with Ted Barton's help, because China cancelled. It wasn't originally going to be in Canada.

There was meant to be a JGP in Canada for the 2020-21 season, though, before the whole JGP series was cancelled that year.

 

[Stephanie]

Canada (I believe Calgary) was also supposed to host the second JGP in 2021-22, but it was cancelled due to Canada’s continued Covid restrictions. Courchevel stepped in to host back to back events.

 

[ice coverage]

It’s definitely disappointing. The US has gotten fewer spots in recent years - only 6 total for men this season - in singles. One way to remedy this would be to host and thus get 3 entries per discipline.

I understand it costs money and maybe no city is volunteering to host, but previous places like Lake Placid and Colorado Springs where athletes can (I think) stay at the OTC would seem a bit more economical.

Another JGP in Lake Placid would make me very happy, but the financial difficulties of USFS do not give me optimism for one anytime soon.
I think Lake Placid at best would be only "a bit" more economical, as you said.
For 2019 JGP Lake Placid, there was an official hotel (commercial hotel) for skaters, coaches, etc. (Event officials had a different hotel.) I think it's possible that some Team USA skaters stayed at OPTC, but my guess would be that it was a different story for skaters from other federations?
Hosting in Lake Placid also could mean relatively high ground transportation costs for USFS, I think? Albany International Airport is at least two hours away, and one or more charter buses would be necessary for multiple rounds of airport pick-ups and drop-offs.

 

[Evgeniafan]

Another JGP in Lake Placid would make me very happy, but the financial difficulties of USFS do not give me optimism for one anytime soon.
I think Lake Placid at best would be only "a bit" more economical, as you said.
For 2019 JGP Lake Placid, there was an official hotel (commercial hotel) for skaters, coaches, etc. (Event officials had a different hotel.) I think it's possible that some Team USA skaters stayed at OPTC, but my guess would be that it was a different story for skaters from other federations?
Hosting in Lake Placid also could mean relatively high ground transportation costs for USFS, I think? Albany International Airport is at least two hours away, and one or more charter buses would be necessary for multiple rounds of airport pick-ups and drop-offs.

What about the Skating Club of Boston that hosted 2022 Skate America?

 

[Yyzskater]

Is the Bangkok date a typo or will it be a 5 day event next year?

 

[Cutting the Ice]

Another JGP in Lake Placid would make me very happy, but the financial difficulties of USFS do not give me optimism for one anytime soon.
I think Lake Placid at best would be only "a bit" more economical, as you said.
For 2019 JGP Lake Placid, there was an official hotel (commercial hotel) for skaters, coaches, etc. (Event officials had a different hotel.) I think it's possible that some Team USA skaters stayed at OPTC, but my guess would be that it was a different story for skaters from other federations?
Hosting in Lake Placid also could mean relatively high ground transportation costs for USFS, I think? Albany International Airport is at least two hours away, and one or more charter buses would be necessary for multiple rounds of airport pick-ups and drop-offs.

I agree that host locations for JGP events should be relatively easy to get to (near an international airport as a minimum requirement) and lots of options for hotels so all budgets can be met. Also relatively straightforward to get a visa with minimal wait times.

I am less worried about the GP series - fewer skaters per event and usually the country federation is able to spend more money on its elite seniors than on juniors.

 

[Sylvia]

Is the Bangkok date a typo or will it be a 5 day event next year?

Sharp eye! Since there's only 1 rink at the IWIS International Ice Skating Training Center and pairs will be held there for the first time, next year's JGP has 1 more day added. Usually it's one day of official practice and 3 days of competition.

 

[kwanfan1818]

There was meant to be a JGP in Canada for the 2020-21 season, though, before the whole JGP series was cancelled that year.

Right, so the intended gap was even bigger.

 

[Yyzskater]

Sharp eye! Since there's only 1 rink at the IWIS International Ice Skating Training Center and pairs will be held there for the first time, next year's JGP has 1 more day added. Usually it's one day of official practice and 3 days of competition

If that's the case, I wonder why they didn't give pairs elsewhere with two rinks?

 

[Karen-W]

If that's the case, I wonder why they didn't give pairs elsewhere with two rinks?

There may not have been another bid with 2 rinks available. Bangkok and FSAT will be hosting their 3rd GP in a row and I have to say this year was much smoother than their first year. The other three JGPs with Pairs next season are the other 3 who hosted this year. My bet is the ISU Dev Commission feels like it's better to put pairs in Bangkok with their experience organizing JGPs already than at one of the other venues.

 

[crzesk8dad]

My club hosted a JGP in 2004, Skate Long Beach. I was Chairman. It was to be hosted by another LOC who bowed out with only 6 months to go. It was a lot of work and money. Thanks to members of our club as well as other local SoCal clubs, it happened and went well.

USFS pretty much covered the tab, around $50K. We did have some good ticket sales due to some local.interest but that pretty much covered the food costs. We did not make a profit but it was an education and good time.

