As the team figure skating competition wraps up, attention shifts to the individual events at the 2026 Olympics. Ice dancing kicks off the week with 23 pairs set to showcase their rhythm dances on the ice, starting with the first pair today.
This year, the 2022 Olympic ice dance medalists are largely absent, except for France’s Guillaume Cizeron, who will compete with a new partner, Laurence Fournier Baudy, rather than Gabriela Papudakis.
Also noteworthy is that top pairs from the team event have a chance to win medals. Among the favorites are Team USA’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who are vying for what could be their fourth — and possibly final — Olympic gold. It’s an emotional moment since they’ll be making their last performance tonight.
The schedule for the ice dance is as follows:
- What: Rhythm dance
- When: February 9th, 1:20 PM (EST)
- Where: Milan Ice Skating Arena, Milan, Italy
- Channel: United States Network
- Streaming: DIRECTV (with a free trial available)
Two additional pairs from Team USA, Emilea Zingas and Vadim Kolesnik, are set to compete, beginning in 16th position, while Cristina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko will follow them at 18th. After today’s events, the top 20 pairs will advance to the free dance on February 11th, where medals will be awarded based on the highest total score.
Olympic Ice Dance Schedule and Start Time
Today, February 9th, marks the inaugural day of the ice dance competition, with rhythm dance commencing at 1:20 PM ET.
How to Watch Olympic Ice Dance for Free
If you lack a cable subscription, there are options for streaming the Olympics without cost. Consider using Live TV streaming services for access.
DIRECTV offers a 5-day free trial and various plans starting at $69.99 monthly, providing access to crucial channels for watching the Olympics.
Subscriptions also allow viewers to catch every Olympic moment on Peacock, beginning at $10.99 monthly.
Ice Dance – Rhythm Dance Start List
- Sofia Val and Asaf Kazimov (ESP)
- Shiyue Wang and Xinyu Lu (China)
- Phoebe Becker and James Hernandez (GBR)
- Mira Ruud Reitan and Nikolai Majorov (SWE)
- Holly Harris and Jason Chan (Australia)
- Laurence Fournier Baudry and Guillaume Cizeron (France)
- Marie-Jade Lauriot and Romain Le Gac (Canada)
- Jennifer Janse van Rensburg and Benjamin Stephan (GER)
- Natalie Tashlerova and Philip Tashler (CZE)
- Katerina Mrazukova and Daniel Mrazek (CZE)
- Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin (GEO)
- Hannah Lim and Ye Kuan (Korea)
- Julia Turkila and Matthias Versluis (FIN)
- Olivia Smart and Tim Deke (ESP)
- Marjorie Lajo and Zachary Laga (Canada)
- Emilea Zingas and Vadim Kolesnik (USA)
- Alison Reed and Saulius Ambulevicius (LTU)
- Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (USA)
- Piper Gillies and Paul Poirier (Canada)
- Evgenia Lopareva and Jeffrey Brisseau (France)
- Lyla Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR)
- Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (Italy)
- Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA)
2026 Winter Olympics
What is Rhythm Dance?
The rhythm dance, previously known as the short dance, kicks off the ice dance category and tends to have a lighter feel. Each routine lasts 2 minutes and 50 seconds, incorporating specific mandatory elements set by the International Skating Union (ISU).
For the 2025-26 season, the ISU has chosen “1990s Music, Dance Styles, and Feelings” as the theme, meaning today’s performances will all align with that concept. Essential elements for this year’s rhythm dance include a short lift, continuous twizzles, a unique B-step sequence, a dance spin, a pattern dance element (Rumba/Quickstep), and a choreographed component.
Interestingly, the highest rhythm dance score recorded was 93.91, achieved by Chock and Bates in 2023.
2026 Olympic Figure Skating Schedule
- Ice Dance – Rhythm Dance – February 9th 1:20 PM (EST)
- Men’s Singles – Short Program – February 10th 12:30 PM (EST)
- Ice Dance – Free Dance – February 11th 1:30 PM (EST)*
- Men’s Singles – Free Skate – February 13th 1:00 PM (EST)*
- Pairs – Short Program – February 15th 1:45 PM (EST)
- Pairs – Free Skate – February 16th 2:00 PM (EST)*
- Women’s Singles – Short Program – February 17th 12:45 PM (EST)
- Women’s Singles – Free Skate – February 19th 1:00 PM (EST)*
- Exhibition Gala — February 21st 2:00 PM (EST)
*Events where medals will be awarded.
When Will the Winter Olympics Conclude?
The 2026 Winter Olympics will end with a closing ceremony on February 22nd at 2:30 PM ET.
