It’s time to shine for Figure Skating’s brightest young talents at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2026 in Tallinn (EST) March 3 to 8. The youngsters are ready to step into the limelight and to provide an unique glimpse into the future of the sport. From rising star Mao Shimada (JPN) who aims at an unprecedented fourth World Junior title to the duel between Rio Nakata (JPN) and Minkyu Seo (KOR), a deep fields full of talent promise spectacular performances and exciting competition. The ISU World Junior Championships celebrate their 50th anniversary this year.

The top contenders

Rio Nakata (JPN) is determined to defend his ISU World Junior title ©ISU

Rio Nakata (JPN) up against Minkyu Seo (KOR) 

• Reigning ISU World Junior Champion Rio Nakata (JPN) is looking at defending his title and at getting redemption as he had to settle for silver in the Junior Final last December. 
• Arch rival and ISU World Junior silver medalist Minkyu Seo (KOR) aims at challenging Nakata. He comes in with confidence following his win at the Junior Final.
• Jacob Sanchez (USA) returns to Junior Worlds and aims for the podium after coming fourth a year ago. He wants to use his senior-level experience from this season.
• Others to watch include ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist Lucius Kazanecki (USA), ISU Junior Grand Prix finalists Denis Krouglov (BEL), Habin Choi (KOR) and Taiga Nishino (JPN).

Mao Shimada (JPN) is going for a record fourth ISU World Junior title ©ISU

Mao Shimada (JPN) aiming at record fourth title

• Junior queen Mao Shimada (JPN) is already the most successful junior skater in history. She has won a record of three consecutive ISU World Junior titles and four ISU Junior Grand Prix Final titles. Now she is going for a fourth title at Junior Worlds before she will move up to the senior ranks. 
• ISU Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist Yuseong Kim (KOR) and bronze medalist Mei Okada (JPN) will join the medal hunt.
• Other medal contenders include ISU Junior Grand Prix finalist Mayuko Oka, Hana Bath (AUS), Elina Goidina (EST) and Sophie Joline von Felten (USA)
• Several of the young women have a triple Axel in their arsenal and Shimada and von Felten even have landed quads in competition.

Rui Guo & Yiwen Zhang (CHN) are eying the top of the podium in Tallinn ©ISU

The Junior Pairs battle is on

• ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champions Rui Guo & Yiwen Zhang (CHN) lead the field and have a quad twist in their arsenal. 
• ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Ava Kemp & Yohnatan Elizarov (CAN) are the most experienced team and have also competed in the senior ranks this season.
• 2024 ISU World Junior silver medalists Olivia Flores & Luke Wang (USA) are back in action at Junior Worlds.
• Two-time ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Jazmine Desrochers & Kieran Thrasher (CAN) are another experienced Pair in Tallinn.
• All the 2025 World Junior Pairs medalists have moved up to the senior level or split up.

Hana Maria Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin (USA) are the hot favorites in the Ice Dance event ©ISU

New Junior Ice Dance Champions waiting to be crowned

• Hana Maria Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin (USA) were the dominant Junior Ice Dance couple this season so far and won the ISU Junior Final.
• ISU Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists Ambre Perrier Gianesini & Samuel Blanc Klaperman (FRA) hope to continue their rise in Tallinn.
• ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Iryina Pidgaina & Artem Koval (UKR) came close to the podium at Junior Worlds a year ago and are ready for the next step. 
• Other top contenders to watch are ISU Junior Grand Prix finalists Layla Veillon & Alexander Brandys (CAN), Dania Mouaden & Theo Bigot (FRA) and Jasmine Robertson & Chase Rohner (USA). 
• Since all 2025 ISU World Junior Ice Dance medalists have moved up to the senior level or split up, there will be new faces on the podium.

Where to Watch

All the events will be live-streamed on the Skating ISU YouTube channel.

What and when

A total of 190 Skaters/Couples representing 43 ISU Members have been entered for this ISU World Junior Championships: 43 Men, 51 Women, 18 Pairs and 30 Ice Dance couples. Tallinn hosts the event for the fourth time after 2015, 2020 and 2022. The schedule of the ISU World Junior Championships 2026 is as follows:

Wednesday, March 4: Junior Pairs & Junior Men’s Short Programs
Thursday, March 5: Junior Women’s Short Program & Junior Pairs Free Skating
Friday, March 6: Junior Rhythm Dance, Junior Men’s Free Skating
Saturday, March 7: Junior Free Dance, Junior Women’s Free Skating,

Full entry lists, results and further information are available on the ISU World Junior Championships event page and the official event website. Follow the discussion on social media using #WorldJuniorFigure and #FigureSkating. 

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