With today's inflation, I can see why a club or federation in the Americas would shy away from trying to get JGP. A lot of work.and money spent with little return.

 

[Karen-W]

2025-26 JGP Announcement is up -

https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isudamcontainer/CMS/Fansite/Figure-Skating/2024-2025/Events/Junior-Grand-Prix/Documents/JGP-General-Announcement-2025-26-Final-1747045771-836.pdf

Designated events for BLR & RUS should the ban be lifted before the entry deadlines -

JGP #2 TUR - 1 in each discipline for both countries
JGP #4 THA - 1 each in pairs for both countries
JGP #6 POL - 1 each in pairs for both countries
JGP #7 UAE - 1 each in men, women & ice dance for both countries

Men -
2 entries in each JGP - JPN, KOR, SVK
1 entry in each JGP - USA, GER, EST
1 entry in 6 JGPs - event allocation as follows:
NZL - all but #7 UAE
ISR - all but #2 TUR
SWE - all but #7 UAE
CHN - all but #1 LAT

1 entry in 5 JGPs - event allocation as follows:
CAN - all but #2 TUR & #5 AZE
HKG - all but #1 LAT & #5 AZE
FRA - all but #2 TUR & #6 POL
ITA - all but #4 THA & #5 AZE
BEL - all but #1 LAT & #6 POL
SUI - all but #4 THA & #7 UAE

Women -
2 entries in each JGP - JPN, KOR, USA
1 entry in each JGP - FRA, GEO, EST

1 entry in 6 JGPs - event allocation as follows:
SUI - all but #7 UAE
AUS - all but #3 ITA
FIN - all but #2 TUR
CHN - all but #1 LAT

1 entry in 5 JGPs - event allocation as follows:
ITA - all but #4 THA & #5 AZE
AZE - all but #1 LAT & #7 UAE
ISR - all but #2 TUR & #6 POL
NED - all but #1 LAT & #4 THA
ARM - all but #2 TUR & #5 AZE
HUN - all but #4 THA & #7 UAE
CYP - all but #2 TUR & #5 AZE
LAT - all but #3 ITA & #6 POL
CAN - all but #2 TUR & #5 AZE

Pairs -
3 entries in all 4 JGPs - GEO, UKR, CAN, SUI
2 entries in all 4 JGPs - CHN, USA, FRA, JPN, ITA, SVK, ESP
1 entry in all 4 JGPs - CZE, GBR, HUN

Ice Dance -
2 entries in each JGP - ITA, USA, GER
1 entry in each JGP - UKR, FRA, CAN

1 entry in 6 JGPs - event allocation as follows:
BEL - all but #6 POL
SUI - all but #7 UAE
SVK - all but #7 UAE
JPN - all but #5 AZE

1 entry in 5 JGPs - event allocation as follows:
AUT - all but #2 TUR & #7 UAE
TUR - all but #1 LAT & #7 UAE
CZE - all but #1 LAT & #4 THA
GBR - all but #4 THA & #5 AZE

 

[zebobes]

As I was looking at the allocated lists for the JGP, it occurred to me that the way the spots are allocated on the basis of Junior Worlds is a little silly. Just because one country has a very strong skater doesn't mean that they need 14 spots, and the way to earn the highest level of spots on the JGP should be based on the strength of the overall team.

How would I adjust the rules? I would draw inspiration from the rules for Olympic spots, prioritizing countries that have qualified multiple skaters to the FS. Whether it would make more sense to add the top two together, or to just go in order of top placement, either way could be argued.

For Junior men, it comes down to the difference between Slovakia and the US, with Adam Hagara in third and Jacob Sanchez in fourth. Since Slovakia also qualified two men to the FS, it shows that Slovakia has depth, and so perhaps they do in fact deserve the 14 spots next year. On the other hand, the US's top two men's placements are 4+13 compared to Slovakia's 3+19. Either way, it would not make a big difference.

I would say the discipline this year that has the most problems is probably pairs. Georgia, Ukraine, and Switzerland definitely do not need that many spots, whereas the US, Italy, and France all qualified two teams into the FS. Now, I am well aware that these countries may also not have that many pair teams to fill in the twelve spots, but at least this kind of plan would encourage the development of overall depth.

Edit: Examining the lists of entries, one thing that would need to be decided is how a country like Canada would be handled, that qualified two men in the FS, but in 16th and 17th place. Would that bump them up to having seven entries? I would argue that it make sense, that you prioritize all the countries with multiple skaters in the FS, and then you move on to the countries with only one entry.

 

[Flip Jump]

One of my first big skating memories was the 1998-1999 Junior Grand Prix Final at Detroit Skating Club when I was 5. I loved seeing so many future Olympians in that group and it really solidified my obsession with skating.
I worry the US thinks too big and does not apply to host because of cost. Hosting at a smaller venue is not a bad thing at all and I hope they are able to make it happen again soon!

 

[sk9tingfan]

First time in Abu Dhabi and Baku! And Varese in Italy, too.

This should be a novel eperience, if this is the arena.

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